TALK ABOUT TOWN.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 47, 24 August 1878, Page 2

TALK ABOUT TOWN.

There's a chiel auiang yo takiu' notes. ■\:id faith he'll prent them."

There is very little news in the file of N.Z. papers per the good ship Meg Morrilies, but I happened to notice one paragraph in the Auckland Evening Star, winch is worth reprinting, an 1 the careml perusal of which 1 w mid earnestly recommend to our respected and talented auctioneer—Mr. J. L. V. Alvord— with , liis caution, that ho must l>a pleased to understand that when he "catches me awinking," or " significantly striking my nose," I am not making signs of Recognition to my dusky araorata, 1 >tit. am rising on the bid, " and a sixpence !" The Star says: —"Nods and winks are good for more than blind horses. They are good for auctioneers and for those who sell horses as well, and an example of how the thing works transpired within the last few days in our city. A hor»e-sale was being carried on in Messrs. Hunter and Nolan's yards. Facing these saleyards there ia a lia.-k bar-room connected with the Victoria Hotel, at which thirsty bidders can clear their throats, and, of course, on occasions of this sort, a presiding barmaid dispenses the liquors. On the oooasion referred to a burly oitizen, whose forte is not horses, strolled into the sale-yard. The syren in the bar observed him, and made a signal of recognition. The gentleman significantly struck his nose, and the auctioneer, who had been laboriously reiterating ' £7 10s., £7 10s., going, going," suddenly ohanged his tune to ' £B.' The signals from the bar to the yard continued, and so did the price of the horse ascend, to the surprise of those who were able to judge bis qualities, but the blank look of that auctioneer, when he observed his best bidder leave the attractions of horse-flesh for the, smiling and liquor-dispensing attractions behind host Hill's bar may be better imagined than described, especially when informed that what he had taken for bids were merely signs of recognition passed butweon an amorous pair. The Hon. Thos. Dawson, the new American Consul for Samoa, delivered a lecture at Romuera, near Auckland, on the 18th of July, upon "California." The hall was crowded, and the lecturer was loudly applsu ( .1, and tendered a limit;, v M of thanks at its conclusion. . His OMorintl >n of Oallfornian scenery was granhl . and, says the livening Star,,

"after giving a running sketch of the' earl/ history of the State, he spoke of ' the discovery of gold, and the intense i excitement which it produced throughout j the world. He also pointed out the immense wealth which had accrued to the | *tate from the development of the mines, ind stated that the San Francisco Stock Exchange Board did 8220,000 business in 1875, §225,000 in 2870, and §120,000 last year. The early settlement and rapid growth of the city of San Francisco was dwelt upon. The lecturer said that' whereas 32 years ago there was only a single house in San Francisco, the city now had a population of 31,000, and its commerce last year amounted to 8130,000. Mr. Dawson gave some very interesting sketchesof the Big Trees, the Yosemite Vallley, the Geysers, and the petrified forest." From this report, and the opinions of the American Press I am induced to believe that, for once, we are to have an American representative who is an intelligent, educated and able gentleman. Certainly he holds u most difficult and unenviable position, as his country's flag has beou mercilessly dragged into the mire by the man who ought to have upheld its dignity, purity and honour; and every well directed attempt whioh Mr. Dawson may make to clear it of the foul stains with which it has been blotted by one of the most incapable and unprincipled men who ever held a Consul's Commission from the United States

Government, ought to receive the hearty .support and encouragement of every man, no matter of what nationality in 11113 group. Mr. Consul Dawson has a very ugly battle to fight, in consequenoe of the chicanery, low cunning and disgraceful conduct of Oriltin, who was not satisfied with bringing the American flag into bad odour, but put himself out of the way to insult his successor. " Sir, the man of honour's come Newly alighted.— Is the loud musio I gave order for Ready to receive bim?" Unlike Sir Giles Overreaoh, I have not any music; but if the Hon. T. Dawson is the man I take h.m to be, he will receive sweeter music than ever a band can give him, viz., —the approving voice of the people. "As like as two Peas," is a very pleasing little comedy, but it is not always pleasant to be one of the actors in real life. Mr. D. Dalziel, well known as a good writer, and boon companion of the members of the Fourth Estate in Sydney, was recently arrested four times on his way to New York on account of his likeness to an absconding bank clerk. Fortunately for him, the exhibition of his certificate of marriage with Dickie Lingard, the actress, who travelled with him, procured his release each time. Griffin has departed,—leaving several sorrowing friends to mourn their loss. Vide funeral announcements. 1 am so full of grief and "stone fences" that I cannot say moro this week beyond announcing to my readers that I will, in the next issue of the Samoa Timl.s (if a fit of tho blues or D. T. does not intervene) give him a parting saiute uf goodness knows how many guns in lieu ot the salute which the Adams did not give him. Then I will take a "farewell, a long farewell to all his meanness.' (Shakespeare, cum. diff.) Cyril.