ARATAPU.

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 67, 24 December 1881, Page 234

ARATAPU.

The members of the Elementary Singing Class are about to hold another concert in the Choral Hall in a few weeks hence. "Boancia" lost a ten boh bet on the Rodney election. Smokers beware ! " Obadiah " will be shortly on your trail. Brother Topps' conundrum on the Observer man was tame, very tamo ; wasn't half so good as the pistol affair, cli ? " Lord John " will have to do a compromise soon, on account of the " Downey old bird " on the other side of the creek. The enterprising manager of the Aratapu Dramatic Dramatic Club may learn a wrinkle in lowering stage lights after last Friday evening's entertainment. "Pontius" is training for the Dargaville Cup Handicap. We saw him doing a tcn-niilo-an-hour pace along Bride-street a few evenings ago. It's quite astonishing how a fellow can move his pins when there is danger in the rear. The silver-toned tenor tried to assume a cheerful look during the dance. His fingers nervously curled the few straggling hairs that serve as a moustache — ahem! — when he saw "Pontius" escort his late divinity mto the refreshment stall. The entertainment in aid of Master Thomas Cobbald eventuated on ' last Friday evening. Long before the appointed time for starting, the hall was crammed in every part. The first part consisted of songs sentimental and comic, with local hits and funny conundrums. Mr McCowan's song, " Little sister's gone to sleep," was nicely siuig; also Mr Morath's "Tell me, darling.'" Professor Weston sang two character songs, and Mr Phillips gave "Mary of Argyle " in his usual style. Mrs Chadwick also contributed one song. The performance concluded with the sidesplitting sketch entitled " The Portrait Painter." Speaking of this, I may say that I never witnessed its equal before. It appears that towards the end of this beautiful drama a murder has to be committed, and the pistol intended to be used in this scene was not to be found at the proper time, so as a natural result matters were at a standstill for some little time, until the wouldbe murderer had to walk off the stage in search of a shooting instrument in order to make the nmrder a. reality ; but the audience found it

quite impossible to endure this kind of business any longer, and loud and prolonged langhter greeted Mr T — p's next appearance on the stage, with the weapon of destruction in his hand. Proceeding then to take deliberate aim, he pulled the trigger, but no report followed. Nothing daunted, he made several more attempts in succession to send his victim into eternity, but alas ! it was a failure. The final sentences of this highly amusing farce were entirely lost to the audience by the laughter of the juvenile element in the front seats.