WAIKATO WHISPERINGS

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 45, 23 July 1881, Page 500

WAIKATO WHISPERINGS

— Sam is not going to be married just yet. The rumour is without foundation. — The Captain has gone away, and George is inconsolable. Kinking has no charms now. — The little doctor is going to reside in the house just vacated by Mr Price, one of the prettiest villa residences in the district. — The "gooses" who went geese hunting in the boat returned home on foot. They declined to row back against that "darned current." — Auclus and William were the rejected of the people, and Financial Tommy has been made Consul for one year. Legal Tommy has retired. — The Adjutant is disappointed with the action of Tawhiao, because, now that peace is to be the order of the day, the Government may have no further need of his services. — George would not have missed going to the Paterangi concert for a trifle. It was not that he was prompted by his ambition to sing, although he does it so nicely, oh, no ! The chairman's daughter was the attraction, hey George ? — My dear Mr Webber, do you know that it is very naughty to say "I don't care a " at a public meeting of ratepayers ? lam afraid we shall have to place you under tlte tuition of Mr Stewart, if you do not moderate your paces. — The Eev. Mr Fulton gave a spirited lecture on Burns, the other night, at Hamilton. He left the beaten path and boldly asserted that the half of what the stiff-necked true blues are apt to regard as faults in the glorious poet's Avritings, are beauties. Bravo, Fulton ! We want a few more of your kidney to counterbalance the sham modesty that has not yet been discarded by the present enlightened generation. — Hamiltonions have sustained a great loss in the departure of Mr Laishley of the Union Bank who has gone to Hawera to open a branch of the same institution there. Laishley was facile princeps in everything of a social character in Hamilton, and I don't know what many of us will do without him. He was a churchwarden of St. Peter's, the best vocalist in the choir, the president of the Debating Club, the secretary and treasurer and moving spirit of

the Lawn Tennis Club, the life and soul of the Philharmonic Society while it lasted, and, f urtherrnore,hvas an excellent man at all social and fireside gatherings, In his Business capacity too he was much liked, and the wisdom of the directors in moving him may he questioned. For his own sake, however, his friends are glad of his promotion. Previous to his departure on Monday they presented him with a farewell address and a purse of sovereigns, the latter to be applied to the purchase of some article by which to keep his many Waikato friends in remembrance. — It is, I believe, generally conceded that in educational matters Hamilton is at any rate quite as well off as other Waikato towns, not even excepting Cambridge, where the lambent genius of Stewart animates the scholastic temple. But one at least of the pedagogues of the former place is learned, not only in the sciences and in classics, but has developed a singular talent for — domestic economy, I was going to say meanness, and I don't at all know that it is a quality incomparable with the highest attainments. But there is a Christian tone pervading Mr Maberly's meanness which almost carries it round to the opposite pole — charity. Extremes do meet, it is said, sometimes. A few days ago, my scholastic friend fixed a notice in the shop window of a worthy vendor of confections in Hamilton West, to this effect: — Wanted — "A nurse-girl between 11 and 12. In return for services rendered, will be taught reading and writing." And yet we live in an age when reading and writing, and and a great deal more, are taught without giving any quid pro quo in the shape of nursing the schoolma'am's squalling " babbies," or doing the menial work of the pedagogue's household ! — I know of another schoolmaster, in receipt of a good honorarium, avlio sends regularly to a neighbouring shoemaker's stall to borrow the morning paper, sometimes before the man of leather has had time to read it himself. Is this meanness, or worse ? «, — The Orangemen of Waikato, who, by-the-bye, are a pretty numerous body, celebrated the glorious and immortal memory of the Battle of the Boyne, the downfall of Popery, and what not, at Cambridge, in a style that would have brought tears of joy into the eyes of Dunn and Branic, and caused the jolly Suitor to long ardently again for re-admission into the fold. The large public hall was packed from entrance to platform, a goodly proportion of the audience being Romans who had gathered to hear the heathens rave and to weep over the ruins of their once glorious church. There were numerous speeches, including a temperate and charitable address by the Rev. Henry Bull, a somewhat bigoted one from the Master of the Lodge, and a rollicking narrative of Orangeism and the evils of Popery in Ireland, being the result of personal experiences, from Tom Mooney. Tom assisted at another demonstration, not long ago, and distinguished himself in a manner worthy of his high standing in the order. But the best part of the entertainment was the music, vocal and instrumental. Here Mac was more at home than in platform oratory, and shone as he always does. The ladies also distinguished themselves, and the string band gave promise of future excellence. Altogether the affair, it must be admitted, was thoroughly successful. Perhaps one of the best jokes in connection Avith it, is that the reporter who furnished such an excellent and unbiassed account of it to the local journal is himself a member of the proscribed communion. — The great event of the past week, in Waikato, has been Tawhiao's visit to the Waikato settlements. The Farmers' Club, and the [ Cambridge Water Supply have paled their ineffectual fires before this full orb, and perhaps it is not to be wondered at, for since the war nothing of more importance has taken place than the inauguration of Tawhiao's new policy. The Alexandra people grumble sorely at the niggardliness of the Government in not spending a few thousands on our dusky friends, and are somewhat annoyed that Tawhiao should have brought his own tucker, and so provided the Native office with a valid excuse for exercising their parsimonious faculties. Te Awamutu is a richer place, and the residents, with one or two exceptions, notably the scribe, gave without stint, and entertained fallen greatness right royally. At Kihikihi the same dependence upon the crumbs which fall from the Government table is not felt, while, at Cambridge, Aye have made so much out of the unfortunate natiA r es, in one way or another, that common gratitude dictated that we should make them some return. There are people in this world, good and amiable enough perhaps, to whom the sight of royalty is a sign and a wonder, and even Avhen it comes in its present shape they are ready to fall doAvn and worship ; moreover, they arc selfish in their adoration, and want as much of it as they can get set aside for their oavti especial exercise. Thus, when it was decided that a banquet should signalise TaAvhiao's visit to Cambridge, the mighty tuft hunter, strongest among the sons of Anak, wished to make the affair very select. The great guns were asked to contribute, and did so; but it Avas found with all their contributing that it Avouldn't run champagne; so, makings A T irtue of necessity, they said, "O course chrmpagne isn'st Avanted, etc., etc' But at this point, Raynes, avlio, be it remembered, was not of the elect, generously made a contribution of the required "fiz." Then, o course, Audus had to be included in the company ; lioav dreadful ! _ — The preparations for the reception of TaAvhiao at Hamilton Avere made Avith all due solemnity such as is befitting the dignity of an august corporation ; but, withall it was evident that the true "Jingo" spirit burned in the hearts of the city fathers, for they have steadily refused to acknoAvledge the right of Tawhiao to the title of " king," asserting that they oAve allegiance only to Her Most Gracious Majesty and recognise no other sovereign, not even the Emperor of Russia. This is commendable and should be duly acknowledged by the colonial office, through His Excellency, Sir Arthur Gordon.