WAIKATO WHISPERINGS

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 22, 12 February 1881, Page 224

WAIKATO WHISPERINGS

— E.M.E. is looking much the "better for his recent trip to Tauranga. His button holes are bigger than ever I —The V. B. did not enter for the second swhnining matoh on Saturday, the conditions this time heing understood before the entries closed. —The new medico is fast making a name' for Mmself, and has actually earned the good opinion of the Tadpole ! "What is the reason ? — Waikato is not after all going to lose the society of a certain affable young lady, long resident at Bainilton. — Mr. Stewart, the schoolmaster, for his part lias had the audacity to charge children a penny per -week- for stationery, without having first published his reasons in full in the newspapers. — Further disagreements have, I understand, .trisen among the great guns of St. Andrew's Church. The two great men have separated with mutual scorn. "Just about time" say all the parishioners. — The great libel case is by no means to be allowed to die. One of the parties most deeply interested has declared his intention of going through with it, refusing to accept the written apology and payment of expenses offered by the other side. —A peculiarity of Ngaiuawaliia bankrupts is that immediately after " filing " they invariably purchase harmoniums for their wives. Strange to say the grocers and butchers are so uncultivated as not to appreciate the music of the aforesaid instruments. — "Joe" is going to make it warm- for those of the Cambridge people who refuse to acknowledge his claims upon them for advertising and subscriptions. It is rnnioured that he has applied to the Minister of Justice for a special Court day, in which to dispose of the whole batch of cases. — Another moonlight excursion on the river on Tuesday, in aid of the Hamilton Band, which, by the ■way, has now become the Town Band, the infantry volunteers being about to be disbanded. It is to be hoped that as in the case of almost everything else, the promoters won't overdo it, and give just one moonlight trip too many. —That portion of the enlightened- and inquisitive British public, which hns its abode in Cambridge, is indignant at the conduct of the Education Board, the schoolmaster, and everybody who has anything t.o do with either. The Board, it appears, did not notify the meeting of hoviseholders in the local paper, the consequence being that a few artful dodgers, dissenters principally, slipped in a committee entirely of their own choosing. —There is a delightful unanimity prevailing in Hamilton regarding the proposed public hall. Not many days ago a warm discussion ensued on the subject at the annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Peter's, hut this was completely put in the shade by a meeting ■which took place on Friday last, at which some exceedingly strong language was used. The upshot is that the ■whole matter will stand in abeyance for four or five months. —The recital of sacred music, at St. Peter's Church on Wednesday week, was weak enough to suit the most delicate constitution. And perhaps it was a -wise provision of fate that it was so, the audience being chiefly of the bread and butter caste. Looking at the personnel of the choir (from a musical point of view) perhaps tlia-sEonder is that they did so well. Some of the solos, however, particularly those by Miss Corbett— ■who had generously come all the way from Auckland to assist — and Mr. Laishley were good. There was a disagreeable sameness about the programme, which, in conjunction with the heated astmosphere, was most oppressive. One could hardly go to sleep for the noise ; but niany a vow to keep clear of recitals in the summer for the futnre was secretly registered. — I suppose my non-appreciation of St. Peter's Choir effort is owing to defective education. Let me lope so for their sake. But I would suggest to them, if they really do intend to create a taste for classical music, to give us shorter lessons. If music is to be oiir medicine, let us have it in homeopathic doses. —Talking of choirs and church music reminds me of the strides which the True Blue Presbyterians are making in this direction. An organist, or harmoniumist, has been secured, and a number of ladies iinbixed ■with that great Christian charity which is, or ought to he, broad as the heavens, have agreed to divide their tune between- the Kirk and St. Peter's, going to the former in the morning, and to the Litter in the evening.