Personal

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 29, 2 April 1881, Page 306

Personal

— Edwin Browne has returned to America. — Frank's baby has already shown signs of a weakness for kissing. How funny ! — Mr. James Patten who was injured at Onehunga last Saturday week is progressing favourably. — Poor dear Jim ! How we miss him in Queen-street. — Miss N. of Onehunga is about to tie the fatal knot with Mr. Geo. C. of tlie same locality. — Mr. Hopkins left town on Monday to attend the funeral of Capt. Rye's little boy at Otametea. — A pension of £200 a year has been conferred on Mr. Alfred Russell the well-known spiritualist. — Mr. Ralph Keesing has returned from the Waikato and again had his hair cut. — So Joe Ellis is not after all to be the new "boss '• of the Lake House Hotel at Eotorua. — Capt. Morris, of Tauranga, has added 2000 merino sheep to the flocks on his station. — Mr. Hollo Parker, formerly of Katikati, has been appointed school teacher at the Hot Lakes. — Amy Sherwin is still in New York. She made her first appearance this season at the Chickering Hall. — Mr. McCarthy, erstwhile manager of the Press Agency, has become editor of the Grey River Argus. — Dr. Rogers, late of the "Lady Jocelyn," has been appointed Medical Officei at the Kawakawa Colliery. — Very broad gold rings with the wearer's crest in red are the fashion now for gentlemen. H. H. has one. — Archibald Forbes writes that he will arrive in Auckland by the inward May mail steamer from San Francisco. — Jim Coates can't find out the name of the nnnie of the lady who called to enquire after him and shed tears on hearing of the relapse. — Miss Marston Leigh, who will play in Auckland with James Carden, is the daughter of the dramatic critic of the Illustrated London News. — Willie F. of Onehunga was doing the grand with four young; ladies at the Domain on St. Patrick's Day. Black curly hair is the attraction with the Onehunga ladies at present. — Jim Coates is recovering from his relapse but seems still very weak. The mere exertion of reading the paper (the Herald, not the Observer) and writing a note overtired him the other day. — Query : Which testimonial does Horace Dean think most of. The one presented to him by Superintendent Hughes, or the one given him (straight from the elbow) by Mr. Jennings ? — Dannie N. of Onehunga has joined the Union S.S. Co. as captain. He has already got the cap with the gold bands, the rest of the uniform he expects by the next mail boat. — It is understood that Mr. W. J. Hurst is about to initiate a criminal action for libel against the proprietor of the Fref Lnncc. Mr. Hesketh and Mr. Tyler have been engaged for the prosecution. — Why doesn't Mr. Hurst invite the great chemist Mr. Mclvor to report on the artificial manures etc. he otters for sale. It would be a fine advertisement if they really are good F — Detectives Brennnn and Jeffrey distinguished themselves by arresting the n-ronq man on board R.M.S. " Zealandia "on Tuesday. Luckily the mistake was found out almost at once or there might have been trouble. — The idea of Solomon "sitting on the edge of a Mne cloud, playing the harp " is repugnant to Lotti Wilmot who considers him " an abominable old polygamist" and doesn't want to meet him either in the next or any other world. — Captain Cooper, of the "Island Lily," returned to Auckland on Saturday last, after an absence of nine months. His wife had a son a month after he went away, so that the little fellow was eight months old before his father saw him. — Sir George and Lady Bowen took np their abode at the Hotel Bridolin Paris, in January, and intend remaining there for the season. They hold weekly receptions which are fairly well attended by the English residents. — Barton Ireland says that the letters J.P. after his name signify " Judge of Pigskins," W. J. Hurst is of opinion that those after his name mean " Judge of Pigs," and Mr. Martelli declares that the same letters attached to his cognomen mean "Judge of Politeness." —A. correspondent informs me that Andy Branigan, the crack bowler of the Young- Aucklanders, meditates relinquishing his present occupation and setting out on a ventriloquial tour in opposition to Lieut. Herman. His imitation of the nigger Crusoe is quite unique. — Bill Rattray is on the growl just now. He has been summoned to serve on the jury next week, and he doesn't seem pleased with the prospect. He would be quite content to sacrifice any of his friends or even any of his assistants for the benefit of his country, but, unfortunately, he can't serve on a jury by proxy, and the great palladium of our liberties requires his services. He will have to attend or be fined. — An English sporting paper says : "It is understood that when Sir Hercules retires from the Governorship of the Cape, which will probably, under present circumstances, prove a more difficult post than any he has yet held, he intends settling either in New Zealand or New South Wales, but which of the two has not j r et been decided." — The quiet Mr. H. R. of Karnngahape-road (not so quiet as he looks) after a short flirtation with Miss A. P., popped the question, and was accepted. About the same time, her brother George and his sister Kate came to the same understanding with regard to themselves. We may therefore hope for a double wedding shortly. Would Mr. Eller kindly send us the pattern of his continuations. We have tried in vain to get that fetching " hitch up" which shows to such advantage from a back view. Cuttings of the cloth are very much sought after by his lady friends who think kiltings for the^hems of the said garments would be a touching finish and a novelty in unmentionables hitherto unheard of. Scene : Yard of a Sydney hotel ; Ketten in cricketing suit, approaches Imge dog kennel ; dog comes out and holds up paw. Great musician : " Rockey, mon chien. void votre hon maitre. [To ostler] : Bockey do vant a vash— he do not smell sweet. Please kindly do vash poor Eockey's face, and just make one little ponding for his lonche." And then, as the great musician walked off, he said, "Good-bye, dear Rockey, my darling." Fact. — Mr. T. D. Fenner, who died at the North Shore on the morning of Sunday last, had been consumptive for a long time. This time four yeai - s ago his life was despaired of, and it was confidently asserted by the doctors that he would not live through another winter. Live through it, however, he did, and three others besides, indeed it was only a month ago that he took to his bed. Mr. Fenner had no relatives out here, but many friends, all of whom did their best to soothe and comfort his last moments.