TAURANGA.

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 55, 1 October 1881, Page 44

TAURANGA.

— Ebb Tvas pugnacious at the football match. — Mr K>. Rhodes' estimation of the Observer has fallen considerably. — Mr Buddie is a rising orator. He rose three times in about as many minutes at the late meeting. — Since a certain par. in the Observer, Mr Matthews has become a great ladies' man. Witness his anxiety to toast thorn at the dinner. -r-Mv Hose was the most popular speaker at George Vesey's meeting. He "rose" to the occasion, and literally brought down the house. — Our railway company is now in a fair "way of being successfully floated. With a committee of practical business men and a public who will give it every support, it is bbund to succeed. — How is it all mention of Mr Turner's name is left out of the "Buster" report ? He certainly played well. It is true our population showed some partiality for their own team at the late match; this was but natural. However, the Auckland men cannot complain, as they have had access to the Press (which they seem to have used pretty freely) before we could speak. —The football committee made a great mistake In not inviting Mr J. J. Redmond to play on the home team. The way he kicked that ball was a sight for the gods. — There is a notable improvement in the tone of a certain section of Tauranga society since the institution of the Wednesday evening "At Homes." The odour of sanctity breathed at these pious gatherings cannot fail to improve those who attend them. We hope their prayers may penetrate to the haunts of iniquity hitherto freqtiented by our youth. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. —To the Editor: Sir,— Would you kindly give the name of the ill-conditioned, pusillanimous individual iv Tauranga who I sec has been fouling his own ■nest. I refer to a paragraph in jour issue of the 17th instant, in which a gentleman who is a leading settler in the Bay of Plenty district "makes most startling revelations in connection with the state of society in Tauranga." He must be a low character, and judge others by himself.— A. C. Turner.— Tauranga, 21st Sep"tember, 1881. — [See remarks in leading columns.] — Your correspondent must plead cuilty to not sending description of dresses worn at the ball. His attention was bo engrossed in ono fair creature that he feared he would not be able to do justice to the rest, and therefore left this portontious duty to some abler -pen. However I will give those I remember, and must heg most humbly to apologise to any young lady whose aaine is passed over in my notes. Mrs Morris, who -wore black cashmere trimmed with pink, and silver ornaments, in my humble estimation bore off the palm. Mrs S. White, cashmere and blue trimmings ; Miss V. White, cashmere, cardinal bows; Mrs S n, black silk with white lace; Miss C y, black grenadine, ■fcortan sash ; Mrs Al r, white silk, black lace flounces; Miss Tr le, black cashmere, pompadour ribbon; Miss Go d, white grenadine, pink stripes ; Miss Su s, black and pink ; Mrs D n, sateen trimmed with pompadour ; Miss D n, black grenadine, pompadour waistcoat cut square, with elbow sleeves and lace band across head ; Miss E. D n, white cashmere trimmed .with pale blue; Mrs G rs, black velvet trimmed.w ith old lace, crimson bow at waist ; Mrs and Miss H., black and pink ; Miss Barstow, pink and white striped grenadine ; Miss G h, black velvet trimmed -with lace ;, Miss J. W. , fawn-coloured silk ; Miss Farrer, -Mack, silk dress almost covered with black beads j Miss

K n, blue muslin trimmed with black ; Miss W n, black silk trimmed with white ! Mrs W. J n, black vefvet trimmed with white tulle ; Mrs E.C. J., black ; Miss Al r, white inuslin trimmed with blue ; Miss N n, black sateen, pink waistcoat, white lace scarf. The gentleman who informed you Miss W. Jordan wore purple must have been colour-blind, or perhaps he was so dazzled with this lady's ax^gearance as not to distinguish any colour in her presence.

— To the Editor : Sir, — You have possibly no idea of the storm of wrath and indignation tbat your "Leading Settler's" scurrilous attack on Tatiranga society has provoked in the neighbourhood here, more especially amongst the parents of growing-up daughters, who nre naturally scandalised by such an unwarrantable attack upon their cherished offspring. lam a Tauranga matron of some yenrs standing, and my experience of "our girls " is that they ore neither immodest nor imprudent, though there may be an independence and selfhelpfulness amongst thorn that is startling to persons whose experience is limited to Home training and a different state of society to that which exists in the Colony. Many of the outward, forms and ceremonies of Home society are dispensed with out here, for we are not millionaires, and cunnot nit'ord grooms and ladies-in-waiting to attend our daughters on all occasions. " Our girls" have been vilified by some person of an impureand vicious mind to gratify one of the most unholy passions of human nature, and it is a most unfair and unjust act towards them. Scandal and detraction have been more rife in Tauranga during the last two years or so than any of the oldest inhabitants can remember them ever having been before, and it is a pity that those ladies who are so anxious for the improvement of the morality of the place do not commence operations at home, where " charity begins." My brothers were all at an ancient public school whose time-honoured motto is " Manners make the ninnne." William of Wykenham might apply the motto with great advantage to some of our would-be reformers — who stand in need of improvement in mind and manners themselves. I have frequently heard these ladies discussing and considering a case in point without any accurate knowledge or personal observation of the facts, in fact their inferences have been the exact opposite of truth, yet the hr.rm is done, the unfortunate individual is condemned and executed without lifting a voice, because he or she may not wish to expose a friend or blazon abroad his or her private affairs, and too often, sufferings and sorrows. An improvement in Tauranga society is truly needed— amongst the scandalmongers! Even should there be any levity of conduct amongst our young people, it would surely be more becoming and more in accordance with an imitation of the Divine Master to try and mend matters by a kindly counsel and good example, instead of ostracising those supposed to be " black sheep." Snroly the Creator of the Universe is quite capable of ■punishing and rewarding his creatures, whose hearts, minds, and motives he rends as an open book, without the nssistnnce of we fellow sinners whose poor knowledge is worthless, and cannot possibly entitle us to judge each other. If you, trood Mr Editor, would counsel the cultivation of a kinder and more Christ-like spirit, a helpful hand, and more vommily hearts amongst some of our matrons, you would strike at the root of evil, and do Tanranga good service. There are many sorrowing and suffering people here, as elsewhere, some through their own sins, and some through the sins of others, who, in either case, should be encouraged to do well by those who nre happier or better than themselves. — I am, etc., — A T.vukanga Matkon.