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Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 71, 23 June 1877, Page 3

TO -IHE EDITOE. . Sir, — Although as Mrs , Malaprop very justly observes, "comparisons are odorous," yet it is sometimes- pleasant to our feelings % to compare the perfect way we do things with the imperfect way they*are done elsewhere. Now, ,a short time ago, I happened to be at a.place (of course .many thousands of miles from here), called Friarston, at the date on which there was a ball advertised to> take place m the? Free Rangers' Hall, to which I determined to go for the "purpose of seeing what hints I could- pick up and take home with me. > , Of course I thought the ball, being practically for the Free JRangers' own' benefit, and, the tickets being somewhat high priced, they would take care to «do y everything in r the very best way possible ; that, the. floor would be perfect, the music excellent, the rooms filled jWith igood dancers, ..the stewards most i attentive, the supper and wines of the best, and 1 in^ 'short;, everything as it should be. Imagine then 1 my amazement on arriving an hour after the nominal time for tHe opening of the ball, to find three Tladies and two gentlemen playing " post," another gentleman snoring on a bench, and no^ another, soul to be seen anywhere : not one steward, no signs of any music (if I except a big drum which was rolling about the room), the floor .one mass of 'dust, one. half the seats consisting of piles of planks, the other half' of forms with but one leg, dogs running about the ball room, and all the lights turned down. Thinking I had mistaken the place, I enquired, but found this was not the case, — this was .the Free Rangers' Ball. I put on my> hat and' went home and to Tbed a sadder, poorer, but wiser man ; consoling myself, however, by thanking Providence, for having located me m ! Palmerston, where things neither would i nor could be done like this. — I am, <£c, ' . New Chum.