WAIKATO WHISPERINGS

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 18, 15 January 1881, Page 170

WAIKATO WHISPERINGS

— The V. B. has not been to Te Aroha lately. The fever has apparently worn off. — The Mesclames Graham gave a pleasant little bread and butter dance to some of their friends at the Tamahera Estate on Tuesday last. —The contract for the Ncav Anglican Church at Cambridge has not been let a day too soon. On Sunday mornings it is almost impossible to obtain sitting room in the present edifice. — A friend of mine has just told me in confidence of a certain little boating excursion on the Waikato river, but the details are too painful to narrate, and I refrain. —Adam and Tommy have been stumping the district as a deputation from the Mountain of Love to raise funds for the erection of a battery. They have been extremely successful — who could resist them ? — It is whispered that the married folk of Hamilton are about to follow the example so worthily set them by their brother Benedicks of Cambridge and give a return ball to the bachelors. — By the way, it is stated that the offence committed- by the latter is not after all of an unforgiveable nature. Several of the jam tart ladies have graciously expressed their condolence with the poor aspersed Steward. — The solos of Mr. McG., at the Catholic concert, were truly magnificent and were encored vociferously. The only objection was that, the audience were not quite snre whether he was singing a comic or sentimental song. —It is a great pity that the celebrated conductor of concerts in Hamilton, strikes the music-stand so often with his baton — it interrupts the harmony of the music. — The coaches to and from the Waikato to Te Aroha, continue to be well patronised, but there is an absence of that excitement which wan ho rampant a couple of months ago. Nothing but a second Caledonian would stir us up now. • — A big, strapping, diplomatic looking chap, who would like to be a J.P., has gone down from a frontier settlement in "Waikato, to Auckland, to try if his friends there can procure for him the great privilege of writing J.P. after his name, — A J.P. is required for Te Awamutu, but we want no more lawyers or lawyers' clerks. Mr. Sloane and Dr. Bhmden are both spoken of as likely to succeed our "amiable and learned friend," and it is to be hoped that one of these gentlemen will be appointed. — Mr. John Knox seems at home in the mayoral chair. He hud long longed for it, and he now occupies it Avith, probably, more satisfaction to himself than to any one else. He will iind it a hard task though to manage the fiery spirits of Hamilton. One thing, however, is greatly in his favour — he is an admirable tactician and can be all things to all men. — The Newcastle Highway Board nuisance has at length been settled, the corner men agreeing to capitulate under certain conditions, which are neither very complex nor very hard to observe. One good will arise out of this arrangement ; the very unfairly treated contractors who have finished their work months and months ago will now stand a chance of getting their money. — On New Year's Eve a promenade concert was held in the beautiful grounds belonging to Mr. William dimming, Kosemount, the funds being devoted to paying for the prizes awarded the children attending the Hamilton East school. The entertainment was of a really excellent character from beginning to end, 'and no efforts on the part of Mr. and Mrs. dimming were spared to make it so. During the evening there was a display of fireworks, which to some extent disconcerted certain of the visitors to whom the many shady nooks possessed greater attractiveness than the open sward where the concert was held. — The concert in aid of the Roman Catholic Church, which came off at Hamilton on Thursday last, was very fairly attended. The proframme which included the "Wreck of the 'inafore " was a long and varied one. Some of the solos «were exceedingly well rendered and were appreciated by the audience. In particular, I might mention, Miss Hunts singing of " Apart. >? This pretty little balad has seldom been more feelingly given. Mrs. T. G. Sandes sang with true pathos the beautiful Scotch song, "One morning oh! so early." Miss Mary McPherson sang "Robins return "with .such delightful naivette, that she had to respond | with "Come into the garden Maud," which was to the full as successful. But the palm was undoubtedly carried off by Mrs. Moftlin, who sang "Kate O'Shane," and in response to a unanimous encore, "Home they brought." Among the male singers Mr. H. Edgecumbe, without doubt, was the most successful.