WAIPAWA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3135, 15 July 1881, Page 2

WAIPAWA.

(from OUR own July 14th, 1881.

The "Bijou Comedy and Burlesque Company gave the performance I referred to in my last yesterday evening, and taking into consideration the rather unfavourable weather, were greeted with a large and appreciatve audience. The programme opened with the charming comedy (by request) " The Bonnie Fishwife," the characters being sustained by Messrs T. W. Bear, Gilpin, Monteith, and Mrs Bear. The piece went very smoothly throughout, Mrs Bear and Mr Monteith creating a most favourable impression, the audience showing their appreciation by continual bursts of applause. The second part opened with a duet " The Minute Gun at Sea," by Mrs Bear and Mr Gilpin ; this evidently took the fancy of the hearers, as a most decided encore was given, but for some unknown reason was not responded to. " I knew that I was dreaming," by Mr Monteith, was very well rendered, evoking a most tumultuous recall; Mr Gilpin, in his song " The Midshipmite." did not seem to be perfectly at home, but this was probably owing to want of practice with the accompanist; the audience, however, clearly enjoyed Mr Gilpin's effort, and gave hira a hearty encore, when he sang in much better style a solo from " Tbe Rose of Castile." The second part concluded with a nigger song and dance, " I love to think of the daya when I was young," by Mr Bear, which showed that that gentleman was no mean pupil of Terpischore. The sparkling burlesque, " Fair Rosamond Bower," brought the evening's performance to a close. The characters were taken by Mrs Bear and Messrs Monteith and Gilpin. This production did hot go as well as it might, that " necessary evil," the prompter, being heard rather often. I would suggest that the accompanist, before another performance, has a little more rehearsel with the Bingers, as on more than one occasion he seemed to be rather at sea. I must not forget to mention that the " cornetist's" (Mr Randall) playing was much admired, especially in the Levi-athen (no joke intended) polka. The proceeds, I believe, amounted to about £11, which, with the hearty welcome accorded to them, T hope will be an encouragement to pay us another visit at no distant date, but when they do come let me give them a little bit" of advice: don't advertise a dance, if you do not intend to have it, as Waipawa people do not like to be " had" more than once.

I am afraid the cutting in Waveiley street is to be the cause of a great deal of trouble and expense to the Road Board. Between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning a very large slip took place, landing about 100 tons of Mr Arrow's garden in the middle of the cutting, which took the contractor about a day and a half to cart away. There is no doubt, if the slip had taken place during tbe day, a most serious accident would have'been inevitable, and, as this is not likely to be the last fall of earth, I think it would be advisable for the Road Board to discontinue the work till the weather improves, or make some better arrangement for the protection of life and private property. Probably we will hear something more on the subject to-morrow night at the Board's meeting. I heard a gentleman make a remark the other day which ia worth repeating. He said, "If the Road Board have such an over abundance of " gold dust," that they can afford to throw it away in the way they are doing, why did they not build a tunnel instead of this cutting, as it would certainly be safe, and also have the charm of being a novelty." And to any one looking at the operations now going on in Waverleystreet they would agree with me in saying that that idea, to .ay the least was not more extravagant or ridiculous than thejßoad Board's present one. It is rumoured that at the coming meeting things will be pretty stormy. I sincerely hope that there will not be any occasion for that "funny" man, the Herald's " own," to publish another "In Memorium."

As I expected, the late bazaar was a financial success, the sum total taken being £60. I hear there is another on the tajiis, this time under the auspices of the unemployed. I only hope the report is a " true bill,"' as there will be a chance for "yours truly" to have a finger iv the pie. Speaking of the bazaar reminds me that I have to apologise to a few of your

Waipawa readers (any others wbo were taken the same wsy) for so far forgetting myself as to explain tbst little "joke " 1 attempted in my la?t. One of our 100 l punsters tells me that it took all the cream off th» joke, and moreover would lead the uniniatiated to imagine that this community was rather " short sighted," he and any others who felt will accept my apology, and rest assured that I will never make such a mofbid mistake again.