BRIEF MENTION.

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 38, 4 June 1881, Page 411

BRIEF MENTION.

—The Soldenes are not coming to Australia. — The hint given to the widow last week has had some effect, but " chips " had better be careful. —There has been another grand "hop" at Mongonui, at which Miss C. was considered 1 the belle. — Another lot of Chinamen are on the way lie 1 " 1 . Where's Garrard ? —The choir at St. Matthew's would not be muoii withont the redoubtable Tommy Buruam. — The London Standard devoted nineteen columns to the obituary of Lord Beaconsfield. —Mr Gilmore entertained a party of friends at Ponsonby, on Tuesday evening. — Messrs Hopkins and Cole have been at work among the pheasants in the Waipu district. — There seems to be a general impression about that Mr Nelson was not very well on Sunday evening. — It is not generally known that Mr Hornby's dog "Ranger" is the grandest pointer in the North Island. — The Relative of the Royal Family (" Gawd save the Relative") takes a profound interest in the Epsom Hall, of which he foresees himself the chairman. — Anxious enquiries are being made by several young ladies from Remnera as to the whereabout of Arthur T — s. — Jim Rose left by the ' 'Arawata" on Thursday for Sydney en route for England. He is dead sick of the Colonies. — There was a confirmation service at St. Matthew's on Sunday evening, and the church was crammed. — A blushing young maid of seventy summers was a candidate for confirmation at St. Matthew's, last Sunday evening' — An engagement is announced between Mr E. M. Dickie, farmer, of Whatawhata, Waikato, and Miss Fanny Howard, of Onehuuga. — The changeable little " Prairie Flower " at Mongonui is completely " gone " again. It is said to be all (W)right this time. — Herbert H. Smith's last spec, was not a very good one. Twelve persons only patronised his panorama on Thursday evening. — Mr Montrose quotes Ivess' advertisement about the Waiknto Mail being for sale or lease, which looks as if he meant to relinquish it. — The evening had been convivial. "And now, gentlemen," said a promoter of the uew Coffee Palace scheme, " I'll protose a post." — On his arrival in 'Frisco the bankrupt Lingard told the Press reporters that he had cleared £14,000 in the Colonies. Verh sap. — The Freethought Association have been promised three bibles and a parcel of tracts for .their library. They are truly grateful. — Three years of luxurious splendour have ruined the Langtrys, and their furniture in the London house (Norfolk-street) was sold by auction the other day. — A young lady who fancies herself "considerable" (as the Yankees would say) attached the word " Miss " to her name, when singing a receipt, the other day. — A Mongonui correspondent writes : — "What would you think of a local school committee who gave the children a holiday whenever the schoolhouse was wanted for a dance ?" — Mr Alfred Wood, of the Survey department who met with such a severe accident last week at Newmarket, took a drive the other day accompanied by his brother. He is still far from well. — What was the centre of attraction that caused Georgie Grey to miss the steamer in order to be at the Onehunga dance ? We have an idea, and intend to keep it. — The ex-belle of Onehunga, Miss Sarah Brewer, returned from Wanganui in time for the bread-and-butter dance, but unfortunately left her heart behind down South. — Madame Lotti Wilmot, who has not (as yet) joined her friends, the spirits in Purgatory, desires to thank her earthly acquaintances for kind enquiries, and hopes to be able to reappear among them shortly. — Mr Walter Reynolds, who has prospered " muchly " since his last stay here, and looks uncommonly well, arrived by the " Te Anau," on Monday, to superintend the " Children's Pinafore." — The little Frenchman, Caillau, is doing remarkably well with his singing class, and has had to rent a larger hall. The girls roll up in numbers, and seem to like the lessons very much. Is the secretary or the " boss " himself the attraction ? — Mrs. Lingard seceded from her husband's troupe at Denver and left for England, taking with her her two children. Dickie Lingard takes Mrs L.'s place, and will play the heroine in " Betsy," &c, through the States. — As an instance of the extraordinary success achieved by the Children's Pinafore troupe, it may be mentioned that the piece ran nine nights in Napiei 1 (which has only 6000 inhabitants), and that the lunise •was crammed on each occasion. — On dit that the messenger at the Town Clerk's office swears he cleared the waste-paper basket out completely the night before detective Jeffrey found the tender envelope and cash in it. Strange, isn't it ? We wish Jeffrey would find ours in a similar way. — On Monday last a highly enterprising person was joined in the bonds of matrimony to a lady who has already three husbands living. No. 1 resides in New South Wales, No. 2 is an Aucklander, and No. 3 is on board the " Southern Cross." — The members of the West End Cricket intend holding a re-union on Tuesday evening next at Canning's. The rewards for the best bowling and batting averages of both elevens will then be presented to the successful ones. — We are delighted to hear that our par re Mr Seymour George suffering from sunstroke was incorrect. The dinner at the Northern to " Our Bankers " was just a little too much for him, followd as it was with a sea voyage. — There was an affecting scene prior to the departure of the " Loch Dee " for London. The sweetlysympathetic girls wished Wilson, the jovial chief officer, a fond farewell, and hoped that he might be back here again in six months. By-the-bye, Mr. Wilson is to be promoted to a command on his return to England. — Alice Lingard, speaking of Australia to the editor of the S.F. News Letter, said.— "The New Zealanders are at once the kindest and most appreciative audiences I eyer came before. In Auckland I had two benefits within two weeks, which were crowded to suffocation and most remunerative." Ahem ! — Mr. Nelson reproved one very small boy in the choir on Sunday night, but the misbehaviour of two ladies near him passed vmnoticed. This is the way of tlie world in general, and parsons in particular. Punish tho weak and defenceless, but ignore the stronger vessels. — Mr John Mills, of H. M. C, warehouse keeper at Auckland for a number of years, has, we are very pleased to hear, been appointed jchief clerk at Christchurch with a.substantial increase to his salary. Everyone who knows Mr Mills will congratulate him on Ms well deserved promotion.

— Banclmann has not been as well patronised as he deserved to be, during tlio week. There was a good house to witness the " Corsicun Brothers," but generally speaking the audiences have been wretchedly bad. The Herr's Richard 111. is a fine performance, and. so is Miss Beaudet's Eosalind. — A fair lady was engaged at the washingtub within sight and speech of the road, the other day. when a gentleman on horseback passed and asked, " How are you, Mrs S. ?" Shereplied, " Pretty well, thank you. How are you, sir?" "Oh," replied the swain, "I'm well, but I'm not pretty !" — Miss Coates and Miss Thorne George proceeded to "Waiwera, on Friday last, to ascertain the exact health of Mr James Coates, who was not so well. We are pleased to hear he is much better, and will accompany Mr Seymour George to the Kawau on Wednesday. — Ranger Goldie, of the Domain, accomplished the feat of doing 75 miles in a day, on Ben DOr, from Wairoa South. He is thoroughly up in all the different kinds of Rata, having- spent three weeks there lately in search of new ferns. A ■ wicked Wairoa man says he occupied most of his time flirting. — The programme of the winter course of entertainments to be given in connection with St. Matthew'd parish, during 1881, is most attractive. We think we see Mr Hitchcock's hand in the arrangement. There is more sensible amusement and less talkee-talkeo than usual, and there can bo little doubt that the innovation will be a success. — The engineer of the Parnell Borough Council is to be hauled over the coals at the next meeting. One of the councillors expresses himself disgusted with soine work that has been passed, and gave notice of motion at the last meeting to the etiect that "the artist's (sic) services be dispensed with," or words to that effect. We shall hear all about it soon. — "Go from home to hear the news." The 'Frisco News Letter says : — " Favonrite actresses in New Zealand are treated like queens. At their benefits they are always presented with costly presents of jewellery. Alice May, a singer, now playing at the Globe, in London, was presented with a pair of diamond earrings, valued at £200, on her benefit night in Wellington." —Rather a ribald rhyme lias been current in London society apropos of the Burdett-Coutts marriage. It runs thus : — I went to a wedding the other day, And heard the jolly parson say To the bride who stood by, all blushing with joy, " Do you wish me to christen this blooming boy ?" — Particulars are to hand of a small shooting party (three in number) who left here one morning at early dawn anticipating splendid sport, and returned tired out, at night, with 3 guns, 3 gulls, and 3 girls ! This sort of sport is most encouraging, and even leads us to think seriously of ordering several desperate looking weapons and taking a trip ourselves. — When Herr Carl Schmidt returned from Tasmania to Sydney, on his way to Auckland, a requisition (signod by Sir Alfred Stephen and 200 families) was presented to him, begging him to stay in Sydney and guaranteeing a substantial salary. Having pledged his word to Judge Fenton that he would come to Auckland, the Herr was of course compelled to decline the offer. — It is really wonderful how nasty and illnatured folks are. The projected sale of that reclaimed land at the bottom of Queen-street to the Coffee Palace Company might surely have been allowed to pass wthout remark, and yet people have been talking a good deal about it, and absolutely congratulating the seller.-; on their bargain. — Mr George Thomas, an Orum farmer, wonders how it is all his sheep are at present troubled with sore eyes, and asks — " Can it be through their looking so hard for grass, which is very scarce here owing to the continued dry weather r 1 " Some of his friends have advised him to provide each sheep with a pair of green spectacles ! — The cloudy Brook (eh ! eh !) was at the Newmarket concert and actually secured an encore. He favoured the audience with " a fine song," "an old national air," and " one of Arthur Sullivan's compositions ;" at least, so says " B Natural" in the Star, and he ought to know all about it. The local folk must have some capital singers out there, for every one received a flattering reception, according to the critique. — A woman named Berenguin is convicted of the cold-blooded murder of her old mother. She admitted having smashed her mother's head with a hammer, because " the old woman would not die, and it cost so much to keep a useless old crone." Yet extenuating circumstances were awarded, and this paragon of filial affection was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for " involuntary" homicide. — A correspondent writes : — "lt seems as if the Howe-street Homo had at last secured a suitable superintendent, indeed if Hogan cannot put those youngsters through, they will have to be given up as a bad job. Since the ex-constable has taken the children over they look neater aDd better clad, are more orderly and less quarrelsome. He accompanies them to church regularly, and now and again for a day's outing to Shelly Beach or some similar spot." — Haselmayer owed the recovery of his jewellery and cash mainly to a gentleman who took a good deal of trouble over the matter, paying cab hire to the police station and otherwise putting himself out of the way. The Professor's sole recognition of the stranger's kindness was contained in the observation, " I believe I owe you a drink." It is to be hoped he rewarded the police (who deserve great praise for their prompt action) more substantially. — A certain gentleman who resides in Parnell is advised to take a piece of well meant advice and cease following the unattended lady whom he has dogged to church for several successive Sunday evenings. She is most indignant and has requested us to say that she will call in the assistance of male friends unless the nuisance ceases. As an esclandrc of a public character would not suit the gay Lothario he had really better consider '••his warning. — Mr Day, Mrs Day, and all the little Days left for Salt Lake by the mail steamer on Tuesday week. That unfortunate affair about the missing tender was satisfactorily cleared up by old Jeff on the previous day, much to Mr Day's delight. Had it not been found lie might probably have been prevented visiting his Mormon friends and thus deprived of the desire of his heart. Our friend, before leaving, spoke cheerfully of his prospects and promised to inform his friends in Axickland as to things in general, and himself in particular, when he reached the city of the saints. — The Choral Society's concert on Tuesday was only a sweces d'csLime. Herr Carl Schmidt happened to be present, and, though surprised at the small number of chorus singers, expresses himself fairly satisfied with his future charges. He thinks that if the members will show a little enthusiasm, and work hard, the Society may become one of the best in the Australian colonies. Special praise, he says, is due to Mr Vincent Rice, who has obviously had a very up-hill and unpleasant task. —The Juvenile Pinafore Troupe, which open on Monday evening next at the Theatre, have created the greatest furore ever known in New Zealand. This is strong language, but strict truth. The company was composed in Melbourne by Mr Williamson and Mr Reynolds who picked the cream of Mrs Lewis's famous " Children's Pinafore" troupe, and, added thereto, Mr Pollard's children, who are literal prodigies, playing, singing, and dancing in a most extraordinary manner. Altogether there will be over 100 performers, as well as a splendid band, M in number, which Mr Reynolds brings with him. —On Thursday evening, 26th inst., the members of St. Andrew's Mutual Improvement Association rendered a selection of readings and recitations from Shelley, Macaulay, Dickens, Bret Harte, and other authors, most creditably. We have before us a copy of their current winter programme, which comprises essays and lectures on the following subjects : — Charles Kingsley, Ethnology, Oliver Cromwelll, The Temperance Question, Art of Printidg, Life and Times of Frederick the Great (illustrated), The English Revolutions, etc. ; evenings with Lord Byron, and Bret Harte ; and three debates. The programme is a good one, and tastefully got iip.

— That was a nice, quiet, orderly, and unanimous little meeting which was held at Mount Eden the other evening, when one and all decided to go hand in hand to prevent a certain publican getting a license, xes, they are a determined lot of men those Edenites, and if they do not succeed it will not he Cole's fault. The licensing court meets next week at Onehunga, we believe, and about forty persons have actually promised to roll up en masse and object to the proposed pub. Ihey expect (so it was stated at the meeting) to literally cram the court, so if our friend the publican should be taken the same way and bring another half-hundred to back him up, things will look pretty lively. — An instance of petty spite of a most contemptible nature has been brought under our notice. A suburban hall, which is jointly owned by two gentlemen who shall be nameless.is rented by a Good Templar Lodge. One of the owners, who is a high dignitary of the lodge, and a shining light of the noble order, desired to purchase his partner's share in the hall. The amount offered was very low, and the non-Templar, at the same time, did not desire to dispose of his property, he therefore declined the offer. Next week he received a peremptory note from the lodge informing him that they would find some other meeting place, and would not require his room for the future. Comment would be sui)erfluous. —It was very amusing at the rink, the other evening, to watch a certain lady who had lost her skates or, as she insists, had them stolen and thought she knew who had taken them. Three young ladies entered, and, as they were putting on their skates, the " skateless " matron came swooping down upon them like a wolf on the fold. She told them her woe, and then proceeded to inspect each one's skates ; when she came to the third, who by accident had brought her brother's skates instead of her own, " Oh," she said, " those great clumping things are not mine." Of course the cream of the joke lies in the fact that the three young ladies were not acquainted, neither had they ever previously spoken to the skateless one. — A gentleman of our acquaintance, a Wesleyan, and "goody-goody" has fallen away from the " narrow path " and taken a trip along that broad and comfortable highway which, the authorities aver, leads to destruction. For some time past, he has been spoony on a Queen-street barmaid, and, the other night, he fell a victim to the charms of the fair-haired Hebe at the Hotel, She and her companion fooled the fellow to the tox> of his bent, |and, after shouting champagne nd lib., he agreed to stand them tickets to the Theatre the next night. Strange to say, when he got home, his wife wanted him to take her the same night, and would hear of no refusal. The unfortunate Gay Lothario had, consequently to sit by his wife in the dress circle whilst the barmaids giggled behind him. — The proprietors of the Waikato Times and Mail have been indulging, through their respective papers, in an interchange of rather strong compliments. Monty is a veritable " terror " when he ("to use a vulgar expression) "gets his shirt out," and in Monday's issue he printed a letter, ostensibly contributed by a correspondent but in reality bearing traces of his own fine Koinan hand, which is the " hottest " thing we ever read in a newspaper. What the person attacked intends to do, has not transpired, but a Hamilton correspondent declares, "He must either leave the district or bring an action for libel," Bah ! say we, it is a thousand pound note to a "tuppenny" turnip he puts his finger to his nose and does — nothing. — The Onehunga bread-and-butter party was not to be compared with one of those given in the good old days when the youug bloods of Auckland who took charge of the Onehunga dances consisted of Sam Morrin, Ned Jones, Owen Jones, Mensdorff Atkyns, Honourables Hussy, and Claud Vivian, Charles Long, Walter Brewer, Tom Cleghorn, Charley Laishley, Seymour George, Gus Coates, and the officers of the different regiments stationed here. In those days everyone worked to make it a success, there is now too much, very much too much of the card business. It was not uncommon, on Friday last, to see several eligible young men preferring whist with the old gentlemen, to dancing with some of the handsomest girls in the Colonies. Shows great want of something, doesn't it ? — The Mount Albert Public Hall was, on Thursday evening last, the scene of a novel and delightful festivity in the shape of the first of a series of Cinderella dances which have been organized by Mrs Greenwood who is the leader of the local society and a most energetic and successful promoter of such affairs. The attendance was large and fashionable, and the music excellent. The committee used their best exertions to make everyone feel at home, and when at last the evening came to a close the guests went away well pleased. These dances will be continued at intervals throughout the winter, and if their popularity doesn't lead to overcrowding, they ought to become quite a feature of Mount Albert society. Mrs Greenwood deserves special kudos for inaugurating them. — The fond mother of a fat son has been having a brush with the suburban postmaster at Mount B . It appears the lad was sent down for some letters, and availed himself of the opportunity to insult the postmaster, who told him that as a gentleman's son he ought to know how to behave himself. Mamma, to whom this salutary advice was repeated, visited the postmaster to avenge her offspring, and a duel of words followed. At length madam whispered something, apparently very insulting, which the postmaster couldn't hear. "What was that you said, ma'am?" he asked, irately. But the lady wouldn't reply; she merely lifted her head proudly and observed, " I spoke." ''Ah," retorted the postmaster rudely, "so did Balaam's ass." We don't for one instant wish to justify this reply. It was rude — very rude ; but if fine ladies condescend to quarrel with inferiors they must not be surprised if they get a " oue'er " occasionally. — Haselmayer the conjuror who has been drawing good houses to the Lorne-strcet Hall during the past week is a very poor wizard. His tricks are as old as the hills, and compared with those of Maskelyne or even Heller, extremely second rate. The box trick, about which so much fuss is made, has really nothing in it. Somewhere in the inside (not, of course, sufficiently apparent for a casual observer to discover) there is a spring which releases the whole of the back, and enables Madame Haselmayer to slip out. When we were on the platform we heard the " click " distinctly, and so will anyone else who goes tip there to investigate. The professor is very generous in his offers to allow anyone to be locked up inside the box like Madame, but we rather think that if a smart boy were put inside and allowed to knock about he would not be long in finding the spring and releasing himself. Hasehnayer's Psycho isn't to be named in the same breath with Maskelyne's. The latter always wins the game of whist, and has beaten Cavendish and other first-rate players ; whereas Haselmayer' s is just a commonplace automaton with nothing particularly wonderful about it. — To the Editor : Sir, — I see by a local in yotir last issue that you sympathize with Mr George Aitkin, C.B, re his treatment by the Harbour Board. For his consolation I will briefly state how another C.E. was served. About ten years ago, on the creation of the Harbour Board, Mr W. J. Dalton, C. E, wrote a pamphlet of about 80 pages of foolscap, entitled " Eemarks on the Harbour and City of Auckland Improvements." These remarks were read and approved of by Mr Von Stunner, the then editor of the Herald, and arrangements made to publish them in a series of letters. While the manuscript was in the hands of the printer, a member of the Board requested me to withdraw them and to consider them the property of the Board as " they were just the thing that was required." I foolishly did so, and the remarks were read and approved of by Messrs Yonder Heyde, Sam Cochrane, Tonks, Heather, and others. That some of the suggestions in the " Eemarks " wore approved of, I have the evidence before my eyes. But what became of the " Remarks " I know not I could never get them back again. They sparkled, were exhaled, and went — well — to the "Archives," I suppose.— l am etc., War. Jas. Dalton. — Anent the early closing movement, the following will show the class of customer the poor jaded shop assistant toils to please until midnight on Saturday : — Scene — A certain drapery establishment not very far from Queen-street. Time — Nine o'clock Saturday evening. Enter lady customer, smiling. Draper's Assistant : " What can I have the pleasure of showing you this evening, madam ?" Lady Customer : " I want to see some good serge." D.A.: " Certainly ; we have some very good ones at Is per yard," placing several pieces on the counter. L.C.: "Yes, those look good. Could you not charge less ? I want a whole piece. A friend of mine told me I should get a very good one at 6d per yard. What length is there in a piece ?" D.A. : " From thirty to forty yards." L.C.: "Oh 1 I thought

there would not be more than ten or twelve ; but I do not want it to-night. Have you any white calico?" D.A.: " Tes, from 5d per yard." L.C.: "I do not want to give more than 4d." D.A.: " I oun give yon a grey calico at that price." L.C.: -'Oh, never mind; Ido not want it to-niijlit. Perhaps you will have some when I come for the serge." With a very pleasant smile she walked out of the establishment, leaving the D.A. greatly disgusted, on not having done any business after twenty minutes' attention at such a late hour. — Wairoa Notes. — Ned Clark has joined the Benedicts.— Miss Maria has made her debut at the Dances. Yo'mg men beware, lest she break as many hearts as her sisters have done. — Will the "Infant" ever learn to spell correcoly F — A gentleman noted for his assurance, on a vssit to Auckland lately, made a novel wager and won it. Strolling into one of the leading warehouses where seamstresses are employed, he introduced himself to the principal as the newly appointed Government inspector of work-rooms. He was courteously escorted to the work-rooms and at once commenced taking copious notes of the dimensions of the rooms, number of hands, and casually (of course) askeS the prettiest employe if she considered the ventilation sufficient. Seeming- satisfied, he withdrew, but his friend with whom he made the wager, told the story, and " Jacky" who is too thin-skinned to stand chaff, has returned to his old abode until it is forgotten.— Sportsmen complain of the scarcity of birds in this district ; when asked what luck they have had, the answer is generally (to quote the expression of a leading spark), "very poor." — Scandal says that a newly made bride has quarreled with her spouse and returned to her paternal home. — When a great catastrophe occurs, it is always consolatory to be able to say "told you so." We have that feeling to the fullest extent about the fire at Tauranga. During the time the writer edited the Bay of Plenty Times, he wrote, not one, but a dozen leaders begging the people to start a lire brigade and exhorting them to beware of this terrible danger. Whenever there was nothing else to draw attention to, the subject was re-introduced, but quite fruitlessly. Latterly, we believe, a mild pretence at starting a brigadewas attempted, but in reality it came to nothing. The fact is, the Tauranga people are a lot of shuffling, easygoing, trust-to-providence, have-a-drink sort of folk. One or two of them work and make money, and the rest " loaf." The place would be very different if the population had an ounce of spunk amongst them, hut they havn't. On the 11th of March, 1879, we wrote in the Bay of Plenty Times: — "The desirabilty of forming a local fire brigade in Tauranga has been so often descanted upon in these columns that it seems almost futile to renew the subject. We should not, however, be doing our duty were we to pass over the recent conflagrations at Gisborne, Masterton, Blenheim, and Christclrurch, without pointing out the obvious moral that they suggest. Depend upon it Tauranga's turn will come before long. During the past few years the place has enjoyed extraordinary immunity from fire, but the doctrine of chances shows this cannot last for ever, and the residents are doing nothing at all in the way of prevention. Such carelessness seems downright wicked and foolhardy, more especially as but little effort is needed to to make things comparatively safe." — The bread-and-butter party given by the ladies of Onehnnga came off .on Friday last, and was a grand success. Amongst the lady patrons we noticed Mesdames Mulgan, Hutchinson, Daveney, Worsp, and Howard. There were some 60 couples in all, and amongst them many faces new to Onehunga, noticeably, Miss Taylor, of Mount Albert (the belle of the evening), m a white dress laced with cardinal. Epsom supplied No. 2 belle in the person of Miss Cleghorn : Parnell, No. 3 with the help of Miss Goldsboro ; and then Onehunga and Mangare boasted a representative in Miss Fanny Howard. We noticed several amateur diggers from Te Aroha and Tiki, flitting about looking none the worse for work, ,and more sought after than usual by the fair sex. Some of them must have struck it heavy, judging from the manner in which they carried all before them. The floor was not so good as we have seen it, being rather sticky at first ; this, however, wore off towards the finish. The refreshments supplied by the committee were very good. There was plenty of fun I during the evening. Mr Jack Stodart, of Ponsonby, spotted a comet outside (by the way we don't know what ! he was doingthere),and the exodus after each dance to try and distinguish it was really laughable. The ladies were just as anxious as the gentlemen. Jack received quite an ovation on all sides for this grand excuse to leave the warm room and get cool. We had almost forgotten to say that there were one or two married ladies present dressed well and looking very handsome, in fact we had a squabble with one single young lady for hinting that Mrs Daveney put them all in the shade. Fred Sharland did M.C. for the committee, and was ably assisted by W. and A. Shera. The programme concluded at about 2.30 everyone being delighted. Amongst the old faces we missed were those of Mesdames Brookfield and. Andrew, two of the original promoters of these bread-and-butter parties.