GENERAL GOSSIP.

Observer, Volume X, Issue 624, 13 December 1890, Page 6

GENERAL GOSSIP.

I am given to understand that on Friday last votes of over 70 seamen were recorded, who at the time were far away on the vasty deep.

A leader of the Remuera elite— & married lady — got so confused the other night that she had to get a girl to fihow her where she lived.

It is not generally known that the members of the Permanent Force, though many are property holders, are prevented from voting. The detachment stationed at North Shore were kept in barracks all polling day.

Rowley Himi, of the Torpedo Corps, seems to be the proud possessor of more medals than ary man in the colony. Amongst others prominent, in a recent photo of his, are the New Zealand Cross and the Humane Society's medal.

A person who is concerned in a case that will shortly come before the Supreme Court, boasts that he can find witnesses to swear as he wants them for the price of a long beer. I have heard of this being done in American divorce cases ; indeed, some private inquiry agents have a fixed tariff for manufacturing evidence, but I don't think the Yanks sell themselves for the price of a long beer.

While a prominent Aucklander is now charged with plagiarism from an American author, it is refreshing to hear of an American charged with piracy from a local resident. Mr James Jervis, of Devonport, a prominent storekeeper, is prepared to prove to all and sundry that the ideas put forth in Bellamy's • Looking Backward ' originated in his (Jervis's) brain ; but the 'cute Yankee wrongfully stepped in and collared the oredit, to say nothing of the dollars.

In Waters's restaurant, Queen-street, last week, Mr E. W. Alison, Mayor- elect of Devonport, entertained at a choice luncheon the Independent Association of Eclectic Inquirers, which meets there daily, and of which Mr Alison is a member. The toast of Mr Alison's health was proposed in an eloquent and eulogistic speech by Mr Geo. Goldie, after a glass of champagne had inspired him with fizzical endurance for the task. An enthuiastic bumper was drained, and after other Independent Eclectics had spoken, Mr Alison returned thanks in a modest oration. A wish was expressed that every member should be in turn elected Mayor of somewhere, to which a Scotchman devoutly said ' Amen I The mair (Mayor) the merrier I' But I fear they will all be hoarse as the result of cheering for one Mayor. The luncheon was served up in most excellent style by Mr Waters.