THAMES TITTLE TATTLE

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 56, 8 October 1881, Page 60

THAMES TITTLE TATTLE

— A marriage is on the tapis between Willie H. of Ohineuiuri, who is considered the best looking fellow in the Hanraki district, and Miss C, of Waihi. — Tlio attendance at the rink last -week was very sx>nrse, little or no interest being now apparently taken in that class of amusement by the majority of members. — Willie Prater favoured us with a visit last week, and to all appearance enjoyed himself immensely. The young man from the city did considerable execution in the aristocratic region of Tararua, which accounts for the woe-begone look on the face of a certain young bank clerk. ' — The Lyons' Tourist Earty played for three nights in the Academy, and drew very fair houses. Amy Horton, who by-the-bye, very much resembles one of the leaders of fashion on the Thames, was, of course, the centre of attraction, and she completely turned the head of a leading sharebroker, who was heard to say that he would have proposed to the fair danseusa had shebeen in a state of single blessedness. — Much enquiry has been excited lately as to the constitution of the rinkingclub, many members wanting to know, you know, at what meeting of subscribers the appointment of the committee was confirmed ; also, when the statement of receipts and expenditure is to be presented, and an account of their stewardship rendered. By their inattention they are laying themselves open to much unfavourable comment. — Some very pretty dresses are now worn in the streets, that of Mrs Ehenfried being conspicuous for its style and suitability. In matters of feminine attire lam a perfect ignoramus, and my fair readers must pardon me for failing to describe their new dresses, such matters being entirely without my range. However, I may be able to prevail upon some of my lady friends to assist me out of the dilemma in which I am at present placed, and probably in my next I shall be enabled to supply the omission. — The fancy dress ball in connection with the rinking club eventuates on Tuesday next, in the Academy of Music and promises to be a brilliant affair. The committee have issued over a hundred invitations, in addition to those sent; to members, but from what I can leiirn it is iinxn-obable that more than half of those who have been asked will accept, as many consider it an insult to the invited to take part in the last gathering of the season when they were not asked to become members of the club on its inauguration. — The Rev. Win. Calder, the gentleman who is to succeed Mr Lush in the charge of the Episcopalian, flock in this district, was placed on his trial on Siuiday evening last, and acquitted himself to the satisfaction of the large congregation which had assembled for the purpose of judging as to his suitability for the office. Mr Calder has a good delivery, is a fluent speaker, and has a taking manner with him. that will soon establish, himself as a favourite with his new parishioners. Under his ministration I have no doubt that the attendance at St George's will become much larger than has been the case for some considerable time past. — The concert held in the Academy last week in aid of the funds of the Anglican Sunday School was highly successful, both from a musical and financial point of view. The coninriteee of management had very wisely advertised reduced prices of admission, with a result that there was a large and fashionable audience, which appeared to appreciate the treat provided for its delectation. The programme was a very choice one and was gone through most creditably, and the ladies and gentlemen who took part in the affair richly deserved the applause which the audience showered upon them. The pianoforte duets by Mrs and Miss Von Bernewitz, Miss Belcher and Miss Dodd were brilliantly rendered. Mr J. E. Coney's song "Cceur de Lion," was fairly well received, and Mr M. H. Airey achieved a signal succes in "Merrily goes the Mill Stream." Mrs Kilgour, although suffering from a cold, acquitted herself creditably, and the same may be said of Mrs Mackay and Miss Day, but the duet between Mrs Payne and Miss Probert, and that between Mr and Mrs H. Phillips may fairly be considered the gems of the evening, the latter lady quite surprising many of her friends by the improvement in her singing. Mr Turner received a vociferous encore for his rendition of "Will-o'-the-Wisp," but through being in doubt as to whether the recall was meant satirically or not he declined to respond to it. Mr Wiseman's comic song was, as usual, provocative of much laughter, but in my estimation it was hardly up to the usual standard. Mr Wynne Gray's song was loudly applauded, but this was more owing to the ditty being so well known than to any special merit on the part of the warbler. The second part of the programme consisted of a faree — " Ici on Parle Prancais" — by the Toole Dramatic Club, which showed a great improvement on previous attempts. lam glad to see that my advice to the company in a previous issue of the Observer has been taken in a friendly spirit, as evincing a wish to give the club the benefit of my experience, and though it may be going too far to say the cast was perfect, still I may congratulate the performers on the success they achieved as a criterion of the progress they are making in amateur theatricals. In the first i>lace, the piece is. one in which the hits are well masked, and it was a good idea to post Mr C, a member of the club, among the audience to lead the laugh when it was seen that thelatter failed to perceive the joke. Of course much, could not be expected from so young an organization, but I think the ladies and gentlemen composing it should have endeavoured to throw more life into the farce than was the case, Miss Grey, as Mrs Eattan, being the only performer who could be considered perfect in this respect. Miss Chitty played the ridiculously dignified lady of position very well, and Miss Puckey, as the vivacious and sprightly but over-worked " slavey," was the means of livening up the first act, a portion of an amateur affair which is usually slow and dull. Miss Coney impersonated the character of Julia Spriggins in a sensible manner, whilst Miss Gray made* an enchanting bride. Mr Baumc, as the speculating lodging-house keeper, acted fairly well, but I must say that it is a pity he does not assiune a character in whieli his handsome face would be more in keeping. Mr Gudgeon made a decided hit as Major Eattan. Mr A. Home did. did not make enough of the Britisher's hatred— a soun. sucking Frenchman— for though his "make-up" was capital (some said from the study of a relative medico> his rote was the weak part of the piece. On tho whole " Ici on Parle Francais" was a success, and I hope to see it produced again at no distant date.