WAIKA TO WHISPERINGS

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 52, 10 September 1881, Page 616

WAIKA TO WHISPERINGS

— Mi* Ballin, the genial and hearty host of the Alpha, has left, much to the regret of all who had learnt to love him. — G-eorge never goes to see the Chairman's daughter now. He says after what that unfeeling wretch wrote about him in the Observer, he could never, never look her in the face again. — There is to be peace evermore in Te Awamatu. Sloane and the Scribe were seen having a tot together at Devin's a few days ago. It was an affecting scene, quite too tremendously too, for pen to describe. - — -The Jockey Club have found themselves in a hole. It appears that they held the present course at Fanthain's for a. period of years at a shilling a year, which has not been paid, and that, hearing of the intention to purchase a new course, Mr Fantham has determined that they shall no longer use his, and has given the proprietors of the Grand Stand notice to shift. The Club is therefore in the position of the dog in the fable, thej' have dropped the substance into the stream, and are not likely to grasp the object which shone on the surface. — On Friday evening last a very jolly impromptu dance was held in the Public Hall', Cambridge, and great credit is due to the gentlemen who originated it. The music was very fair, but the floor proved rather heavy. A great number of the ladies appeared in walking dress, which never looks well in the evening, but I suppose this was owing to the very short notice given. The most noticeable dresses were those worn by Mrs Taylor, who had on a very handsome pale blue silk ; Mrs Beal, black and blue ; Mrs Chitty, black and white ; Mrs "Wells, black ; Mrs Ewen, black ; Miss Hoskings, black and blue ; Miss Ewen, black and silver ; Miss Franklyn, scarlet and white ; Miss O'Niell, black and scarlet. "The Doctor" performed the duties of M.C. in a most efficient manner. — What a rollicking time of it " the Major" is having, to be sure. Some time ago he said he intended to visit every elector in the Waipa, district, and he hns carried out his determination. For the last weok he lias been, ruralising among the sylvan solitudes of Itaglan, and when lie returns his task will be done. The best part of the joke is that every single individual has promised the gnl'ant Forest Ranger his support, and has guaranteed to poll early and often for the old identity. What a comfort the Ballot is, to be sure ! It is so disagreeable to refuse anything to a man like the Major, let alone a paltry vote, and then one can do as one likes afterwards, you know ! But, while on this subject, it does seem j ust the least little bit mean to take advantage of the absence of an opponent who is away looking after the interests of the very (people whose allegiance is sought to be tampered with. — The now St. Andrew's Church, Cambridge, was consecrated on Wednesday week with much edat. The beautiful edifice was filled with worshippers, the day — in Cambridge at any rate — being observed as a general holiday. There was also n large assortment of parsons, and a full choir. The latter, as it invariably does, sang magnificently, and had the occasion been anything but that which it was, must have brought down the house. The whole of the credit belongs to the able conductor, Mr Beale, though I doubt not some of your mere outsiders, who for the nonce were honoured with a seat among the sweet singers, will lie insidiously trying to acquire a wee modicum of the 7.,'itdo.s. The service was very imposing, and the sermon by the Yen. Archdeacon Pritt one of the best I hare heard him preach. Unlike so many discourses of the present day, it was interesting; there was nothing in it which went over the head of even the youngest, though it cannot be denied that there was a considerable amount of ib which had appeared in print before, and nevertheless went unacknowledged. The Bishop's address at evening service was also good. and dealt chiefly with the uses and need for places of worship. — Instruction by precept is generally tedious, hut instruction by example is generally short and effectual. Economy in itself is a great income, but, as in many other respects, sacrifice must be made to make even economy effectual. A person went to the Cambridge post-office on a recent occasion and paid a shilling for a letter which contained a halfpenny, and now I hear of an indefatigable rent and debt collector who resides at Cambridge West, and who is familiarly known as "Fitz," paying a shilling for eight penny-pieces. The latter unfortunate commissioned the driver of the Hamilton-Cambridge coach to collect a debt of eightpence, for which service he was to "gie him fo'pence " by way of commission. The job was accordingly undertaken, the debt collected and brought per coach to Cambridge. The eightpence was extensively wrapped in paper, the whole constituting a neat parcel, and when put through the booking office was subject to a charge of one shilling freight. The canny agent was informed that a parcel bearing his address awaited redemption, which he proceeded to relieve by paying the freightage, when, to his inexpressible disgust and mute astonishment, he found that the coachman had duped him into paying treble for the coveted fourpence. — The muffin-worry on the evening of Thursday (the day after the Consecration) was in admirable contrast to the ceremony which had preceded it, and provided an outlet for the pcnt-\ip feelings of the more pious among the congregation which they could not well have spared. Were I asked to give my impression of the soiree in the fewest words possible, I should soy it had been got up to afford Financial Tommy an opportunity for airing his particular talent ; but as lam not tied down to a word or two, and as after all I have a great respect for Thomas, I won't say anything of the kind. And. yet if any one can tell me what other purpose was kept in view besides this, I shall be obliged to them. Three hundred pepx>le were surely not dragged thither to partake of indigestible buns and a weak infusion of tea merely ? But in my reckless attempt to be cynical, lam really committing a great injustice. I had quite forgotten the excellent string band under Mr Mackintosh, and the excellent singing of Mrs Mackintosh and Messrs H. W. Moore and Moreton. I think we would willingly have swapped nine-tenths of the speechifying for just an additional time and a song or two. The band has made wonderful strides since its establishment, and gives promise of achieving much greater things yet. Moore was in good form, and never sang the exquisite ballad "My Queen" better, while his warbling, in conjunction with Mr Moreton, of " Oh, Albion," completely fetched the stout-hearted Britishers present, who applauded to the echo. Mrs Macintosh's rendering of the sacred song " Meek and Lowly" was touchingly beautiful, and nothing in better taste could have been selected, coming as it did after a speech by the Rev. Mr Dudley, in praise of the charity which appeared to subsist between the members of the different churches. His Lordship the Bishop gave some sound advice to those who desire to do the work of missionaries. (Every true Christian was, he said, a missionary.) He told them that the best way to teach others, and to win them to Christ, was not by offering advice, but by showing them a living example of what a Christian ought to be ! What a blessed world this would be to live in, if only five per cent, of the population would follow this golden rule ! J. P. Campbell made a capital speech — I never knew him make a bad one — but he put his foot in a very disagreeable hole, and stumbled shockingly. Speaking of the beautiful church which had just been dedicated to the service of God, he said he looked forward to the clay, which was not far distant, when a gray der and stronger ediiice would take its place— one in which all denominations might join together in worship. Of course this is precisely what every decent Christian with a soul above the petty divisions of the Church does hope, and maybe pray for ; but, unfortunately, each denomination will only consent to it on the condition that it is permitted to swallow up the rest, just as the hero of the yarn of the Nancy Bell is reported by a veracious historian to have consumed, by a somewhat roundabout process, the crew of that ill-fated brig. With one exceptioh/ the best speech of the evening' was made by Col. Lyon, who, having nothing on earth to say, said it in the best possible manner, and fairly convulsed his audience. The exception was the address delivered by Mr Holdship, the timber merchant, of Auckland— the gentleman, I believe, who supplied the kauri for the church. With an eye to trade, this worthy apostle reeommeeded the people of other districts to go and do as their Cambridge friends had done— build churches for the honour and glory of God, and for the material advancement of the disinterested speaker. Mr Holdship does not possess

either a very agreeable voice or manner, and has a peculiar habit of' occasionally taking a short run at the chair, which he clasps convulsively, and making as though he would like very much to play leap-frog; over the back, suddenly subsides, sticks his left hand in his trowsers pocket, and smiles benignly, as who should say, " See how I have resisted temptation." Well, well, as the Laureate says, " All things must die," and tea-fights are no exception ; so, after a bushel or two of twaddle from some of the other distinguished occupants of the platform, the entertainment was brought to a close in the usual orthodox fashion, and there was a general "stampede. THE LAY OF THE PARSON. 'Twas ever thus ; from childhood's hour, I've seen my fondest hopes expire ! I said when Cambridge built a tower, That I would lift one ten feet higher. But now, alas ! when they have "riz" A place to put their chimers in, I find so very bad is biz., My parish cannot find the tin. And even the few poor coins fhat lay So snugly in my money-box, With which to build a school some day, Why, they've been shook by that 'ere Knox.