Thames Tittle Tattle

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 35, 14 May 1881, Page 378

Thames Tittle Tattle

— On Monday and Tuesday, the 3rd and 4th insts, Mr Herbert Smith exhibited his diorama, the views being- brought out most strikingly by the use of oxy -hydrogen gas. — The Thames people on this occasion were n pathetic, and poor Herbert only had twenty -nine people in the Academy of Music on Tuesday evening, twelve of whom were school teachers with complimentary tickets. —Poor H. K. of the Scotch Choir lost his voice at the Wnikuto, he is, however, working harder than helms done for Mennie a Dey at " There is a Flour Miat bloometh." — The talented organist of the Cnurch has had to leave. His partiality for too many crochets in the hni having rendered his performances too spirited for the influxes. His choir melted away and he was not re-quired. — A rumpus occurred recently in the Congregational Church choir, and, in consequence, the fair Miss M. lias deserted the ranks of those who endeavour to give a little life to the dull ceremony at this place of worship. — Geordie Symington "wants particularly to meet with the youth who levanted through the window of his bedroom ;it the Bowen very early one morning last week. Geordie has been heard to declare that if that brush and comb doesn't find its way back, there will be trouble. — Mrs. 11. looked charming on Sunday morning last, at St. George's Church. She wore a dark green robe trimmed with black satin. She did not wear her favourite Tarn o' Shanter, in which she always appears to (ulvnntiiye, but a bonnet simply and yet tastefully trimmed with pink.

— Mrs. C.'s two lost geese "were found at Mrs. A.'s dance on Wednesday evening 1 last, where they behaved more like turtle-doves than geese. Mr. "W. wtis very wrath with, your special for talcing him for a goose, but I iiui glad to state they are now as great C(r)oneys as ever. — It is currently reported that Mr. W. (a rising- young schoolmaster) and Miss T>. are abotit to tie the nuptial knot during 1 the midwinter vacation. The reason the wedding- has been postponed till then is that he wants a. comforter and she a muff. I cannot vouch for his obtaining 1 a comforter, but am quite sure that she will get n. muff A well-lniown young gentleman of Coromundel, who is a man and no cart, is lamenting that he has misu'd his Baij. — If young Mi*. H. (another rising young schoolmaster) only knew that it was the bald head of young Mi-. G., of the Bank of , he was kissing last Wednesday night at Mrs. A.'s dance, instead of the rosy lips of the charming' Miss >he would have thought twice before he " shouted " for Mr. H., his long-standing friend, for turning oil the gas. — Several complaints have "been lately made about the manner in which charities are dispensed, to poor people, by the Ladies' Benevolent Society. It is said that some really deserving unfortunates are left to starve, whilst some who do not require relief, are ia weekly receipt of it. The proceeds of " Our Boys," to be given in the Academy of Music by the Auckland Garricic Club (assisted by Miss M. E., of the Thames), will be devoted to the Ladies' Benevolent Society. — " Pride will have a fall" is a time honoured saying, and nowhere has it been better illustrated than on Sunday afternoon last, at Shortland. Young D.. anxious to show off his equestrianism to a number of Sunday school teachers and scholars, rirged his horse to a gallop and ended in dismounting per capite, to the amusement of the onlookers. The horse dashed in amongst the girls, and ib was really a sight worth looking at to see them " skedadle " gracefully over the nearest fence. During the transit, nothing was visible but a confused mass of waving limbs and intricate underlinen. Young D. will not in future indulge in equestrian feats on Sunday afternoons. — It was a great joke the other evening to see an M.H.R. and Mr. F. playing blind man's biiff in the Templars' Hall. Both gentlemen heartily enjoyed this pastime, puerile as it may seem. However, both the M'H.E. and young F., were elected '" blind man," and had their eyes duly bandaged. After " pawing " the air all around the room in search of captives, these two gentlemen fell into each other's arms. It was fun to see them feeling each other's physiognomy, and simulta-

neonsly shouting out "It's Jones." "No." "It's Brown." " It's Parker," etc. It was not until Mr. F. felt the bandage on his fellow blind man's eyes, that he discovered he had been hugging and clawing his cooperate. — The "Sorcerer" wag played at the Academy of Music on Thursday week last, and there was a good house to witness the second opera performed by the Thames Opera Troupe. The singing was, as a whole, fair, but the acting 1 , with the exception of Messrs Steward and Coney, and Mrs. Corrigan's several representations, was truly vile. Mrs. Corrigan as "Lady Sangazure" wns thoroughly successful, and undoubtedly carried off the palm as being the best actress and vocalist, combined, on the stage. Mrs Kilgour, although an excellent vocalist, is by no means an actress, and her movements on the stage are always characterised more or less by want of grace. — The "incantation scene" was about as •vile a piece of stnge management as could be imagined. Mr. Stewart, as " John Wellington Wells," invokes the " sprites of earth and air " to assist him in his Mephistophelean enterprise, and, previous to calling in their aid, says to Aline " Are you quite sure you have nerve enough to carry you through the fearfiU ordeal ? " and the fearful ordeal consisted of the ignition of a few damp matches and a feeble pink glow from some "home cured" red fire which, not being properly mixed, objected to go off. This was the "incantation scene," wnich. sliould have been tlie most effective one of tlie whole opera. Mr. Airey, as " Alexis," sang well, but "Why doesn't he unbutton his collar," as a voice shouted to him to do from the pit ? The less said about the choruses, the better, as they were too awful to be criticised. There was £45 in the house, and £30 is said to have been swallowed up in the costs. The Stay remarks that printing and advertising and rent of hall would not run away with £30. I have made enquiries, and the following is a list of the expenses:— E. O. E. Owen, professional fee, £5 55. ; Mr. C. Brown, professional fee and expenses, £3 ; rent of hall, £3 ; printingand advertising, £4 ; costumes for Mrs. K. and Miss C, £10 ; other costumes and incidentals, £4 155. ; Total £30. It seems rather hard, that after the committee of St. John's Church have had all the trouble in connection with ticket printing etc., a paltry sum of £15 should only be handed to them. The only ones who have cause to laugb, are the professionals engaged in tlie opera, as they got paid, whilst the poor chorus did not even havea bottle of beer between them !