THAMES TITTLE TATTLE

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 57, 15 October 1881, Page 74

THAMES TITTLE TATTLE

— Miss G., a local vocalist, is taking lessons in equestrianism. — The Baron has made up his mind to appear as Captain Corcoran at the lial masque. — Greorge Denby never favours the local journals with letters now.&What is the reason ? • — Pat Hennessy says "the Engineers are a grate korpse entirely ; the ' cat ' has been introjuiced to ongvelope strick disciplyn." — Willie Souter lias been transferred to Cambridge, where his parents now reside. The change means promotion to him. — Parson Calder must leave his Ritualistic ideas at Hamilton. Low Church, is the bill of fare at St. George's. _ — There is no truth, in. the report set afloat by Commodore Barlow anent the Zulu chief's resignation. Captain Stormont hasn't the slightest inclination that way. — Amongst the Auckland ladies who were on a visit to Quartzopolis at the time of writing were Mrs Kenneth Watkins, and Misses Ridings, Dickey, and Longsford. — A very enjoyable evening party was given by Mrs H., of Tararu-road, last week. Jack Ralph was among the guests, and contributed greatly to the amusement of the company. — Surely scarlet fever or small-pox is not decimating the ranks of the noble Scots. At the church parade on Sunday last the battalion mustered under fifty, which is not as it should be. — All our Parliamentary aspirants are as suave and polite as dancing-masters, Brodie puts on the butter thick. Mac would perhaps look well in the tartan, but Hunter and the band can't forgive him yet. — The manager of the Karanui Hill is about to "do it." The suite, in green rep, was on view in ' Dunn's establishment this week. The event, I believe, I will be consummated about the end of the present month. • — A prominent rosident of Parawai ought to set his children a better example than he did a Sunday or two ago, when he was observed passing the Shortland wharf in a small rowing-boat laden with firewood, collected by himself and sons from the beach at the entrance to the Thames River. The gentleman referred to is regarded by a large section of the community as a model citizen. —Mrs L. J. Bagnall gave a grand party afc her residence in Sandea-street last Friday evening in honour of the natal day of Miss Bagnall. The guests were about fifty in number, and were all young ladies and gentlemen. The gathering was a decided success • the host and hostess left no stone unturned to render the young people happy. Dancing was kept up till about 1 a.m., the music being supplied by Mr Owen, R.A.M. The supper was of the most recherche description. — The long-talked-of Fancy Dress Ball in connection with the Kinking Club eventuated on Tuesday, and was in every respect a marked success. The company was large and brilliant, the costumes as anile were striking.and the floor being in excellent condition and the music good, a really enjoyable evening was spent by those present. A number of Auckland visitors were amongst the company. Owing to unavoidable circumstances I am unable to give in this issue a list of the characters assumed, but will do so in my next. — A member of the Rink Committee informs me that the fun was " fast and furious " at the meeting held to consider the conduct of a certain bank clerk re alleged connection with the Observer, one gentleman accusing another of perverting the truth— an assertion which he had subsequently to retract ; and another, to use Dick Deadeye's words, "swearing profane language." Altogether the proceedings are said to have been particularly lively, and will not soon be forgotten by those who were at the meeting. — Society here has been much exercised since my last was written in consequence of an extraordinary — disgraceful, I may say — occurrence which took place at the Rink one evening last week, in which a bank clerk (whose name it would be inadvisable to publish), the Clerk of the Courts (Mr A. J. Allom), another gentleman who shall be nameless, and Mr G. N. Brassey (solicitor) figured prominently. To give the readers of the Observer an account of the circumstances which led up to the fracas would occupy too much space, and moreover require from me an explanation of various matters which at the present time I deem it inadvisable to enter into. Suffice it to say, then, that for some time past a junior clerk in one of the leading financial institutions at Grahamstown lias been suspected by several persons who compose Thames snobocracy of either contributing to the society journal or supplying the local correspondent with items for the same. Amongst others who entertain this opinion are Messrs Brassey, Allom, and several other bright members of the Rink Committee, and for a few weeks past these worthies have busied themselves to sheet the charge home. On one occasion the two gentlemen named above so far forgot themselves as to arraign the young fellow before them in the former's office, and endeavour by every possible means to extract from him information which they knew any man with a spnrk of honour in him would scorn to divulge. lam not at liberty to make public what transpired at that interview, which, by-the-bye, took place in Government hours. But I can go so far as to say that it was not at all the " cheese," and reflected anything but credit on the two principals. From what I can learn— and I have every reason to believe my information is perfectly reliable— the "youngster" had the best of the argument, and the sapient couple were compelled, metaphorically speaking, to retire with their tails between their legs. A considerable amount of ill-feeling was engendered by the interview, which culminated in a squabble on the evening of Tuesday week. On the man of figures presenting himself at the door of the Rink he was confronted by Allom,Brassey and a bank agent, and informed by the former that he would not be allowed to enter the building. The clerk (whom we will call Brown) politely acquainted old Crotchetty with the fact that he was a member of the Rinking Club, and would take part in the weekly reunion despite the opposition or objection of Messrs Allom, Brassey, or any one else. Albert J. replied that he would see Brown did not enter, whereupon the latter bounded into the hall, but was quickly collared by one of the gentlemen mentioned above, and. would no doubt have been ignominiously ejected had not a strapping young son of the yardstick come to the rescue and bumped the head of one of the snobs against the wall and threatened to put another down the steps in double quick time, which action had the effect of damping the bullies' ardour somewhat. The young men then entered tha room and took part in the amusement whilst Allom and Brassey betook themselves to the police : station and obtained the services of two stalwart guardians of the peace, who, however, on hearing the circumstances of the case, declined to interfere in the matter. At the conclusion of the rinking the committee held a meeting to consider the case of youn°.Brown, and the outcome of their deliberations was the appointment of a deputation (consisting of Messrs Ehrenfried, Murray, Allom, and another) to wait on your own" and ascertain from him whether Brown had ever supplied him with items in connection with tne Rink. The sub-committee carried out their instructions the same evening, and 1 had a pleasant twenty minutes with them in a certain newspaper establishment m Albert-street. Unfortunately the explanation I gave conveyed a different meaning to the deputation to what I intended, although a journalist would have understood what I meant in a moment • and at a subsequent meeting of the committee it was decided that young Brown should not be allowed to take part m the next Rink gathering— a crying shame, in my opinion, seeing that the young man was as innocent as a child unborn. From what I can gather it would appear that a lady (a resident of Forawai) and two "•entleuien stuck up for Brown right well— a fact which I trust my successor will bear in mind ; whilst several others whose names I am unable to obtain, did their utmost to tyrannise over him. Throughout the whole affair the action of several members of the club has been most ungentlemanly — disgraceful, I may say — and this

opinion is held by a large number of the community, who are disgusted at the mean, paltry spirit possessed by two or three of the individuals mentioned above. The last has not been heard of the matter, and in my next I shall probably have something more to say on the subject. — [Society at the Thames must be in a queer state when bullies and snobs_ of the class mentioned in the foregoing can brutally insult and ill-treat a youth merely because they suspect he contributes to a newspaper. What is there transpiring at the Rink which these gentlemen fear might leak out if a reporter were present ?— Ed. Observer.]