THAMES TITTLE TATTLE

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 66, 17 December 1881, Page 222

THAMES TITTLE TATTLE

— George T. vrill shortly lead tlio lair Hettie to tlie hyinenal altar. ■ "Wynne Gray mis immense ns the Irish yokel, " Thn Flaherty ' ' at the Waiotabi School entertainment. He had a proper conception of the character, and consequently achieved success. //■ It is not unlikely thut a scqndalmn magnum / will shortlj' startle the residents of this district, and ' afford food for the gossipers for more than a tiny. lam in possession of particulars, hut am not at present permitted to divulge them. — Young P. should remember that there is a time for everything. It does not loot well, you know, to he seen courting at 12.30 a.m. People will talk, and in nine cases out of ten you get painted blacker than you really are. — I have it on good authority that Mr Jas. Maclcay, one of the unsuccessful candidates for the representation of Coromandel, intends to take proceedings to upset the election of Mr Cndman on technical grounds. —There is some talk of starting a new evening paper here, a largo section of the community being very dissatisfied lit the stand taken up by the Star :u\d Advertiser during the recent election campaign ; and it is very probable that the project will be carried into effect at no distant date. —Miss Waite, one of the most attentive and Obliging young ladies you conld meet with in a day's travel, hns sauntered off to the city, and many are the conjectures as to the cause of her visit to the metropolis. — That there is an attraction in Auckland is without doubt, and I trust to be able to announce something shortly. Previous to her departure, she was entertnined at an evening party at Mr Mennies, and presented by that gentleman and his amiable lady with it set of jewellery. — To show the respect and esteem in which Mr •Speight is held by a large section of the community, it may be mentioned that the whole of the expenses incurred by him in contesting the Borough seat were subscribed by his supporters within two or three days after the contest took place. — The Shortlnncl Minstrel Troupe (in reference to whose rehearsals paragraphs have from time to time appeared in the Observer) made their debut at the Waiotahi School Entertainment, and acquitted themselves very creditably indeed. — I am glad to notice that my remarks of a few weeks ago nnent the conduct of some of the younger members of the Presbytqrian church choir haye borne fruit. The choristers now occupy different positions to what they did at the time I felt called upon to refer to the matter, and are behaving as they should. — An eye-witness tells me that Mr Sheehan, although an old stnger in such matters, was rather nervous as the time drew near for announcing the result of the poll on Friday evening, and several times placed the wrong end of the cigar he was smoking in iis mouth, much to the amusement of those standing about him. —Joe Clark, it is stated, did a good thing in ridin<* his trotting horse Fairy from Shortland to Paeroa, the other day— a distance of 22 miles— in an hour and three-quarters. The "knowing ones, who had laid heavy wagers against the performance, were completely " sold," much, of course, to their disgust. —Mr Symington is not to leave the Bowen after all, and the announcement has been hailed with considerable satisfaction. "Without doubt, Geordie is the most popular bonifiace on the field, and were he to cease his connection with the Bowen, that well-known hostelry would not be half so much frequented as it has been since he took charge of it. " Yield not to temptation, etc." (vide Moody and Sankey's hymnal.) Bob T. did not appear to recollect on Sunday last the warning convoyed in these few • lines. Espying a prepossessing young lady friend strolling along the lane ns he was about to enter St. John's, he yielded to the temptation, retraced his steps, and, in his enjoyment and bliss, allowed all thoughts of church and parson to slip from his memory. O, woman, what hast thou to answer for if The following are some of the costumes I have noticed during my peregrinations this week :— Mrs Lawless, navy blue dress— an admixture of silk and velvet, producing a telling effect ; cream lace bonnet. Miss McLaughlin, black sateen, trimmed with old gold, oreain lace hat and black sunshade. Miss Ginu, fawncoloured lustre dress, trimmed with fawn sateen ; black lace toque, adorned with pink roses. Miss McDonnell, drab cream lace, trimmed with drab silk ; cherry-ripe hat, with feather to match, the effect being heightened by ;i bunch of real cherries iv front. — " All's fair in love and war" is an old adage, but I have my doubts as to its truth. Harry A., a character well known on this peninsula, is, however, v. firm believer in the saying just quoted, and is entitled to the thanks of Mr Sheehan and his committee, for it was mainly through his exertions that the ex-Native Minister secured such a majority over his opponent in last Friday's election contest. The means adopted to attain the desired end were hardly creditable to those most concerned, but must, I suppose, be considered "the cheese," under the circumstances, although I am afraid it will be some time before the ardent supporters of Mr Speight can be induced to overlook what to some of them must appear n very grave oiience, but which in reality is not such. The facts of the case, as related to me by a friend, are substantially as follow : — Some days previous to the polling day it was ascertained that seventeen borough electors were engaged in various occupations at Waihi, in the Oliineinuri district, five of whom were supporters of Mr Speight ; the others, of course, favouring Sheehan's candidature. As Waihi is about 45 miles from Grahamstown, and to get to the booth wouldentail loss of time and money, Harry A., a ' strong x'artizan of Mr Sheehan, and a gentleman who "knows a thing or two," suggested to the seventeen "free and independent" that the five Speightites should pair with an equal number of Sheehanites and remain at their work, whilst the other seven proceeded to town to record their votes in favour of Mr Sheehan. This brilliant idea was eagerly seized upon, and the men soon after separated. On the afternoon which preceded the eventful day the six who hi\d been selected to proceed to town betook themselves to Paeroa in the coach, and put up at a pub. for the night. In the morning they embarked on board the Te Arohn for the Thames, which was on the point of leaving the small jetty, when a cloud of dust was observed a little above the township, and in a few minutes six men rode down the main street belter skelter, their steeds jaded nnd covered with foam, and they themselves looking as if they had not seen the sight of soap nnd water for a week. These worthies proved to be the five who had promised to remain behind and not record their votes, but who had, upon second thoughts, decided to get to Grabamstown and exercise their privileges without apprising Mr Speight's friends of their They, of course, came on to Grahamstown with the others, and Mr Speight thus lost five bonajidc votes.