Wairarapa Jottings.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 33, 16 February 1901, Page 18

Wairarapa Jottings.

THE visit of the Imperial tioops to Ma&torton is tlic topic of the liour. Certainly the event was unique, and the advice of the "Daily," to ignore the example of Wellington, and set down roast beef and beer before the Tommies, was excellent coning onsense. • ♦ » Monday was certainly the greatest day Masterton ever saw. It was regal weather. The people, town, and Nature wore holiday attire to meet, greet, and admire the dashing soldiers from Old England's shoie. The preparations, spite of the shortness of time, weie simply perfect in every detail. While all worked well, the createvt Maise must be given to the ladies. It is not too much to say that the Imperial troops will carry aw ay honeyed recollections of the Wairarapa, when they reflect on the bountiful spread provided by their charming hostesses, and the delightful way they were waited on. But, of that anon. • * » The most imposing figure on the platfoim, waiting the arrival of the heroes of the hour, was, without the remotest shadow of a doubt, Field-Marshal Dalrymple. Perhaps, if possible, the man was lost, pro tern, of course, in the uniform — though, on reflection, it must be admitted both were uniform. That is not meant for a joke, though its unintentional merits may, with advantage, be commended to the champion punsters of the district our inimitable Town Clerk and the incomparable Vile, whose expansive forehead is a shiny reflex of the mighty workings of a colossal brain. The Mayor was there, affable and serene as ever Nothing, absolutely nothing w ould upset that man of iron nerve. The various vocations of the tow n and country had fitting, occasionally august, representatives. • • » The Highlanders were by far the most popular of the Imperial troops The Wairarapa is distmctlv Scotch, which largely accounts for its success — but, where, O where' were the sons from Erin's Isle? Sure the Irish Guards were the pick of the lot. That truly may be said without detracting one particle from the historic glory and merit of the Seaforths and Cameronlans. Anyhow, the troops made for the Town Hall where a princely spread was prepared bv the ladies of Masterton. And, what a revelation for English Tommies to be waited on and almost caressed by the most charming maidens of the district. Positively, Tommy's appetite was taken away, and the sparkling witticisms of King Richard, who flung them right and left, as he wedged his portly form 'twixt bashful seventeen and her guests, made the youthful warriors bend low "to blush unseen." • * * The officers were entertained at the Club Hotel, and there the usual talk eventuated. The bugle call "fall in" promptly removed Tommy from further peril of lost buttons, and the march to the park was commenced. The troops were treated first to a well-executed Maori haka. Certainly, to the vast majority, this enthusiasm of the vaguely picturesque Maori is somewhat of a bore. But one forgives, remembering the evident happiness the ludicrous evolutions give the performers themselves. When one looks on these green-girt devotees and realises their abounding pleasure in life and living, without a care for to-morrow as long as to-day's three meals are assured, one is inclined to envy them their happy-go-lucky philosophy. The vast crowd, probably close on 15,000 souls, was then treated to the finest spectacle of the day. Without the slightest apparent order, the different companies marched forward in turn and went through some evolutions with that marvellous precision which transforms men into the constituent parts of a highly-finished machine. This over, the troops marched to the station, and were accorded a magnificent send-off, which the Prime Minister, standing on the platform of Ins compartment, took altogether to himself. ¥e&, it was a great day — one which will live long in the memory of Masterton. • • • A note of warning' The way of the son of Confucius, the yellow-visaered Chow, is mysterious and deep. He never moves without an object. — often an ulterior one. Writer never passes up or down the main street, when the school children are about, that he does not notice remarkable passages between girls of tender years and one or two of the Mongolian shopkeepers. The children are accustomed to either go in and buy fruit, or, if without the cash request a gift from the bland and smiling merchant. The latter is never refused, but the lascivious, oblique-eyed vendor never fails to place his pestiferous hand on the cheek, or in some way take an apparent slight advantage of Ins benevolence.

This may bcem a blight matter. But it is often exactly tho beginning of a tragedy too awful for contemplation. The presence of Ah Sm and Co., in spite of the mistaken championship of many well-meaning people, is fraught with danger to the community from every aspect. True, they are expert, industrious gardeners — but there is such a tiling as paying too luglily for the succulent "cabbagee." ♦ * * The Technical School may not start this year until April. As a matter of fact, the Government lias treated the school very badly. On the 30th of November last there was a capitation grant due, and, as yet, at time of writm^ it has not arrived. That means that the different instructors have to he out of their cheques for a very long time. The secretary has clone his very best, by writing and writing to the Department, but budge this Department will not. « ♦ * Mr. Edwin Feist, in a letter to the "Star," proposes, by way of a lasting memorial to Victoria, the establishment of a Technical University. That is all very well, but, to come nearer home, the locai Technical School is homeless The old rooms, at the Drill Hall, where, it appears the school was held on sufferance, aie no longei available, as the large hall is sacred to

Captain Blyth and the volunteers. Now, the secretary is applying for the use of the old post-office, which was offered to the Park trustees for their caretaker's house — but, apparently, remains unaccepted. Before advocating the larger scheme, would it not be as well to fix up the local technical reciuirements first? * * » The application of the terms "ladies" and "women" was the subject of an mci change of civilities between our member and Mrs. Taylor the other evening, at the Town Hall. Mr. Hogg avowedly prefers the use of the term "ladies." Indeed, like the free use of "esquire," the connotation of the term is so general that ladies ought to prefer being called women. Who has not heard the maid or cook speaking glibly of her "lady friend" ? The "washing lady" is now admitted into all polite conversation. With all due respect to the member of Parliament, Mrs. Taylor was in the right. No true lady can object to being ranked as a woman, next to mother, the highest, noblest, sweetest epithet in our good old Saxon tongue. The woman who is truly womanly, w hose ideal is like Desdemona's, "If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it to the last article," be she in life's lowliest position, is a thousand times more a lady than the faithless, silk-clad peeress who, perchance, splashes her with the mud from a coronetted chariot.