WAIPAWA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3008, 15 February 1881, Page 3

WAIPAWA.

(FBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

February 14, 1880. Since my last letter the monotony of Waipawa life has been broken by the occurrence of several events possessed of tnore or less, interest for certain of your readers. My journalistic friend," the chief Scribe," &c, to whom I made reference some three weeks since as having gone North to pay a visit to the Bhrine of Hymen, returned last Monday, bringing with him a wifefrom among the fair daughters of Auckland, lam sure the happy couple have my very best wishes.and " right here" (as the Yankees say) I wish to extend to them a cead mille Jailthe. I understand that the whole juvenile musical talent of Waipawa turned out en masse on Monday night, equipped with the indispenmblekerosine ties, to serenade our bride and bridegroom, but the latter, having evidently no soul for high-class music, by a monetary consideration induced the youngsters to abandon their fiendish design ; and in the words of the f>oet, "Not a drum was heard." The ast that my informant heard of the selfconstituted band wa9 their light martial tread speeding in the direction of WoodWard's pub., the members meanwhile chanting gaily " He's a jolly good fellow." It seems to me therefore, that a Band of Hope would not be much out of place here. The idea is worth thinking over, and I may probably throw out a few ■uggestions thereon in a future letter. Sunday night, 6th instant witnessed a thrilling occurrence, almost a romance I might say, in our township. A Btranger coming into Waipawa after nighfall on the date mentioned might well have Stood amazed and confounded to witness the novel scene which presented itself. Lights were to be seen flitting about in every quarter of the township, and anxious murmurs of enquiry arose continually from a scattered band of searchers who were fruitlessly endeavouring to discover the whereabouts of a lost child. On enquiring, it transpired to me that Mr Robb (not the parson) had missed the run of one of his family, a fine little boy of some seven summers. Places possible and impossible, even into the remotest corners of the cemetery, were searched in vain, nntil, when the last ray of hope had well nigh vanished, and proposals were being made to drag the river, tbe boy walked into the house alive and smiling. His explanation was simple and amusing. Exhausted with play he had lain down outside his own home to rest, and there fell asleep, only awaking to find himself the object of so much solicitude.

Wednesday was a big day here. We had another wedding. By the way, marriage seems to be quite an epidemic at present. On this occasion Friend Goldsmith, of the Mail ofnje (how the Mail does go ahead in this line), was United in the holy bonds of matrimony to a youn? lady hailing from the model village. There was quite a large attendance present at St. Peter's to witness the interesting ceremony, which was performed by the Rev. Mr Eccles, and aa the young couple quitted the sacred edifice rice and congratulations were about fairly balanced ; if anything, rice preponderated. I understand that the dusky inhabitants of Takapau, where the first bridal halt was made, treated my esteemed friend to a course of "tinkettling "—{not appreciated). Thursday passed quietly and calmly away, but Friday, 11th, witnessed tbe crowning scene of the week, and was a day long to be remembered in the annals of Waipawa. It appears that a certain individual, resident in Waipawa, who practices as a " watchist and jewelist," and whose name can be easily arrived at by any schoolboy who will take the trouble of putting the word cold in the comparative degree, had for some time past rendered himself obnoxious to a respectable young lady, whose name I withhold for very obvious reasons, by dictating and forwarding to her through the post gushing effusions containing a strange combination of tomfoolery and love. At last the attention of the foolishly ardent one (who, by-the-bye, is a married man, at present living apart from his wife and three children) became insufferable, ?nd enquiries were instituted by the male relations of the lady in question to discover the writer of the obnoxious missives, the author not having up to that time revealed his name. This information having been unquestionably arrived at, a loving epistle, penned in a feigned lady's hand, was despatched to the lovesick inamorata; appointing time and place for a meeting. Gaily the recipient prepared himself for the crand occasion, and, having cracked a bottle of Rimmel's best perfume over his garments, wended his Steps towards the tristing place. _ BUter disappointment only awaited Mm there, and instead of meeting the lady of bis love, he quickly found himself in the embrace of a pair of strong masculine arms, and, in no mere figure of speech, caught a tar-tar. At first the duped one denied all knowledge of the affair, but subsequently " owned up," when he found his guilt could be clearly brought home to him. Previous to releasing him, some half a dozen unsympathising hands divested our hero of a portion of his garments, and applied a substantial coating of that substance called tar to his person. This was Burmounted by a lajer of feathers and toi-toi, well rubbed in, after which his decorators, thinking him suffi.iently finished, sent him home with a good start, effected by the specific force ot a number ten boot vigorously applied. It is generally believed that on this occasion the smartest pedestrianiarn on record was effected, the first hundred yards towards goal being done in nine and a half seconds. Rata tells me that the same gentleman had an operation somewhat similar to the above performed on him at the Hutt some twelve years ago for free-loving propensities. It i 3 to be hoped he will now learn wisdom, and in future behave himself like a man. The general feeling here is " Serve him right." I regret to announce the departure of Sergeant Bullen from Waipawa, he having been transferred to Gisborne last ■week. During the time they resided among us here Mr Bullen and his family made many friends, and I think I am safe in saying no enemies. Mr Bullen himself was tbe embodiment of an efficient officer, a genial friend, and a true man every inch. He is certain to be respected and beloved wherever he may go, and I wish him every success in . life.