THAMES TITTLE TATTLE

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 59, 29 October 1881, Page 106

THAMES TITTLE TATTLE

— Two sisters at the Fancy Dress Ball wore no lease than £5 worth of artificial flowers between them. — I have been requested to contradict the lumonr that Jack M. is engaged to May D. — Harry Meachem took leave of the Thames on Tuesday. Ho sails for Melbourne in a few days. — Miss E., of Mary-street, wore a very stylish outfit in Grahamstown last week. The dress matched well with the hat and parasol. —The engagement of Mr T. H. Crawford, of the Kuranui Hill Company's mine and battery, to Miss Fisher, of Queen-street, is announced. — What has become of the Ladies' Benevolent Society ? Is it still in existence or has the recent fiasco put a set on it ? — Since Dick Harrison's departure for Coromandel, nothing has been heard of the Shortland Minstrels, and it is feared by many that they have come to an untimely end. — There is no truth in the report that Charlie C and the " Duchess " are about to be tinited in the holy bonds. Jack M. appears to stand a very good chance for the young lady's hand. — Next time the widower of Tararu intends kissing his house-keeper, ho will please see that the window blinds are_ properly drawn, or else there will be a row in the district. — It is said that an Onehunga belle has stolen the affections of a young gentleman here, and that a a lady on the beach, to whom, it was generally understood, he was engaged, is terribly wrath in consequence. Morgan Morris has given up the fou(w)l business, and is now on the duck racket. His latest story on the latter subject is well worth hearing. Ask him to tell it you. — Jack Muir appeared to enjoy himself thoroughly at Fred Hunter's party. The way in which he buzzed round the "paint pot" was a caution to snakes. — Tommy Eankin and Willie Egginton are head over heels in love, and it is hard to say what the denouement will be. It may not unlikely end in a visit to the Rev. Watkin or Mr Patterson, the Registrar. — It is stated that Dr Kilgour will be a candidate for the civic chair, but the report requires confirmation. Mr Brnssey, I believe, is not now a ratepayer, and cannot therefore stand. — Dr and Mrs. Kilgour will give a fancy dress hall for children early in November. About sixty or seventy of the rising generation will be present on the occasion, and there is every promise of the aff air proving a success. - — The able letter on the elections which appeared in a recent issue of the Thames Advertiser was evidently by that facile scribe, George Denby, who might sling us a par or two now and again. Think of ifc, George. — The anniversary concert of the Presbyterian Church takes place in a few weeks, and the choir are busily engaged preparing an attractive programme. Miss M. A. Fergusson (one of our most pleasing vocalists) and Miss Jeannie Miller will trill forth on the occasion. — Shortland possesses a female billiard player, in the person of Miss S., who can handle a cue better than a good many of the sterner sex. She ought to travel. Devotees of the board of green cloth would flock too see her playing in every town she visited, and the profits derivable from such a tour would, I have no doubt, be considerable. — The costume cricket match did not eventuate on Saturday, and much disappointment was felt in consequence. The affair will, however, come off tomorrow, should Aquarius prove gracious, and a good afternoon's sport may be looked forward to. I shall have something to say in regard to the carnival in my next. — An Auckland belle, recently on a visit to the Thames, has stolen, it is said, the affections of a certain gentleman not many months out from Home, and there has been weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth in a certain family living in iShortland in consequence, the young fellow being generally believed to be engaged to one of the members — a gushing creature 18 summers. — Miss , the daughter of an old Onehunga identity, and connected with a leading family here,- was compelled to eat humble pie a few days ago, by apologising to a young lady (an old friend of her's) for having wilfully and maliciously circulated a slander respecting her young days. Miss Blank's friends have done their utmost to keep the affair secret, but somehow or other the particulars have leaked out, and I give them to the leaders of the Observer, as above. — The following incident is characteristic of the man : — A few days ago a tradesman in Grahamstown — a "butcher, I believe— waited on a certain ex-mine manager, and, presenting one of those "little bills" so well known to heads of families, and requested payment of the same. The latter, eyeing the man of beef from head to foot, exclaimed : " Look here, my good fellow, you must have a darned hnrd cheek to ask me for monoy. Don't you mow I'm out of work ?" Theutter coolness with which this polite expression of opinion was given, completely *' flabbergasted " the creditor, who lost no time in retracing his steps homeward. The account was, however, settled the following day. — Candidates for marital felicity are on the increase, and in the northern extremity of the town the matrimonial fever has attained a height, amounting to little less than an alarming epidemic. A few weeks ago two stalwart backwoodsmen were united to themnids of their choice, and on Monday last a third of the same ilk also sought conjugal honours. A venerable old buck, who had withstood the wilds of cupid for nearly forty winters, has fallen a victim to the charms of a young lady irom across the seas, who apparently thought he was good enough for her. Dan F., the lucky tributer, was ■"hitched" the other day to a lady who has passed through two consecutive terms of .widowhood. — Considerable interest is being taken in the general elections, and we shall, doubtless, have a very lively time of it on the eventful day. Speight appears to have a good chance for the Borough seat— much better, I think, than Sheehau, who has lost caste here during the past year, and I would not be surprised to see him returned. McGowan dees not intend to retire from the contest, as has been stated ; but will go to the poll against all comers. There will be a hot fight between Brodie, Mackay, and Cadman for the honour of representing the Coromandel constituency in the New Zealand Parliament. All three gentleman are well known and respected, and it is a difficult matter to say who stands highest in the estimation of the electors. — As I had anticipated, some offence has been given by my criticism on the grand fancy dress ball, held in the Academy a week or two ago. As is usual in such cases, at least a dozen ladies, who were present at the gathering of the 11th inst., claimed the honour of being the belle of the evening ; and at the time of writing my report I was fully aware of that fact, so you can fully understand, Mr Editor, the predicament I was placed in when called upon to decide the knotty question. Having taken particular notice of the costumes I was competent to judge, and, to show that I was not biassed in my selection, I may state that none of the ladies of whom I spoko so flatteringly are known to me personally. I endeavoured to give a fair and impartial report, and I think those gentlemen— it wouldn't do tosay ladies— who carefully noted the dresses worn on the occasion will agree with me that I performed, my rather unpleasant duty very fairly indeed. — The Eev. Y. Lush exchanges cures with the Eev. W. Calder, of Hamilton, about the end of November, and will preach his farewell sermon either on the 16th or 26th. Ihe adherents of the Episcopalian Church in Hamilton intend to entertain Mr Calder at a social gathering prior to his departure for the Thames, and no doubt the honour will be fully appreciated by the rev. fentleman, hut so far the congregation of St. George's aye made no step in a similar direction as regards Mr Lush, who has laboured amongst them for so many years, and I think it will be a great shame if they allow him to leave the district in such a shabby manner. Mr Lush, although possessed of faults like other men, has worked zealously during the thirteen or fourteen years he has filled the incumbency of St. George's, and I doubt if his successor will give such general satisfaction as he has. I have broken the ice, and trust in my next to be able to state that the Rev. V.'s parishioners have bestirred them solves in the matter with a view to according him a hearty farewell.