THAMES TITTLE TATTLE

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 38, 4 June 1881, Page 414

THAMES TITTLE TATTLE

—Mr L., of the police force, is rbout to commit matrimony. The fortunate lady, Miss A. L., resides on the Shorfcland beach. —Mac and T. F. went round to witness a seance at Madame AVilnaot's a few evenings ago. They sat for fully half-an-hour in anxious anticipation or tnc ghostly visitors, but the spirits remained passive, so Mac ordered whiskies for all present, m order that they might have spirits in at least one form. —There is a certain lady high in Thames society who is looked upon by all the uninitiated as a paragon of virtue and benevolence. What would people say if they knew that two shillings out of every half-a-crown "iven her for charitable purposes went into her own pocket? Would they not think her benevolence was conducted on the principle of " Bobbing Peter to pay Paul. —On the Queen's Birthday the Navals fired the customary royal salute, but none of the volunteers paraded. It seems as though the people here are loth to give the Queen more than is actually necessary to testifiy to their loyalty. The firing party were entertained at dinner afterwards ; but the band were neither called out to play " God Save the Queen," as is customary, nor were they invited to drink the Queen's health. — Since my last jottings very little has occurred. The place seems getting duller and duller, and the people are beginning to ask one another, " How it ■will end." No gold, no money, and no immediate prospect of getting any, is not a very encotu-aging look out. Our estimable prophet, Mr. Wood, avers that it is a sign of the close termination of this temporal sphere. A few months, he tells xisl will see the end of the world. — It is said that a certain section of benevolent ladies, who have the duty of ordering apparel for the destitute, have the privilege of buying the articles from one of our tradesmen at wholesale prices. Who are the "poor and needy" requiring best silk stockings and opera cloaks? It was found that one of the "benevolent" ladies had made a purchase— no doubt for a "deserving case" — of several pairs and a costly opera cloak. — A most serious case of love at first sight occurred on board the p.s. "Patiki," on her down trip from Omaha last Monday. The " own correspondent " i of the Thames 'Tixer had been onhis usual round, jotting down whatever information he was able to pick up, when suddenly he met a flaxen-haired damsel, who had been sojourning at Omaha for the past few weeks, and fell a victim to her fascinating smiles. During the trip lie paid every attention to this gushing damsel, "stand- | ing" her meals, etc.; and, on arrival at the Thames, xnost gallantly volunteering to escort her to an hotel. A slight hitch, howevei-, subsequently occiirred, owing to something the special said to this charming creature. We don't know what it was, but the speech caused her to weep copiously ; and it was only after much coaxing and caressing that the pressman was able to pacify her feelings. — "Our Boys" was produced at the Academy of Music on the Queen's Birthday by the Auckland Garrick Clnb, assisted by Miss May Ensor, of the Thames. The house was full, and the performance excellent. At the dance afterwards Miss D. H. was the beUe. — One of the Thames papers (fearful of being too explicit) said—" The Ladies Benevolent Society may be congratulated on the pecuniary benefit they have derived from the performance." Is no account to be published as to the expenses and proceeds ? People who go to a public performance more out of charity for the distressed people whom it is to benefit, than for j their own amusement, like to see what the proceeds amount to, and how the money is disposed of. And it is j right they should. If the authorities have nothing to ! fear from a detailed list of expenditure and receipts.why not publish it, and relieve people's minds of the thought that there is something they wish to hide ?