WAIKATO WHISPERINGS

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 26, 12 March 1881, Page 272

WAIKATO WHISPERINGS

—Jack Gammon lias given up baking for a few days, owing to tlie lively conrptition raging in Alexandra. —Lawn tennis continues to keep the ascendency over cricket, but the Zulu hat, as far as ladies are concerned, lias entirely gone out. —Tain o' Shanter's have not "taken" in "Waikato, only one having as yet been seen m the district. —Cambridge may be healthy, but it is certainly not odoriferous at present. Dust, by the ton, may be had cheap, and Keating' s Plea Powder is at a premium. —The Land Court continues, and that is about all that can be said of it, unless one desires to chronicle the howling inanities of the natives or the ojly ganmionisnis of the white men. —Our flash billiard-marker, who is noted for Ms classical acquirements, diverts the habitue's at Pinch's with sanguinary anecdotes of the ancient kings of P(i)ersia. —I think our venerable friend J.G. (of Welsh extraction) is tired of doing so much "surveyin" " without attracting the attention of any " observer to a himself. Bide-a-wee, bide-a-wee, Ap Sheukin, your turn shall come soon ! —I hear that the Comus Club intend playing " The Lady of Lyons." With the twenty acting members (save the mark), which Von credits them, they ought to make a hit. Von is to play Damas. What a trelit that will be. Those persons who have an antipathy to " bees " had better fight shy of the Cambridge Farmer's Club on Thursday afternoons, as it is a remarkable tact that a heavy swarm, marked " dangerous," visits that vicinity at those times. — "Audus" will now be happy! After having surmounted a great many lower " bars " to his success in life, he has, at last, overcome the highest bar of all and considers it quite a " National achievement, especially as " David" vouches for the respectability of the whole concern. —The "native outrage" at Hora Hora, which has exhausted the capitals in some of the newspaper offices, turns out to be a very paltry affair. Ihe natives merely protested, as is their wont, against the occupation of the land by Maclean and Co., and the latter have merely expressed a determination to hold what they conceive to be their own. —It will be as well to warn all intending visitors to Cambridge next October, only to bring sufficient money with them for necessary expenses, as it is known, on good authority, that a large robbery is beiu^ organised to take place then. The gang (principally composed of females) belongs to the well known St. Andrew's band, which has been attracting public notice for some time past. The excitement at present in the new ethiopiau troupe which has been organised by a number of musically inclined young gentlemen in Hamilton, anxious to rescue this popular old form of entertranment from the mire, through which it has been dragged by " Byronic" and " Musical and Literary " societies— those dear pets of the Toad. That great and glorious institution, the Cambridge Temperance Society have been making a mess of things generally. The curses which they have poured forth on the heads of sinful publicans for the past few months have come home to roost. The disreputable course adopted by the society in regard to Mr. Raynes' application for an up-stairs bar, and the humiliating expose connected with a certain little note, which the "secretary wrote with the object of influencing the Licensing Commissioners, ought to be sufficient to damn the association, as at present constituted, for all time. No body that I know of objects to temperance They all freely admit that the world would be happier and better if the drinking habits of the people were lessened. But a reform is not to be accomplished by the institution of a system of petty tyranny such as that which the Temperance League in Cambridge, and I doubt not in other parts of the world, is trying to enforce. —Perhaps the secretary of this League may not be aware that the offence of tampering with justice is a very serious one. — But as every tragedy has its mirth-provok-ing episodes, as the saddest music has somewhere a sprightly passage, so even in the temperance drama, which has been enacted at Cambridge, there is something to smile over. On Saturday, the Rev. Mr. Willis, a moving spirit among the total abstainers, and as such, a violent opponent to the granting an up-stairs bar to Mr. Eaynes, found himself, who knows how, in the main passage of the National. Mr. Eaynes, with the politest inclination of the head, hoped the rev. gentleman was well, and asked him to come up-stairs to inspect the bar. And the rev. gentleman actually went to see it. — The number of those who attended the elegant little bread and butter affair given by the married ladies of Hamilton could not have been far short of 80, and this notwithstanding that the country people hardly turned up at all. The refreshments were delicious, especially the tipsy cake, of which a confiding young friend of mine can speak feelingly. The music was the only drawback, the pianist having left his pieces at home, and having to rely on his memory. Next to the music the floor was deserving of censure, but what will not young lightsome hearts and airy feet do ? The belle of the ball was undoubtedly Miss M., of Auckland. The only others in the running were Miss S. and Miss N. — A young but enterprising auctioneer, whose remote ancestor, to judge by the name, must have been a follower of Diana, found himself safe in the custody of Constable Brennan, on Saturday, by whom he was conducted in the direction of the lockup. It happened in this wise. The firm held a bill of sale over a horse belonging to an insolvent tradesman, and the V but H auctioneer, on Saturday, took possession of the animal, and the insolvent's mother, indignant at such an intrusion on the sacred rights of a British subject, gave the robber of her peace and horse in charge. On consulting her solicitor immediately afterwards, she was informed that she had committed a grevions wrong, and this overcame her so that she intimated her intention of "dhrowning" herself. As there was no water in Cambridge, she was happily prevented from carrying out her threat. The prisoner was released afc once, and once again carried the horse off in triumph. — Over the Bridge. —(A Hamiltonian Legend.) Air: Over the Sea: — Over the bridge, over the bridge, Trotting along the Te Aroha ridge ; " Sambo," who's dat In the bell-topper hat ? 'Tis K-nn-dy going to woo! And its oh ! oh ! oh ! The widow it buxom, the widow is fair, And the poor V.B. Would just like to " pop " if he dare. (Perhaps he has though ! so) Over the bridge, over the bridge, Trotting along the Te Aroha ridge, Publish the bans, Sound the tin cans, K-nn-dy' s learnt how to woo !