WAIPAWA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6074, 17 September 1881, Page 3

WAIPAWA.

fFKOM OTJB OWN" CORRESPONDENT.] September 16. As I anticipated in my last, the anniversary celebration of the Loyal Abbotsford Lodge of Oddfellows, which took place here yesterday, was a great success, and gave very general satisfaction. The weather on the occasion being beautifully fine, a large number of country visitors availed themselves of the opportunity offered for a day's enjoyment, and by noon the township presented quite a lively appearance. Holiday lovers arrayed en bon ton were to be seen standing in knots, gossiping cheerfully, at every street corner, whilst others "on pleasure bent" made their way ever and anon to some one of the various shrines of Bacchus established here for the purpose of negotiating a drink, offering and "toasting" old friendships. Thus things moved along until the beat of the martial drum (I fear I am growing poetical, if so put it down to mental excitement and sherry), called us to the sports' ground, where it was found the energetic committee had made all arrangements for carrying out their programme. Running, vaulting, leaping, &c, were indulged in for nearly three hours, both old and young taking part and entering into the spirit of the games with much apparent relish. Notwithstanding his late unfortunate accident, Mr B. B. Johnson (the secretary), assisted by a pair of crutches, made his way to the field, and seated in a chair, carried out the duties of his office with his customary ability. At intervals during the sports the Waipawa Drum and Fife Band (bless the mark !) discoursed what I suppose must, for want of another word to express my meaning more clearly, be termed music. Without the big drum the Waipawa Band might cease to exist any time. In fact the band is pretty muchly all drum. Why the Waipawa Oddfellows on occasions like the above don't make some effort to have a decent band is a question nobody here seems to be in a position to answer, although I can find plenty of people who ask it. Such tunes as " Hold the Port," " Come to the Saviour," and " Willey we have missed you," remind me of our childhood's sunny days, but are, to say the least, becoming rather antiquated now, and could well be supplanted by new and better ones. I trust this hint will bear fruit. About the same number of brethren took part in the procession as on the last occasion, and the arrangement was very similar, with the exception that the district officers, Bros. Cooper, Bee, and Fielder were present yesterday, and headed the company. It might profi tably be suggested that the practice of gentlemen walking in procession and smoking pipes at the same time is not calculated to impress onlookers to any great extent with the dignity of the affair. I hope on future occasions that strict orders will ba given for all pipes and cigars to be kept out of sight by members of the procession until the order to " break off" is given. But, to return to my subject, as the parsons say. Shortly after 4 p.m. about 50 guests sat down to an excellent dinner which was provided at ,the Oddfellows' Hall by Host Carson. Gastronomic luxuries having been duly discussed by those present, the chairman, Bro. Brown, N.G., proposed " The Queen and Royal Family" which was drunk with musical honors. This was followed by the toasts "The Governor" and "The Army and Navy." The latter toast was proposed by Secretary Johnson and responded to by N.G. Waddell of the Napier Lodge. The I remaining toasts were "Manchester Unity," proposed by P.G. Collett, and responded to by P.G.M. Cooper; "The Hawke's Bay District," proposed by P.S. Wilson ; " The Abbotsford Lodge," proposed by Bro. W. C. Smith of the Waipukurau Lodge ; " Visiting Brethren," proposed by P.G. Robb ; " The Ladies," proposed by N,Gr. Thomas Harwood ; "The Press," by Bro. E Harwood; "The Caterer," by the Chairman; and "TheN.G. and Y.G. of the Abbotsford Lodge," by T. S. Wilson. A most enjoyable meeting was brought to a close by the company singing " Auld Lang Syne " and "God Save the Queen." Dancing commenced at 8.30 p.m., and was kept up to 6.30 this morning. Some seventy to eighty couples took the floor during the night, besides which there was a goodly number of the orthodox " wallflowers." Considerable dissatisfaction was expressed (especially by strangers) on account of the ball committee withholding programmes of dances until the first dance was concluded. The action certainly seems a most singular one, and not a few are anxious to get some valid explanation with reference to it. As there is nothing else stirring here at present, I am per force obliged to pull up suddenly.