BRIEF MENTION

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 8, 6 November 1880, Page 59

BRIEF MENTION

— St. James's Mutual Improvement Association contemplate a social gathering at an early date. — Father Fynes patronises the Parnell threepenny omnibus. — Mr. Dugald McKellar has arrived from Tauranga. — The Thames people dou!t appear to relish the idea of Mr. Wilkinson becoming Mayor. — Detective Strathern wants to know if Mr. Hopkins's bull-dog has a collar on. — The latest " tip" from the Thames County is that Brodie will again be elected, as both his bulk and his brain are likely to be wanted. — The "Star's" criticism on Mr. James Buckland'a reading of " The Little Vulgar Boy" has, I hear, greatly incensed the lady friends of that jentleman. — It is not true that Messrs. Mason Bros, are going round with a requisition asking Mr. Samuel Uoombes to stand as Mayor. — Mr. R. H. Rattray, L.L.8., was a passenger per "Taiaroa" on Tuesday. He has gone faouth for a holiday trip. — The Pope has, after strict enquiries into the financial difficulties of Monsignor Capel, granted £14,000 for his relief. — The Waikato Scandal lias been hushed up, or, at any rate, staved off. Both parties are becoming more cautious. i — There was a poet amongst the passengers by the Lutterworth. J.B. and other local rhymsters will have to look to their laurels. — There was an affecting scene at the Customs last week, when the " dear departed five" took a fond farewell of their more fortunate comrades. — There was a large congregation at St. Thomas's on Sunday, and the new parson who is a jolly good fellow, seems likely, I am told, to be very popular. — . Another attempt was made to get rid of the Kaipara steamers last week, but nobody would have them. — The Catholic Priest at Coromandel, who has the reputation of being a rather gay card, is a greater favourite with the Protestants than with his own folk. — Gum has risen about £5 per ton in price during the last fortnight. The receipts in Auckland fo the month wore larger than ever. — The boy Woolcott, who was so seriously injured by the Fijian a short time ago, returned to his studies at the Beresford-street School last Monday. — Mr. Tebbs has effected a great improvement in the position of the choir at St. Matthew's. The idea, which is a very good one, originated with Mrs. Tebbs. — The Grammar School Governors actually decided at their last meeting to " order a die regardless of expense." — It is reported in town that Mr. John Leek is the fortunate recipient of a legacy, which will enable him to cut the " rag trade," and smoke his pipe at home, instead of on the Queen-street flags. — The return of the lamb season has suggested to some that a wife should be like roast lamb — tender and nicely dressed. To this a bachelor has added — " But without any sauce." — Pyke s County — Vincent, is in Queerstreet. It has incurred liabilities amounting to £12,000, and has only £GOOO to meet them. But Pyke keeps his £350. — The marriage of the Archbishop of Canterbury to a lad3 r well known in Society is spoken of as one of the events of next London season. Mrs. Tait, it will be remembered, died in December, 1878. — Judge Richmond, and his secretary, Mr. Fitzgerald, were i>assengers to New Plymouth by the "Taiaroa" on Tuesday morning. They go to hold the quarterly session of the Supreme Court there. — • Councillor Aickin lias evidently given up all thought of standing for the mayoralty, as he started for the Melbourne Exhibition by the " Te Anau" on Thursday. — Mr. and Mrs. A. K. Taylor and family left for Melbourne on Thursday, per"Te Anau." Just fancy taking six children when going for a holiday. "What a time they will have ! — What is the attraction at Gisborne 1 Our citizens ajipear to be going there, and returning like bees to a hive. Are they putting their spare cash in the oil boring venture. — It is whispered that, after the Lord Mayor's dinner on Tuesday next, Grandmama will entertain the company with " Reminiscences of Paris" including an imitation of the can-can as danced at " the gay Mabille." — Insurance agent Jones is not exactly certain that the mill at Whangapoua was burned down accidentally, and he has applied for a new trial in the action against him, won by Mr. Harris. — The " Star" announced, amongst the items relative to the Fancy Dress Ball, that Mr. Mackechnie had gone as "an old Bear." This is a terrible reflection seeing that that well-known old gentleman went in plain evening dress, without any disguise. — Since the base attempt of a certain telegraphist to kiss the young and pretty wife of a Thames citizen on board the " Kotomahana," the ladies have shut themselves up in the saloon reserved for them, and won't stir oxit. — The young lady who sat down very suddenly one day last week on the asphalt pavement in Victoria-street, will probably keep a bright look out for banana x^eelings in future. It was very mean of the old gentleman across the way to laugh so lustily. — The other day a waiter entered the reading room at the Auckland Club, and announced that a lawyer was wanted. Every soul but one immediately started for the door, and even that one turned out to be a sucking lawyer. Unfortunately, he hadn't passed all his exams. — Garrard says a ship will come here from Sydney shortly to take all the unemployed away from Auckland. I have always said that there were not more than a ship load of them, including wharf loafers. Garrard has now come round to the same opinion. — Indiscriminate " nobblerising" is, without doubt, the curse of the colony. Now, as a matter of principle, I never take more (or less) than twenty nips per diem of the Nevada Hotel whiskey, which is the purest and mildest in town. — [Advt.] — Apropos of the Prince of Wales's Birthday it may be mentioned that H.R.H. is very particular about his boots. He procures thorn sole-hj from Garrett Bros., and. I should strongly advise you to patronise that enterprising firm too. — [Advt.] — "At the last Remuera dance" (says a correspondent), "an Auckland gentleman (?) got in by telling the doorkeeper that he would settle with the committee of the ball afterwards. Up to date he has not done so." — Lord Lamington (better known as Mr. Baillie Cochrane) was offered the Governorship of Tasmania, but declined it, being quite content to rest on his laurels — regarding his new peerage, indeed, as a pearl of great price. — Mrs. C. B. Stone's acting in the farce of "My Wife's Relation," at the opening of the Mount Albert Hall the other night, was, I am told, capital. This lady promises to be one of the best amateur actresses in the colony. Belot's famous Novel, "HUNTED DOWN," Will be commenced next week.

! — I hear friend Wickham has got a lawyer's letter for insinuating that two respected Waikato settlerg couldn't shoot straight. — A new chemist, Mr. Eccles, has I see started business in Wellesley-street. He makes a good show and ought to do well. The New Amateur Club make their debut at the Theatre on Tuesday. Report says the performance is to be something out of the way, and there will probably be a good house. — "Mercury's" suppositions about the donkey business are quite correct. I could have published the whole story last week, but not wishing to injure a party intimately concerned, refrained. The other matter I shall use next issue. Send more. — Grand Flaneur won the Victorian Derby last Saturday, and ever since a number of the fast boys of Auckland have been telling their friends that they knew he would win and that they were " very nearly" putting a "pot" of money on him. — It is whispered amongst the prospectors at Te Aroha that the famous yarn about the 6-foot reef, which was to turn out lOozs. to the ton, was manufactured by a writer who got a special dispensation from Providence in 1867 to speak the truth, aiid has done nothing but tell " tarradiddles" ever since. — The Editor of the Observer will, at all times, be glad to receive information from correspondents living in town or country or the other colonies on subjects of general interest, more especially on mattera connected with sport, the drama and fashion. Communications from ladies will be especially welcome, — " Not know where to get a first-rate cricket bat !" said Brown to his friend Monmouth. " Why, my dear fellow, let us toddle ofl: to Partridge and Woollams, They have all the latest novelties in cricketing material, not to mention some rare Yankee 'baccy, which I can confidently recommend." — [Advt.J — Surely it is not necessary that the newlyelected volunteers of Hobson-street, should go in for so much home drill. The neighbours are tired of hearing, "present arms, quick march, attention, double," accompanied by the usual clatter of forty-acre boots. A writ of ejectment is threatened. — Can it be true that a certain paper, published at the Thames, " slates" Adam Porter because he didn't promise the "boss" a share of the Te Aroha prospecting claim ? Adam says so, and he also seems to thinks the party in question has something to do with an opposition shop who talk of jumping his claim. — There is great consternation amongst the newly-elected officers of the Waikato Cavalry because the approaching examinations which have to be passed successfully, in order that the rank may be retained. Some of the full fledged officers are fearful that a return to the ranks is inevitable. — Bro. J. B. Crothers, who has been elected W.M. for the ensuing year of the oldest Masonic Lodge in N.Z. ("Ara" 3JS J.C.) is very popular with the brethren, and is said to be well acquainted with the duties of the office. The members of the Lodge expect great things of him, and it is to be hoped they will not be disappointed. — A Ponsonby correspondent sends the following •' juvenile" item, and vouches for it having occurred at his house last week. Little Evelyn E., aged 4V summers, has fallen off the front steps, and comes in crying. Mamma — Did you fall off the top or over the side, dear ? Evelyn — Which is worst mamma ? Mamma —Why, off the top. Evelyn— Then I fell off the top, ma. — Messrs. Wm. Me vrthur & Co., are going to give two spreads, one to " our most respected citizens,*' and one to their employe's in honour of Alderman McArthur becoming Lord Mayor of London. They have been kind enough to send the Observer a ticket for the former, and the affair will be duly chronicled in these columns. — At the last entertainment of the Mohawk Minstrels in Newmarket Hall, several local conundrums caused much laughter, especially the following, which we presume is original. " Why is Newmarket like a wellstocked and promising farm. Answer — Because it contains a Goodacre, a Brook, a Littlewood, a JTowle, a Buck and a Hogg." All these being names of persons living in the locality. — A friendly solicitor has warned me to be exceedingly careful to avoid saying anything calculated to provoke an action, as bar Mr. Macdonald, the magistrates have determined to deal very severely with the paper when they get a chance. Heaven protect me from justices' justice. — Owing to the wet and unpromising-looking afternoon, the projected opening gathering of the Parnell Lawn Tennis Club, never eventuated, but several of the members assembled at the house of the leading spirit of the club, Mr. Dargaville, who entertained them in his usual social and hospitable manner. — It is now some time since, in consequence of Mr. Habens's report being adverse to him, the master of the Home for Neglected and Destitute Children tendered his resignation to the Committee, who accepted it, bat up to the present time, I have seen no advertisement for a successor. Why is this ? — An amusing incident occurred at Hikutaia on the occasion of the conference between Mr. Whitaker and Tukukino re Mr. Alley's land. Among the gentlemen present was the Mayor of the Thames (a member of the Hebrew persuasion.) When the pakehas sat down to meat there was only pork and potatoes, which unclean flesh was offensive in the eyes of his Worship. The Maories apologised, saying that " one of the pakehas would not eat pork, and they. were sorry that they had no fish or beef to offer." The "barron," however, made sad havoc amongst the rewais. — I should have thought that those cheerful American games, " 15" and " 34," were quite bad enough without any inspired being thinking it necessary to write a work on the subject, containing one hundred and fifty solutions of that weird jrazzle. Yet this is what some ingenious individual has done in a distracting little volume, which points out that there are no less than 3,456 solutions capable of being found of " 34," and kindly gives no less than 150, neatly illustrated by diagrams. And yet people call this a game. Truly, I feel very much inclined to quote those too hackneyed words from Froissart, about the sad manner in which the English, and in this case, the Americans too — amuse themselves. — The marriage bells didn't ring, but they might, and ought to have done so the other day in Parnell, when the daughter of our worthy coroner and hospital alsculapius was transformed under the magic hands of Dr. Maunsell into Mrs. E. S. Abrahams. The bride looked very pretty in a handsome white silk, neatly trimmed with satin and lace. The bridesmaids were the brides two sisters and niece. They wore dresses of blue silk and cashmere, with cream straw hats, trimmed with blue to match. Mr. Slater, the organist of St. Mary's, very kindly assisted at the organ, and gave a lively effeefc to the proceedings by striking up on the arrival and departure of the bride. — "Apropos of the Jean Luie letter and the faint revival of interost in the Tichborne case it may bring with it," I may meution.says the editor of a London, society paper, " that a friend of mine who was at Stonyhurst with the real Sir Roger thinks that ho was just the kind of man who would forget anything he ever knew,even the difference between Greek and Latin. He also thinks that in regard to some evidence about the method of playing cricket at Stonyhurst, the evidence of the Claimant was right, and that of his opponents wrong. But my friend does not say that he believes in the Claimant." — The last festive reunion of the season took place on Thursday week, at the house of the acknow* ledged leader of Auckland bon ton, Mrs. Whitaker. As was to be expected, one only met there the creme de la creme, and on this occasion tho creme arrayed themselves in the various fancy costumes which they had previously sported at the Choral Hall and Ponsonby. It would be unfair to those of my readers who represent skimmed milk, and who were therefore debarred from participating in the festivities, to make them envious by dwelling at length, on the gay and festive scene, suffice it to say that those who were there declare the evening waa a most | enjoyable one, and that the ball was a great success.

— " Life" declares that the night previous to the 77th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Foot Regiment leaving the garrison, in readiness to embark for service in Afghanistan, over fifty men deserted. The consternation of the authorities may be imagined, but they succeeded in keeping the " exodus" tolerably quiet. > — The tinograph people who did such a good business • here some time ago by taking miniature photographs at thirty for half-a-crown are doing a prosperous trade at Christchurch. The warm-haired young lady has, it is said, • caused quite a sensation amongst the youthful Adonises of the city of the plains. ' — The "School Luminary" has seen a copy of a weekly newspaper published at City East School and entitled "Once a Week." "It bears," says the "Luminary" "a striking resemblance to the "School Standard," published by Messrs Tebbs and Soppet, inasmuch as it is spread over a large ainoxmt of space, and is very 'watery.' " — What ! invent steel pens for the use of the Royal Navy. Never ! Sooner would I advise my friends to purchase all their drapery and clothing from the establishment of T. McMasters' 242, Queen-street, who imports all his goods direct from home, and can therefore affort . to supply mens and boys clothing at a very moderate rate. — [Advt.] 230 . : — Thanks to the efforts of the indefatigable secretary, Mrs. H , the Bread-and-butter Dance, at Onehunga, on Friday last, proved a grand success. The music was particularly good, and the German officers, who were amongst the visitors, appeared to enjoy themselves, immensely. On the same evening,' Mrs. Frank Hull entertained a few friends. — "Mr Gooch, the popular singing master at the Auckland Grammar School has," (says the "School Luminary") " notified his intention of giving two prizes, at the end of the year, to the two best ' songsters' in his singing class. The probable recipients will be Mr. J. Sykes and Mr. E. Roberton, both of whom possess vocal organs of no mean quality. Bravo ! Joseph." '■ — The ideas which some people entertain about government and politics in general are extremely hazy. At Mr. Moss's meeting 1 in Parnell on Tuesday week, a gentleman, whose enthusiasm and patriotic spirit proved too powerful for his discretion, ..suggested that an opposition Government should be started in Parnell. He looked awfully bewildered and seemed quite astonished when the audience roared with laughter. — At a meeting held at Te Aroha on Monday week, (numerous swamper jumpers and bumpers being present) it was unanimously resolved that all who had put in pegs into Mount Buster should be allowed to keep them there until such a time as the field was opened, except Adam Porter, he being the only man who had.given the Government timely notice and paid away money to try the district. — There is a good story told of Pyke. He went to a fancy ball in a complete suit of armour, and went home late after supper. The lodger in the next room heard a terrific clashing and banging mingled with half-suppressed oaths. He burst open the door, and discovered poor little podgy Pyke writhing in a vain effort to disengage himself from his armour. It must have formed a picture for a Gustave Dore. — Three much respected citizens (everybody is a '.'respected citizen" in Auckland) were overheard talking about the donkey business at Waters' s the other day. Said A. "Yes, it was a great mistake. The row '11 just set that fellow Rathboue on his legs." "Of course it will," responded B. "don't you remember that's the way the ' Star' got into notice. Somebody either wanted to hammer or did hammer Brett." — The sudden and mysterious disappearance of the famous 6-foot reef (6 ounces to the ton) has created an immense sensation at Te Aroha. It appears the worthy finder thereof proceeded to Mount Buster on Monday week to show it to some friends, but when the place was reached, nothing but flax bush could be found. The question now asked is where has the reef gone to. Some say up the Waiotahi where all good things go. — I see the pilots have gone pretty severely for one of the watermen, and he has been heavily fined for doing a very common act, viz., boarding a vessel before it has dropped anchor. Seeing that the privilege has been accorded to many outside persons since the fine was imposed, it does not exactly look like fair play . Besides this, the man was engaged in the endeavour to earn a few shillings, and the person who should have been fined was the passenger taken down in the boat. — The Baptist communities of Auckland and Dunedin will now have an opportunity to recover f rpm the display of evangelistic zeal exhibited by the Revs. Webb and Davies during the last few weeks. The congregations do seem to have been worked up a bit by the exchange. The Wellesley-street folks had a private " sociable" lastweek to welcome Allan back again. I was not invited, and of course didn't go, but a friend tells me that it was better than the orthodox sprees. — To all afflicted with rheumatism we would suggest that a- small quantity of kerosene oil placed in the boot and then lighted will cure it. We know a man who tried it, and the rheumatism entirely disappeared. We are pretty positive of this, although, notwithstanding the fact that we suggested the idea, the man was too stiff to notice us, as we met him at a funeral a few days after. But this was probably due to the fact that he owned the funeral and rode in the first carriage. — The young ladies of Auckland are congratulating themselves on the prospect of a citizens' ball to welcome His Excellency the Governor, but it looks very much as if they were to be doomed to disappointment. Rumour says Sir Arthur does not approve of this fashionable species of dissipation, and besides the Mayor is not here to lead off with Lady Gordon. Never mind, the German ball will, doubtless be a jolly one, and worth half-a-dozen of the other. — The Secretary of the Grammar School Board of Governors considers himself pretty good at deciphering the many remarkable specimens of caligraphy and orthography that come under his notice, but he was "fixed" last week. He was reading the tenders for repairs to the Governors, when two words caused him to stop short and subside. The intelligence of the meeting ■was focussed upon the words, and eventually they were discovered to be " cowre shingals." This is supposed to mean " kauri shingles." — "Were you ever at Te Aroha?" writes a peregrinating contributor, "because if not, come at once. We have the finest whiskey, the prettiest girls, the richest quartz, and the biggest liara in the world. The Thames Valley Railway is to be opened next Sunday, and the benefactor of the whole human race will be present not to mention mayors and county chairmen without end. The " Great Eastern" has been especially chartered for the occasion, and will convey visitors from Grahamstown at a moderate charge." — On dit that a certain northern journalist is about to proceed against a well-known Member of Parliament for not fulfilling a land agency agreement. It is whispered that some very choice revelations will be brought out, shewing how the said Member courted the support of Sir George Grey to get into Parliament, how the journalist introduced him to the Knight of Kawau as a true and trusty partizan, and how and why he ratted, casting both Sir George and the journalist to the winds after having used them. — After all the threats of horsewhippings and hammerings, not to mention virulent abuse which I have been subjected to this last week, a little praise is very cheering. Listen, I prythee, to the words of the "Wairarapa Standard." "In the last number of the Auckland Observer there is the cleverest pen and ink sketch of Mr. Reader Wood, New Zealand has yet had. It is unfortunately too long to quote, and many of our readers do not know the man. In Auckland, however, ■we can fancy men stopping in the street and saying, ' Have you seen the Observer.' " The Hon. F. Whitaker apparently has a good knowledge of how business concerns are run in the colony He was examining a witness the other day in reference to a partnership existing between him and some one else in the working of a rock drill. The witness was obstinate, and probably with the view to opening up a new vein of evidence, Mr. Whitaker said :— " You ore in partnership, are you. Well, I suppose you divide the profits, and somebody else pays the losses. A burst of laughter followed, but the witness took no notice, and stolidly replied," " I guess we're running that rock drill nyhow."