case ?”

a

onial institution, a paragraph inquire into the rights of the may be devoted. He is a nondescript individual of multifarious “Oh, of course the quarrel is duties. He waters and feeds about nothing at all! He said the horses, grooms them in his eggs at breakfast were overrough fashion, cleans the buggies boiled, or something like that ; -a task rendered no light one

but he must go.

I warned by the dusty roads-drives in him when he came that if there the cow, milks her, pumps the were any rows in the kitchen water for the house supply, he would go instantly. You cultivates the kitchen -garden, see,” she added explanatorily, trims the flower-borders, mows “I can get an outdoor man the lawn, and sweeps the paths. any day, and I can't get a

It goes without saying that tolerable cook." this species of creature, being

So Joe-with a largely aug. half animal and half vegetable, mented wardrobe—fared forth; is rarely satisfactory. If he and his place was speedily filled understands horses, and can by an Italian exile answering groom tolerably, he despises to the name of Gilbert. A gardening; and if he loves the smart young man, with a huge gentle art of floriculture, he trunk, who confided to the boy goes in terror of the horse. that he occupied his spare Also his meals are served at moments in writing a diary of the kitchen-table, which is a his life and adventures, which source either of love-making or he was gradually bringing up of bickering

to date. At that time he was “John, you must dismiss Joe engaged penning the record - he has spoken rudely to cook of 1892, only seven years beagain,” said our hostess hind time! morning

Gilbert was

admirable “Very well," acquiesced the and tasteful gardener, so it host; “I'll advertise for another stands to reason that during man to-day.”

his reign the horses were but Visions of cook as a large, half groomed and the buggies raw-boned female with a know- smeary. When, a month later, ledge of horse-flesh, and skilled he left to wed a large, plump in the uses of the “totaliser country girl whose opulent to the replenishing of her purse charms had caught his fancy, on race-days; and of Joe as Sam filled his empty shoes. a meek, broken-down-looking As Sam's up - bringing had individual, of exceedingly limit- tended to the possession of ed wardrobe—the first exhibi- many wise saws regarding tion of his linen on a clothes- horse-feed, grooming, and docline brought him instant and toring, and as he was at the lavish contributions from the same time a passable gardener, male members of the family, Sam is likely to remain. flashed across my consciousness. The Maoris rarely condescend

“But cook may be in the to accept a menial position; but wrong," I hinted. “Won't you when they do, they make ad

one

an

was

sume.

mirable and loyal servitors. wait at table, clean lamps and We knew one household wherein silver, cut and arrange flowers, a Maori acted as general fac- undertake darning also and the totum. He had been born and care of the linen cupboard. reared in the family of his mis- In her dealings with the tress, and

an admirable autocrats of her kitchen, the specimen of a fine race. So New Zealand mistress requires highly was his integrity es- to exercise especial tact. Serteemed by his employers that vants must be engaged on their when an ignorant white woman- own representations. A colservant refused to eat with him, onial maid would deem it a she was at once discharged; dire insult were she asked for and until her date of exodus a character. had arrived the family showed

While we

were calling on their disapproval of her action some friends several miles from by insisting upon Hemora tak- town, a carriage, drawn by a ing his meals at their table- pair of horses, drove up to the a privilege upon which the front door, and a presence, gorMaori gentleman did not pre- geous in frills and flipperies,

When we left Auckland, alighted. It was a domestic Hemora had just declined the condescending to apply for a tempting invitation proffered vacant situation. by his tribe, who sought to in- Among her other privileges duce him to take up his right- —which she considers rightsful position as a leading member the colonial maid claims that of their community. He was of seeing her personal friends devoted to his master and when she chooses. One Sunday mistress and to their children, afternoon as we lounged on the and even the added allurement verandah, a buggy, crammed of a young Maori bride could with white-robed, pink-parasoled not entice him from his allegi- beings, was seen approaching. ance.

Instead of entering the drive, Although in the colonies it branched off towards the female servants get much higher stable entrance. “ Visitors for wages than at home, it must be the kitchen," said the hostess, conceded that they do far more in answer to an inquiring look. work for their money.

The And one wet morning, as we lowest wages of an Auckland sewed indoors, the aggressive plain cook are 16s. a-week; a and persistent click-clack of a housemaid's 12s. ; their highest sewing-machine came from the being whatever sum the em- back premises. The housemaid ployer's necessity offers or their explained the unwonted sound qualifications demand. Still, a by volunteering the informacolonial cook, in addition to her tion that cook's aunt had come purely culinary duties, will to spend the day, that she had wash, iron, clean, and bake for brought her hand-machine, and a goodly household; and be- was occupying her time in maksides her legitimate sweeping ing her niece a blouse. and dusting, the housemaid will "I won't take any notice,"

over.

for young

a

decided the astute mistress. along the waysides. Beef is “It's so near Christmas that if absurdly cheap: a sirloin 11 lb. I make any complaint cook in weight will cost 4s. ; a whole will be glad of the excuse to shin of beef may be bought for throw up her place, and have 1s. in town-in country districts a gay time till the holidays are the price falls to 9d. Mutton

I would find it impos- and lamb, I imagine, may almost sible to get another cook at be had for the asking. this season; but she would have Like that of most lately no difficulty in finding a new developed countries, the sosituation whenever her money called social life of New Zealand was done and she was tired of is devoted to the amusement of play.”

the rising generation. Dances, Apart from such slight balls, tennis tournaments, prodomestic mischances, any family gressive euchre parties, and combining the possession of a boating or riding picnics-into small settled income-say £400 these and other forms of enteror £500 a-year—with a desire tainment suited for unlimited sport, might take people do

do the amusements worse step than that of resolve themselves. emigrating to New Zealand. From the instant when the There sports such as polo, fully fledged New Zealand belle hunting, fishing, shooting, and bursts her pinafore-cocoon until boating—the indulgence in any the fatal moment when she dons one of which in Britain entails her bridal robes, her wings are considerable outlay - can all kept hard at work bearing her be enjoyed for a minimum of dainty form from one species of expense. Land and house-rent gaiety to another. The colonial near town are comparatively girl has all the

all the American expensive; but the land once ac- maiden's freedom from espionquired, the customary wooden age, and like her rejoices in givhouse with corrugated iron roof, ing huge lunches and afternoon and a space beneath for your teas to her girl companions. hens to lay away in, is cheap Her smallest doings to erect, and speedily ready for chronicled. The society papers occupation. And must lose no time in informing their remember that the ground is sympathising readers that Miss amazingly fertile; and that Tottie Teasdale has sprained horses can feed out all the year her ankle; or in announcing to round. Servants' wages are a listening world that Miss Tilly high; but two will do more Milliken (of Wairapara) has work than four can undertake arrived at Auckland on a visit at home. A strip of kitchen- to her friend Mrs O’Brady in garden will supply a constant Ponsonby. And the knowledge succession of fruit and vege- that an omnipresent press has tables; and for a fee of 10s. a- duly proclaimed that she year a cow is supplied with a appeared in yellow at

at the zinc badge and permitted to Hunt Ball compels any selfglean a comfortable subsistence respecting damsel all untimely

are

one

more

Need I say

to discard the yellow frock, and other pariahs.

They looked exhibit herself at the Yacht hungry. Club dance in blue. And “Have you had tea?” I thereby her expenditure for asked. dress is agreeably increased. “No, not yet." Small wonder, then, that these “Well, hurry in now. There pampered maidens hesitate long are some vacant seats.” on the brink of matrimony, be- “But we can't, dear Mrs fore throwing aside all these Boyd. We mustn't go until advantages, and condescending we are asked,” they replied to become sober matter-of-fact dolefully. wives and mothers,

And when we mounted our For older folks there are, respective buggies to depart, perhaps, card - parties two tealess drooping maidens where money stakes are played accompanied us.

I for than is quite desirable ; and wickedly rejoiced to have dissometimes there is a garden- covered one instance, at least, party to which, by favour, men in which the colonial girl had are admitted; or an afternoon failed to have an innings ? “ At Home for “ladies only."

To any one with a love of “ Men

never go to these horticulture, northern New parties,” explained our hostess, Zealand presents boundless poswhen a card for one reached sibilities. One private garden

“ It would make a sensa- which we visited within Aucktion if your husband or mine land city seemed to hold healthy walked in." And in truth it specimens of all known plants, was my name only that was from bananas and palms to inscribed on the invitation. lotus lilies—all flourishing, be This especial reception was it noted, in the open air.

, The given in a handsome and well- stone-walled ponds held a colappointed house, and the guests lection of flowering aquatic must have numbered nearly plants which were far before two hundred. They were all any display we have seen durwomen, and mostly all matrons, ing frequent visits to the Royal too. Some vague order of pre- Botanic Gardens in London. cedence was in force, and for In the borders, in exquisite proonce the damsels were in the fusion, bloomed countless varibackground. The drawing- eties of flower and shrub. The rooms, where music and gossip complete absence of frost renwere served, and the dining- ders glass unnecessary, though room, with all manner of de- in many instances it is used to lectable refreshments on tap, ensure the earlier ripening of were crowded with the married grapes. ladies, while the maidens, in two The market - gardening of neglected rows, lined the halls. Auckland is chiefly in the

Coming out from a debauch hands of Chinamen. One such of fruit-salad, ices, and tea, I garden was situated within noticed two pretty girls I knew, view of our shady verandah,

+ ing disconsolate among the and all day and every day

me.

quaint figures, topped with which dot the harbour. Someconical straw hats, bent over times we landed on islands in the long rows of flourishing whose gullies the bush vegetavegetables. When darkness fell tion still prevailed: grand the pointed hats were still primeval tree-ferns waved overbusy; and dawn found them head, and a luxuriant growth of still as industriously engaged lesser ferns carpeted the ground. as though their work had not On Boxing Day we picnicked ceased through the dark hours. at Quarantine Island, under the

Unlike Australia, New Zea- shadow of a great Pohutukawa land has few native wild-flowers, or“Christmas" tree, its spread

, though imported seedlings flour- ing branches laden with greyish so well as to speedily out- green leaves and the large grow their garden bounds, and scarlet blossoms, resembling overflow into the highways. chrysanthemums, suspended During a stroll along a suburban overhead like a gigantic garbyway a choice bouquet may land. This tree is peculiar to easily be gleaned from the road- New Zealand, where it grows side. I have picked great abundantly near the sea, blosbunches of damask roses which soming most profusely when grew wild in the hedgerows; swept with the salt spray. On and geraniums, nasturtiums, the high cliffs behind us grand and arum lilies were to be had clumps of pampas grass grew for the taking. Our scentless side by side with the regal dog-rose is unknown; but the spikes of native flax. A fire sweet brier is so plentiful as soon kindled, and while to threaten to become a nuis- the "billy

(a huge milkance to farmers. Early in can) boiled, lunch was spread. December, when we arrived. The meal disposed of, the comevery lane glowed pink with pany bathed, fished, or gathered countless blossoms, and the the sweet little oysters which air was full of its fragrance. abound on the rocks and can The Maoris christened sweet- be easily collected when the brier the “missionary plant," tide falls. as it owed its introduction to The New Zealand shells are the home-sick wife of an early many and distinctive. On the missionary, who, by carrying a ocean beaches varieties peculiar plant into her exile, sought to to this latitude, and not all endow her new habitation with beautiful, can be found; while something of the essenceof home. the widespread waters of the

During summer picnicking Pacific bring thither specimens is a distinctive feature of New native to far-distant countries. Zealand life. Our host had a The violet -hued Ianthina, or little steam-launch called the “storm - shell” as it is there Kaituna, a tubby and unorna- named, can be dug from the mental but comfortable and sand after a tempest, and on roomy craft; and in her we had many beaches the blood - red many adventurous excursions Anomia are almost plentiful. to one or other of the islands Rabies is unknown in New VOL CLXVII.—NO. MXII.

Q

was