GOSSIP.

Northern Advocate, 25 November 1893, Page 7

GOSSIP.

Kohuicohu. A L.vnrtE party assembled on Constitution Pier last Saturday, the occasion being a picnic in celebration of the re-opening of the school, and the <•'<■■ - : : ure of the measles. Amongst : fashionably dressed assemblage we aoticed Lord and Lady Deebeedouble, and the Lady Tennissers, Sir Reginald More pal k, Mr, Mrs and Miss Why. Mr, Mrs and Master Axe, Mr and Mrs Managermill and Miss Loveall, Mr and Mrs Ketsell and Miss Carissima, Mr Awl and many others too numerous to mention. The company having successfully embarked upon the splendid yacht " Trader," the property of Lord Deebeedouble, his Lordship ordered the jib to be hoisted, but Mr Axe, having requested the company to wait half a second while he went

for half-an-hour to get his writing materials, and upon his return he handed his Lordship a written protest against hoisting any jibs, as he had had a subversive experience of jibs, by which he had been submerged and in fact he jibbed. In this dilemma, Lord Deebeedouble, with great tact, ordered his crew to land on the west shore to catch anybody's horses running at large there, in order that the company might ride to their destination, and explained that he had a patent from the Governor, under which he was allowed to have anybody's horse that he liked. The crew, however, preferred to search for strawberries, eggs and fruit on the east side, maintaining that they olsb had patents, under these circumstances it was found necessary in the interests of progress that some definite plan should be arranged, and as the company were unable to agree, Mr Awl proposed that a chairman should be elected, and that Mr Why being the stock chairman he could not understand why he had not been in the chair all along. The matter of progress was then put to the vote, when after Mr Geinbee had offered tb tow the party for a consideration, which oHer was declined without thanks, OAving to a general belief in Mr Grembee's hona fides, it was decided to beat the " Trader "to windward. Mr Silverington did duty as piiot, and soundings were taken every five minutes, and the sun as often as possible, but owing to a chess board catching his eye at a critical moment the safety of the party was nearly imperilled, and the services of the pilot lost for the rest of the day. The tediousness of the voyage was enlivened by the addresses of Mr Hooktrip Upon discords, Mr Axe upon the art of delusion, Mr Verbole upon how to be happy though married, (a lively discussion took place upon this question, and although the ladies and the majority led by Mr Tom thought every married person must he happy, there were a few sad dogs who said it was impossible to be so) ; Mr Live 0, upon St. Thomas' Church, and we were very pleased to hear Miss Carissima give a very excellent address on tennis. Towards noon the lovely island of Motuti was sighted from the masthead by Mr "Wag, who preferred that situation as he could hold on by the wire — rigging. This island has beauties of its own. You will find no lofty precipices and sounding caverns here, nor leafy woods or shady dells, "but for unadorned simplicity of beauty I doubt if Motuti has any peer. Picture it to yourself, for no pen of man can do justice to it, and let it remain pictured for ever on your heart. It lies there as it was made, undefiled by the hand of man, not counting Maories, and so we found it. The yacht being securely moored to a sand spit, the party alighted and proceeded to " bile " the billy — I beg pardon — prepare the repast. The delicacies prepared by Mrs Eat-on and the Hokianga champagne presented by Mr Bighter were done ample justice. The Jacks then prepared to walk out their Jills, but owing to the paucity of Jacks and the absence of shelter trees, this preparation was futile. Kiss-in the-ring then became the order of the day, and though every Jill most solemnly declared that she could'nt and she would'nt and she never did, Mr Wright transfixed the whole of them with an instantaneous photo at a most happy moment, and the actual facts are recorded to this very day. Mr Betsel was here signalled by means of flashes that he was wanted on the Exchange, and Lord Deebeedouble, thinking some large foreign transactions might be going on which would escape his notice unless he were on the spot, these gentlemen hastily returned to the city by diametrically opposite routes. The ladies then proposed a dance, and under the guidance of Sir Reginald Morepalk and Mr Thomas Hearty, they stepped jigs to the whistle of lively Ereddy until a very enjoyable evening came to an end. The whole party re-embarked at 8 p.m., landing at the Pier-head, and proceeded by rail to town. The only contretemp was that Mr Blunderbuss omitted to be in readiness with his omnibus to meet the excursionists at the station. The matter will be reported to the general director, Mr Seepeeson, who will no doubt in future see that Mr Blunderbuss carriesout his engagements, except when he is electioneering or nigger-driving. I have no time to record what came of it, but will endeavour to let you know the result by cable in next week's issue. GOA.K.