SOCIETY

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 13, 11 December 1880, Page 112

SOCIETY

• — Lady Gordon's pony arrived from Levuka by the "Southern Cross" last Saturday. — It is not improbable that an elopement in high life will take place ere long. — During the temporary absence of Mr. J. Brown, organist of St. Matthews, Mrs. Tebbs has very efficiently performed his duties. — A complimentary ball is to be tendered to Mrs. Shayle George by her pupils on the 21st inst. in Ponsonby Hall. — Mr. James McCo.sh Clark, our Mayor elect, has given orders for a banquet, in Canning's best style, on the 15th inst. — A visitor of distinction, the Hon. Gustave Kenning, came from Fiji last Saturday by the s.s. "Southern Cross." He will stay here for some months for the benefit of his health. — Wilfred has returned, after " doing" the Melbourne Exhibition. There were great rejoicings among the young ladies at St. \s Church, in fact some of whom wanted to have a thanksgiving service. — It is rumoured that the light soprano, Miss K. C. late of St. Paul's choir, and Mr. H. P. the celebrated working jeweller in Victoriastreet, are about to tie the sacred knot. On dit they will spend the latter part of their honeymoon in Sydney. — It is a singular fact that in the last letter Miss Dobie ever wrote, she expressed herself thus " I am now here going about and doing all sorts of things, but my mother says I'm too daring and if I go on something will happen to me." — Mrs. Langtry is about to appear in the character of a poetess. She has undertaken to contribute to The Burlington, the magazine which Miss Helen Mather is about to start, an idyllic poem of which those who have seen the manuscript speak very highly. — As a curious coincidence, I would mention that the Hamilton Dramatic Company, and the Parnell Dramatic Company, have each lost a member this year by an untimely end. Mr. Peter Walker/ of Hamilton, by the discharge of his own gun, Miss Dobie by the knife pi the Maori Tuhi. On dit that M. Cailliau, the French Professor of music, intends to bring out some of his pupils during Mr. Heiuy Ketten's season here. The ex-editor of the Muse has now a large number of ladies and gentlemen under his tuition, as, indeed, his neighbours have every reason to know. The constant practice of thirds, fifths, and sevenths has driven some of them almost frantic. The select coterie of old and young Scots who assemble every Saturday in Grafton Road for the practice of boAvls are a privileged people. They enjoy a perfect immunity from the "maudling crowd," can converse together without reserve in their much-loved Doric, and imbibe liouicl refreshment whenever they fee "droughty." Under the management of humorous and active little Tommy Macfarlane, a holiday of Arcadian delight is spent there once a week- — A picnic was given by the Tauranga bachelors on Satxirday, at which a large number of the Tauranga belles, not only put in an appearance, but with their bright eyes and fresh complexions, did great execution among the lords of creation. One of the local legal lights, known from his connection with a thousand pound slander case, was the principal originator of the picnic and from the way he conducted, it, even to superintending the cooking of the dinner, it only requires a jury of fair maidens, chosen from those present, to carry him triumphantly throngh the meshes of the law of libel.

At the performance of "The Rivals" "by the leading amateurs of Auckland in June last, Miss Dobie sustained the role of Lydia Languish. Of her impersonation the Star's dramatic critic wrote as follows : " Lydia Languish is a romantic, capricious, and not, perhaps, particularly interesting heroine, but m the hands of Miss Dobie she becomes a most charming personage."

— Miss Blank, of Never-mind-where, was out walking with a gentleman friend the other night when she observed her small brother hovering in the back ground. Strange to say, this annoyed the young lady excessively, and in accents the reverse of sisterly, she ordered little Johnny off home. Johnny, however, stood his ground bravely. Despite her exhortations, he wouldn't budge an inch and at last blurted out, "Ma told me to watch you whenever that carrotty haired chap was about (and beginning to Avhimper) I am going to too."

— One of the latest amusement for ladies in Paris is the sport of frog shooting. The weapon used for this purpose is a small steel cross-bow which has the power of sending its little dart with sufficient strength to pierce a frog at a distance of some twenty feet. The arrow is fastened to the breach of the cross-bow by a small silken cord, so that when the markswoman has brought down her frog she can draw its body towards her. This is indeed a verification of the interesting old saw which tells how "A was an archer that shot at a frog."

— Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Frazer entertained between thirty and forty of their friends at the North Shore on Thursday week. Mrs. Frazer's pleasant lady-like manners made every one feel quite at home, whilst J. M. Avas a very jolly host. The young folks, unmindful of Byron's tirade against the waltz, enjoyed it throughout as well as the polka, galop and mazurka. Dancing was kept up till the first signs of dawn warned the company that they must hasten home, if they meant to get any sleep at all.

— I cannot understand why ladies follow the fashions so closely as to tie themselves up with dresses which scarcely allow them to walk. Some amusement was caused in one of the principal thoro\ighfares the other day by a lady who endeavoured to recover a parachute which she had dropped. She could not stoop to pick it up, and all her endeavours to hook it with her foot were useless. She kicked it against the fence cind tried to raise it that way, but the attempt was useless. Eventually, when I believe, she was about to leave it, a representative of the sterner sex took pity on her, went to the rescue, and restored the article to her.

— To the Editor : Sir — A member of the Auckland community holding a conspicuous position and whom I will for the nonce denominate Z. lately received a number of complimentary tickets for admission to W. Cole's circus. It was understood by the donor, and intimated to the recipient that the said tickets were for the benefit of the various officers under Z's. supervision, but I know from reliable sources that Z. monopolised the whole, leaving the small salaried clerks to find their way into the great menagerie, &c, as best they might, whilst he, with his £400 a year or more, paid not at all. Perhaps dear Mr. Editor, you will be pleased to place this act ofmonstrous official meanness in your valuable columns and oblige. —I am, &c, A Lady who knows.

— The friends of a young lady who went up country to assist in a school kept by two elderly spinsters belonging to the North Auckland district complain very bitterly of the treatment she has received. It appears that these schoolmistresses have a brother who, though the reverse of attractive, is frantically anxious to get married. This person commenced to persecute the poor girl with his attentions soon after her arrival and has continued to do so ever since. The sisters, instead of defending their protegee from his nauseous courtship, tried to persuade her to accept him, and thus the unfortunate young ladies' life has been rendered a burden to her. Happily she has had strength of mind enough to stick to the word "No,' and will leave the place at Christmas.

— This is an age of innovation and progression. Of wholesome innovation for the most part and salutary progression. In a little office on the T of the North Shore Ferry Company, may be seen any day in the Aveek, and every day a young lady, acting the part of a clerk and keeping her father's books. She does the same work as the bookkeeper formerly did, and receives the same rate of pay, only that the work is much better done. The late bookkeeper was not at all attentive to his business, and in his employer's absence, was very often "screwed." The present clerk cm contraire, is diligent, civil, attentive, and well — she doesn't drink, at least, not brandy. So every one is pleased, the public, who are well attended to, the captain, who gets a clerk, impervious to temptation, and the young lady, who rejoices in the weekly cash.

— Though the "Hon." Claud Park has, for the time "being, disappeared from this gay and festive scene, traces of his residence amongst us, still crop up. At Tauranga the other day, an interpleader summons was brought by Mr. C. J. Knapping (erstwhile the Honorable's manager) to determine the ownership of certain goods formerly belonging to Mr. Claud Park, seized in execution, under a judgment, by Messrs. Home and Reid, claimed by the interpleading claimant imder a bill of sale, and also claimed by Mr. Konig, of Katikati, under a like instrument. Messrs. Home and Reid obtained judgment against Mr. Park for £49, of which amount £30 still remains unsatisfied. The plaintiffs proceeded to take some of Mr. Park's property in execution, but Mr. Knapping subsequently claimed it under a bill of sale dated the Ist of June, 1880. A previous bill of sale, dated the Ist of February last, for £55 had been given to Mr. Konig, and after the abandonment of the seizure by the bailiff and the claim being put in by Mr. Knapping, Mr. Purvis resumed possession on behalf of Mr. Konig under the bill of sole of February. Mr. Brabant reserved judgment for a day or two.