AN OCCASIONAL LETTER.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 93, 1 August 1918, Page 2

AN OCCASIONAL LETTER.

Friend, if you had been in Matamata during the past few days you would have seen a character step out of one of Bairnfather's cartoons. You'll remember the one. " Cold, you say, no, as 'ot as 'ell." But, joking apart, when I was with Scott to the pole I did not suffer from the frost as much as I have in Matamata recently. I met a man the other morn, my word he looked at me with scorn (I don't occupy my own house). His greeting was: "Me pipes busted, me taps are broken and there's a regular flood on. We had no milk in our tea this morning for the cow-juice was turned into ice cream —one solid block came from the jug." His story was that about twenty feet of pipes had burst, and two taps had broken. Since then he has left his taps running, and has wrapped the pipes in sacking ; but all to no purpose. To date he has purchased six new taps, with no guarantee that it is finished. ' Six and six a day it's costing me," he said, " for water taps." I sympathised with him, but suggested that it might be worse —if taps were ten and six each. He hasn't all this on his own either, because the complaint is fairly general in connection with the heavy frost. Apropos of the severe winter it is interesting to note that last week for the first time Matamata residents were able to play snowballs in the township. The snow did not fall here, but was brought through on the roof of the morning train from Rotorua. It is strange what thoughts of childhood's days in other climes were brought to mind by the feeling of crispness and yet softness of the snow, and yet the weather has been really mild compared with what the New Zealanders have had to put up with in France. Although the Queen carnival has been running a fortnight there are questions which are not yet clear. The most burning one would seem to be as to whether a man should* get credit off the amount promised by him for cash spent at, say basket socials, etc. The chairman of committee, to " Trebla's" idea, seems to be right when he states that on these occasions the purchaser is paying for fun and fame received. The matter is to be discussed by the executive, and will no doubt be thoroughly threshed out. If it is decided in the affirmative 44 Trebla" would like to know how much a man who gives but ordinary value for a 44 Red Cross" animal is to be credited with ? How much does he give to the Red Cross fund ? Also, if a lady takes a basket worth thirty shillings to a social and it is sold for 1 twenty-five, who is the 25s to be credited to. Better leave things as they are. The other evening in Matamata a master of ceremonies at a dance had the real audacity ? to order "No encore dances." That a man could take up such a stand is really unbelievable; Matamata followers of Terpsichore have so long had their own way with the M.C's. and the music. And, the strange part is that they all know that this particular M.C. did only what is the proper thing. Once recently I danced with a lady who was new to the district. We had what to me was a most delightful waltz, at the conclusion of which she kind of led me to her seat. But the dancers were clapping and I wanted to continue so I tbld her there would be an encore. 44 An encore" she said, and laughed at me, "I never have heard of an encore dance before," and it was then that I, who seldom leave Matamata, knew that we had a fashion ©r practice of our very own. However, when I come to think of it, when engaging a partner, I do not approach her asking whether she is engaged for the next two waltzes, yet I expect two. It's a wonder to me the "best boys " don't get jealous. If I were not beyond marriageable age, I should certainly be more than a conscientious objector. While writing of dancing, I would like to point out that the correspondent 44 Pro Bono Publico," in his letter re hall matters last week, forgot to advocate a raised floor. I am not interested from a picture patron's point of view, but from that of a dancer. Wouldn't it be just lovely to be " tops " on the raised portion of the floor and in the second figure of M Lancers," to be able to slide down the length of the hall. And, what better exercise could one get than waltzing up-hill. The 44 Mazurka " also would be easier —one way. Correct yourself correspondent 1 Yours TREBLA.