THAMES TITTLE TATTLE

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 68, 31 December 1881, Page 244

THAMES TITTLE TATTLE

— The choral portion of the service at St. ■George's on Sunday was, without doubt, splendidly rendered, and the musical treat thus provided was enjoyed by all present. The organ was skilfully managed by Mr M. Trewhield, whose abilities in that direction are not excelled in the province. — Willie Coad, ■who has grown quite a heavy •moustache since leaving Quartzopolis six months ago, returned from Waikato last week, and was heartily welcomed by his large circle of friends and yonug lady ■admirers. Dick Harrison also put in an appearance from Coromandel, and spent the Christmas in the bosom of his family. — Of late there has been a dearth of " society" news, owing, doubtless, to the approach of the holiday season, and I have experienced some little difficulty in gleaming items of interest to the numerous readers of the Observer. The holidays are, however, rapidly passing away, and in a week or two I trust to be able to furnish my usual column of gossip from the goldfields, instead of, as at present, about half that quantity. — The matrimonial fever" appears to be taking ■a firm hold of the bachelor gold diggers in the Ohineinuri district, if I may judge from recent events. On Satarday Messrs. M. and A. Farmer, two lucky Owharoa tributers, were unite! in the holy bonds to Miss Powell and Miss Sy vrett respectively. The brides were very handsomely attired and looked really well. There was •quite a host of bridesmaids and friends, five carriages being required for the occasion. — Some very nice dresses were worn at the races, at Parawai, on Monday ; but unfortunately I am uuable to give a description of even one of them, the lady who assists me in such matters being away on a visit to Auckland. However, I can state that amongst those costumes which took my fancy were those worn by Misses AUom, Hamilton, M. A. Ferguson, Ginn, Curtis, Mrs Cloonan, Mrs Haydon, Misses McLaughlin, Miss McDonnell, Miss Whyte, and Miss E. Douglass. There were several others equally as handsome, hut I do not know the names of the ladies who wore them. — Some persons passing along Pollen-street one fine afternoon last week were much amused at a little incident, which, occurred in that thoroughfare. A youngman, a stalwart, handsome fellow, was cuiton:^

along the road, when he espied two lady friends on the footpath. Ha had evidently a great affection for one, if not both of them ; for he was observed to spring to the ground from the back of his stud, rush over to where they were standing, and, clasping one of the fair creatures in his manly arms, imprint a kiss on her rosy lips. Our friend was about to perform a similar operation on her companion ; but the latter damsel had no desire to be mixed up in an act of osculation in such a public place, aud declined the young man's overtures, much to his astonishment, and greatly to the amusement of some onlookers.

A good story relating to the Lite election contest here has only just leaked out, and I give it to your readers for what it is worth. A member of the Fourth Estate, who took a very active part in the struggle, busied himself the livelong day in hunting up electors and driving them to the poll in great triumph. In the course of liis travels he came across the house of a man who had been imbibing very freely at the shrine of Bacchus for some days previous, and who was in consequence confined to his bed. As it was absolutely necessary that every vote should be secured for the candidate whom the newspax^er man was supporting, the scribe presented himself at the man's door, and asked to see him. He was ushered into the bedroom, and succeeded in persuaded the elector to accompany him to the polling booth ; but at this juncture the wife interfered, and expressed herself determined not to allow her husband to leave the house, as he had a black eye. The journalist was equal to the occasion. Hastening to a neighbouring chemist's shop, he procured some pigment, with which he painted the injurad optic so skilfully that the lady allowed her husband to leave for the polling place, and he was borne in triumph thereto by the wily scribbler.