Extracts from To-day's Observer.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3754, 8 January 1881, Page 2

Extracts from To-day's Observer.

The Key. Mr Brown, of Auckland, lectured here, the other evening, and expounded the doctrine of no eternal fire and brimstone. Theßev. T. L. Davies endeavored to argue the point, and proceeded to spout Greek in support of his argument. -However, the man of fire and brimstone broke down, and made a mess of his Greek quotations, and was deservedly laughed at by the audience for making use of words he did not understand.

Those bosom friends, Small and Denby, who nightly enjoy gossips in the' tatter's establishment, have sustained a cruel separation. Mr Denby has gone to the Te Aroha, and Captain Small now walks with moody visage up and down the asphalt, in front of his friend's shop, with traces of unconsolable grief on his countenance.

A friend of mine, who is shortly going to Sydney, has been pestered with applications from people to be the bearer of loving messages, etc., to their friends living iv that city. The other day a gentleman called on him and said, " You are going to Sydney, arg you notP" " Yes," said my friend, " I am going next week." " I wish you would call on my grandfather who lives there. It would be worth £5000 to me," said the enquirer, with a great show of parental affection. " What is his name, and where does he life ? " said my friend. " I'm darned if I know what his name is, but he lives in 47, Some street" was the reply. I have my doubts if ray friend will be able to be the bearer of loving messages to thia grandfather, and the lucid information of his whereabouts given him by the. dutiful grandson will not materially assist him in fossicking him out.

On dit that Lieut. Denby is about to form a troop of horse marines on fie Te Aroha Goldfield. This energetic officer ie working with great zeal in the cause, and a short time will suffice for the formation of the corps, which, no doubt will be under the command of the gallant Lieut. Denby.

' In the' Advertiser of Saturday week, the proprietor sees fit to make some uncalled for and insulting observations about Mr Brassey. Mr Wilkinson showed execrable taste in making such remarks, as they were wholly unjustifiable and unworthy ; and it would have been more manly in the "Noble Saxon," /he "Mayor Elect," had he refrained froni trampling upon his foe when beaten. •— -■

Tbe Te Aroha JVEiner, a new paper, published oa^ the goldfield by Mr William McCullough is acquiring a large sale and enviable reputation.

A father, on giving his son a latchkey during the afternoon, thought it as well to give him some advice. The son was a boy of seventeen years. His father's advice, when he gave him the latchkey, was —■"My boy, don't forget that you are a gentleman." The son returned home about 5 a.m. The father, hearing a noise on the staircase, opened his bedroom door aud said, " Who's that?" The son, very drunk, crawling upstairs on all fours, said, " Itsh ,me, father, but I'm shtill the gen'i'ma'n."'.- . .

Can it be possible P In walking through Fort-street the other day, I noticed a little store., with aboard over it, on which was inscribed in letters almost as long as the height of the building itself, "J. Lamb", Waitemata Flour Mills," and on the building itself—horror of horrors I— there was an announcement to the effect that " cider" was sold on the premies. What a falling off is here, my brethren? J. Lamb, of the Waitemata Flour Mills, ii a distinguished and very particular bright, Btar in the Good Templar firmament, so how come it that this painful and horrible announcement appears on a building belonging apparently to himself P