NAPIER

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 53, 17 September 1881, Page 10

NAPIER

— Lawn tennis is in full swing here. The club have a very good court at the back of the Union Bank, which is well patronised. "Our Accountant" is about among the ladies, and as representative of the institution under the shadow of which the club meets, is iinruense. — The Lyons' Tourist and Pleasure Partyplayed here to good houses up to Saturday last, when they left for your quarter. I fear they took with them the'heart of at least one of our male cligibles. He is a susceptible youth from " Sleepy Hollow," and the fair damsel soon had him on a string. I hear there is some talk of a new comedian appearing in connection with the company — Poor Jack, — The "Majah" looks happy. The dear little "Pinafore" children are back, and again the hoodlums will have a treat as they gaze from the pit on their chief taking his seat among the "ice-creams" in front. I hear that a skating carnival is to be got up for the amusement of the youngsters, at which they are to be regaled with lemonade and gingerbeer at the Majah's expense. — Next Saturday the Hawke's Bay Boating Club open their season with a grand picnic. Your correspondent has been invited, and will take his note-book with him for the purpose of regaling you with a few jottings of the proceedings. The season is likely to be a most successful one. I hear a lot of gentlemen are getting boats built in Auckland, and these, with those already here, will make quite a respectable fleet. This is a stop in the right direction, as we have in the inner harbour a first-rate place for yachting, and I hope the existing agitation will continue. A very nice boat from Mr Carr's shed, called the " Booloomaloo Ghat" (or the " Bull Cat ") arrived here on Saturday, and if re-

port speaks true she is a clipper. If the owners do not wreck her and drown themselves, I have no doubt but that we shall hear 'more of her performances. The " Noah's.Ark " was. out on Sunday — of course it was not Sabbath-breaking. It is true the command was given, J O worship the King all glorious above," but it was not intended to apply to over-worked bonk clerks — oh, dear no. Besides, you can say your prayers just as well "on billow rocking" as yoix can in a comfortable church j but what will the "spiritual peer" say, Henry. —I -vras disappointed. at not seeing an account in your last issue, from a pen capable of doing justice to the theme, of the annual Fancy Dress Ball held here on Friday week ; and rather than let the affair pass without notice, I write myself. We Napierites are rather behind the times in not having an " Observer " of our own to chronicle' such events, so have to. go afield for publicity. When a thing has beon talked of for months beforehand, one does not like to let it be forgotten as soon as the event itsolf is passed ; so I take advantage of the well-known cosmopolitan spirit which pervades your paper, and drop you a few lines on the subject, just to let the world know what Napier i 3 capable of doing. The ball-room was crowded, and the accessories (music, flppr, &c.) being good, dancing was kept up with great spirit until an early hour in the morning. The scene was exceedingly picturesque, some of the dresses being very beautiful. Amongst the ladies I might mention those of the " Tambourini," the " Gipsy," and a " Zecca "as being the best. Amongst the gentlemen, the antics of a " Swagger" and an "Irishman" caused a good deal of amusement, while the " Pirate King," "Claude Duval," and the "Esthetic" looked their characters to a T. I will not attempt to descibe the dresses, as I should only get into a maze, so will leave you to imagine them.