WAVERLEY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XII, Issue 3218, 30 August 1878, Page 2

WAVERLEY.

(FEOM OUR OWtf CORRESPONDENT.)

Aug. 26. Since my last the/c has been little chance matei i\X for . a letter. . The weather, I suppose, must be blamed for the monotony of our prtseut existence.. Our local Minstrels made an effort to relieve this unpleasant state of affairs, and if we may 1 judge from the manner in which our noble structure, the' Town Hall, was packed on the night of 'their entertainment, were to a certain extent successful. In the first part the aonjra were well rendered, the instruments in the choruses showing a decided improvement on previous efforts, Bones and Pompey were in their element, crackina jokes and funny sayings. The second part, which was made up of songs in character and short pieces, went off very successfully. To the Awkward Squad must be awarded the palm, the audience being kept in a continual roar. The local song also was well received, as it deserved to be. Several well-known celebrities were severely handled, but, appear to have taken it in good .-part. " Cafoosolem " was sung by Paginini, and was well 'received. The farce ' Escape from ' Paris ' might have been better managed ; the smallness of the stage is a serious obstacle in the way in these performances, and it is certainly not fair to criticise our amateurs too closely., 'Eliza Jane ' concluded the entertainment. The funds were to be dßvoted to paying off the debt which was owing on the organ. This .has been successfully accomplished, and they who took so active a pait in procuring the instrument, may be congratu* lated on the result. The larrikin element mustered very strongly, and were rebuked accordingly. The "Ole Man," however, made a mistake in including the whole audience, this, he has since explained, was a lapsus linguee, and not intended.

' Our football players took a trip to Carlyle on Saturday the 17th, to meet the Hawera players. Some difficulty was experienced in obtaining a suitable piece of ground for the play; This was got at last, and after a well contested game, time was called, both sides having scored alike 3§ points.' A dispute arose daring the game, the Waverley's claiming a half point which would give them the victory. The Australasian has been appealed to, and uutil the reply arrives the match is considered drawn. , A return has been arranged for Saturday next at Manutahi. The club are also anxious to try conclusions with the Wanganui club, at whose hands they have already suffered defeat ; but they hope to turn the tables should your kicks pay them a visit. * v I was glad to see in a receut issue of yours that the Go vernmenfc iutended tore* organise the volunteer force, as the present arrangements are inimical to the volunteers in small centres. A troop such as wo have here cannot exist unless it mustera fifty strong. I am extremely sorry to say so, but I consider it almost impossible for^the indefatigable Captain of tfie Wairoa Light Horse, withthe aasistauce of his officers as enthusiastic as himself in the cause, to comply with the conditions ; but the troop will soon turn out for the week's drill, and I hope that by their regular attendance during the period they will prove that I am a false prophet, and that they intend again to contest with the Wan?anui opponents at tha yearly tournament, at which they have usually been successful.