PERSONAL

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 97, 22 July 1882, Page 291

PERSONA L

O Ask J. Smith about that sticking-up story. Is the Captain aware how little Louisa, of Panmure, is flirting ? Mr Dallen's catering for the Bachelors' Ball is generally praised. Miss Marks looked very nice at the Citizens' Ball in cream silk trimmed with satin and lace. Miss Kate Truscott has returned to Te Aroha, and Fred is disconsolate. What was the result of that combat between the Dargavillian and the Whangarei paper man ? Sixteen guineas was the price paid by the Government for Keesing's fine portrait of Tawhiao. The handsome " Maj ah " of marines was the cynosure of all eyes (female) at the Bachelors' Ball. The lady who was lately sojourning in the neighbourhood of Ponsonby, incog., has now departed to Katikati on a visit to the Royal Family. A certain commercial traveller created quite a flutter among the young ladies of Russell. He dealt in a good many lines of soft goods. Very marked attention was paid, to Miss Clayton, niece to Lady Yogel, at the dance given by Commodore Erskine and the officers of H.M.S. Nelson. It would prevent a lot of awkward mistakes if a great many more people would follow the excellent example of Mr Richard Marsh, by getting medical certificates of sanity. Fred and Edgar Mason, the winners of Abbott's £1500 prize on the last Melbourne Cup, are now the licencees of the Imperial Hotel in Pollen-street, Grahamstown. The news of the death, at Sydney, of Charlie Butler was received with deep feelings of sorrow/ by his many friends and acquaintances in Auckland, with whom he was extremely popular.

We hear that Mr Norris Bamett, who left here some weeks ago for Sydney en route for England, 1 has determined not to proceed Home, but to remain in New South Wales. At the late_All Saints' meeting Mr Boardman said that the parishioners " had been crushed by the ' swell ' organ." Woidd he have had the organ without, the " swell ?" Quartzopolis is represented on board the warship Nelson' iv the person of a young fellow named Rodgers, who at one time resided in Shortland, and whose parents are still living in the field. Mr Angelo Eorrest, organist, proceeded to New Plymouth last week, for the purpose of giving two ' organ recitals there. His place at St. Paul's, was efficiently taken by Mr J. A. Beale, solictor, the former organist of the Church, The Misses Taylor, of the Tamaki, were in the gallery at the Bachelors' Ball. Being in mourning they were unable" to take part in the dancing. Mrs Ruck and a number of other ladies were also spectators. A New Plymonth correspondent suggests as a cheap and effective method of defending that roadstead, that an effigy of Major Atkinson, in his old militia uniform, should be placed on one of the Sugar Loaves. There was a general desire to see Mr Tyler dance the Highland schottische at the Bachelors' Ball, but he could not be persuaded. One of the , officers of the Nelson was rather too boisterous in ' this dance. Mr J. Buckland goes to Wellington to give evidence before a Parliamentary Committee on the question of reimbursing Messrs Ivess, Pilliet, I Harris, and others for the costs of the late election proceedings. We have lately been charmed with the photograph, taken together of a lady and gentleman as " Meg " and " Jasper " in the Comedy Drama of "Meg's Diversion." The position is quite tooawfully too-too. A Sunday-school teacher who has been reading that Tauranga testimonial about the hair-raising properties of Guscott's ointment has written to enquire how much it would take to grow a pah* of wings. N.B. — This is vouched for by another Sunday-school teacher. Bob Seward is a wise man. That is to say, he is the travelling agent for Wise's New Zealand Directory. Savee ? Bob has " done " the East Coast, and is now engaged in pushing business in Auckland and the Waikato. He has very taking ways, particularly in the matter of subscriptions and advertisements. The only thing be will not take is a refusal. A parson in one of the suburban churches assured his congregation a few Sundays ago that the Loord would not accept their threepenny bits, and that they had better keep them till they grew into half-crowns. How the reverend gentleman had learned that the Creator draws the line at small change he did not condescend to state. How is it that some of these howling fanatics can utter blasphemy with impunity ? Mr Samuel R. Keesing is exhibiting some very pretty specimens of his art in Upton's window. They consist of cream roses beautifully painted on black grounds, the delicate tints of the flowers and shades of the leaves being reproduced from nature with remarkable fidelity. The panels are on easels of native wood, and are intended to be placed on brackets as ornaments for drawing-room tables. Mr Keesing exhibited several similar paintings at the- last exhibition of the Society of Arts, whicli were all eagerly purchased. Barlow, who captured Winiata, has received a letter from Mr Oliver, a licensed interpreter at Alexandra, advising him not to venture near the King Country, as the Waikatos regard his arrest of Winiata as a kohuru (murder). Several of the tribe informed the writer that they would not shoot Barlow, but chop him into mince meat. The Ngatimaniapoto people, however, are indifferent about the affair.. Barlow has no intention for the present of gratifying the amiable wishes of the Waikatos. He intends to reside at Mangere, and is petitioning Parliament for a grant of land, there. . 1 he inclemency of the weather militated against the attendance at the Mount Albert Cinderella. Nevertheldss there were 30 couples present, six officers from H.M.S. Nelson, and three from H.I.M.S. Carola being amongst the number. Mr Greenwood acted as M.C, and Eady's band (piano, violin, and cornet) supplied the music. Supper was provided by the ladies of the committee. Amongst those present were : Mrs and the Misses Isaacs, Miss Cousins, Miss Rigby, Miss Maxwell, Messrs T. T. Masefield, E. Lewis, and London (2). The great dissipation of the week at Tauranga, has been a subscription dance organised by Messrs E. Turner and E. Sherwin. As several of the dresses were mentioned in connection with McKinneys spree, it is only necessary to specify a few of those worn on this occasion.. Miss Tonks, black barege princess, cream satin scarf; Miss Trimble, black ; Miss Clarke, black 'velveteen, pale blue scarf ; Miss Vercoe, cream sateen, blue sash ; Miss Vogan, dark green cashmere, satin shirrings ; Miss J. Wilson, lavender silk ; Miss Snodgrass, pale blue silk trimmed with grey ; Miss M. Snodgrass, brown and cream ; Miss Norris, cream sateen, crimson ombre ribbons ; Miss Nicholson, Mother Hubbard dress of white mull muslin, over pale blue, sateen ; Miss Duncan, cream oatmeal cloth, pale blue scarf and sleeves : Miss E. Duncan, cream oatmeal cloth, cardinal scarf ; Miss Tui'ner, black with cream lace fichu ; Miss Wynne, French gray cashmere, plastron etc,of pink satin ; Mrs Simpson, wine-coloured silk j Mrs Armitage, white and pale blue ; Mrs Hetley, grey Japanese silk ; Mrs Goldsmith,, black velveteen, with pale blue scarf .-and fichu ; Miss Duncan, black silk ; Miss Wilham Jordon, black velveteen and pink. A very enjoyable dance came off in the Rolles-ton-street Schoolroom, Grahamstown, on Tuesday , evening last, in bonour.of the visit to Quartzopolis of Misses Langsford, Xarcelles, and Davies. Notwithstanding the boisterous weather, eighty persons put in an appearance. Dancing was started at 8.30 o'clock, and~ was continued till an early hour on the following morning, an excellent-pro-gramme of fifteen dances being gone through, for -. whioh Professor Owen, R.A.M., supplied-the

. i rmni-TTjiTTiry-r-'iiMi >■ ______________»_---___■ i■ 1 1 n. i i music. The arrangements in connection with the supper were excellent, and a most recherche repast (produced by tho ladies) was done ample justice to. Miss Whyte was considered the belle of the * evening, but Miss Langsf ord (who was very becomingly attired in white cashmere, with fluted, sleeves) ran her close for the honours. Miss . Whyte was dressed in blue silk, low square-cut neck, and trimmings of white lace. Miss Bertie Davis looked well in a white skirt, with blue silk bodice ; and the same may be said of Miss Las- - celles, whose costume was conspicuous for its , richness, being composed of ruby satin, trimmed with cream lace, holly berries surmounting the square-cut neck. A dress of pale green silk, with . cream bodice, was worn by Miss . Walker % and one of cardinal, draped with cream lace, by Mrs JQrkpatrick. Pink was the prevailing colour, and about the most tasteful "dress of that tint was Mrs Ehrenfried's. Mrs Kilgour also appeared .similarly' attired ; Mrs Murray was. in white, trimmed with light blue ; and Mjrs Hawliey in "black.- Tararu sent no representatives, and 'Mrs P. J. Perry and the. Misses Allom, Vof Parawai, -were also- absent. Although' the- affair was 'hastily got up, it was one of the best held for months, and Mr Arthur .Home, the indefatigable . • .. secretary, is entitled to"a meed of praise for the •success'' which attended his efforts. Next week Mrs Murray, gives a dance, at the Thames, in ■ honour of the yduhg lady yisitors to our charm'ingcity. -, .«■'.-'s'.<' — Monsieur .lc Redacteur,— lt is arrived to me -'an adventure 'which Lshall recount to you in the " " hope that it will make to avoid some similar ex•perieiices to others. 1 was walkirg myself with a friend in the street Princes, and as we desired to mount the street .Victoria, I tell to my friend we shall descend this road. Ido not know what it is named, but it is more direct to our end than the street, Shortland. My friend- makes allusions of pleasantry to tho road which I choose. But, wait ! You will see there is not of what to laugh. We pass the Club of the North on our right. My friend is in advance. The' obscurity augments. We continue the unhappy road. We see no longer anything at all. lam guided by the noise of 'the steps 'which makes my comrades when, all- . of-a-blow, the- noise ceases. He is slipt. I advance myself to his aid. The ground misses me also under tlie feet. I have joined my companion in the mad. We sink. "We are lost," niy friend cries to inc. "Guard yourself," J i* ..ply. " Guard yourself well not to move. A new road makes itself here. These .arc works public. Remember yourself 'our escape recent in the street Symon. It is to me you owe your bad position and I will task mc to find the footpath." Regarding not the danger in our situation miserable, and at force of great efforts I regain a path more hard. I hasten to call my companion ancl hit myself oh an iron lamppost provided by your excellent municipality. I keep my etc against its iron cold "to prevent that my eye blackens itself. Ido not knov,- now what to But hold ! There is a light. My friend has found some matches of wax hi the pocket of liis waistcoat. He seeks at the light of a match his shoe which is come off'in the mud. At last it ; is found.. With great caution and a few matches we arrive at and pass over a little bridge of planks.We sec the lamps of Queen-street. We are again escaped ourselves from the dangers of the works public. ' , ' " The letter deliverers and female clerks in the Melbourne Posi Office are protected from lip-flirt-'ihgduring oflice hours by wire-netting," says some untutored scribe ; meaning, of course, you can't kiss 'em through wire netting. The experiment has-been tried. The girl inside kisses the tips of her fingers, and you kiss yours, then bring the tipslsb meet." This may seem to the uninitiated . "unsatisfactory) but it's better than nothing However, we'admit that a 'man likes to get a grip • -round- the waist and neck, Uhd make a long speech ..._ over ifc. - ._'"■'. . '''■ *T he lacy writer, Clara Belle, went to see Miss Aniia." .Dickinson act as. Hamlet, and, ttmongst other interesting remarks, this is what she says df Anna's principal limbs : — " Her legs incased snugly id plain silk tights of a dark purple. •Some staid admirers of' the. former lectui'ess and Quakeress may be pained to. knov.' that she made no attempt to mitigate the disclosure. .There was no drapery of any kind. Tfoe legs were in view •their entire length, and 'mofe'Vfco. There were a shapely, solid, and altogether presentable pair, ■bnt, oh ! how badly managed. It seemed as if, after forty years strict seclusion, they were' embarrassed by sudden' and entire publicity. Their conspicuousness was wonderful. They seemed to be in half-a-dozen corners at once. It was difTi- ■ cult to believe there were only two of them, and the fact could not be settled except by other data, because they never stood still long enough -to bo counted." Perhaps Anna will meet. Clara some day, and then Clara will be sorry she said all this. The Cumberland newspapers contain details of the elopement of Mrs Peile with Mr Jonas Lindow, the Conservative candidate for the Western Division of the county. Jonas, it would appear, was — although himself a married man with a family — in love with Mrs Peile before her marriage, which took place on the 19fch of April, and which was " contracted to cover the indiscretion of .the guilty pair." On the -58th of that month, Jonas' obtained from his bankers £10,000 in notes, . and at evening he and the bride disappeared. They " are expected to go to America, although there ' aro rumours that they will take up their residence in Spain." Mr Wilkinlumb and a detective, however, are on their track.