WAIKATO WHISPERINGS

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 73, 4 February 1882, Page 330

WAIKATO WHISPERINGS

— It is not true that the jovial Dyer intends severing his connection with, the bachelor world. — Sam Reid lias at last taken courage, and indulges in a little now-and-again korero with the object of his affections. — Billy and Palmer hare earned tlie gratitude of the Waikato public for their successful endeavours in the matter of the big cricket match of Tuesday. — G-eorge, the gay young chaperon of Hamilton, is still a bachelor; and, according to all accounts, never thinks of niatriruony. .Men of his class very seldom do, as a rule. —The fair Borneo has been paying much attention to the tall, dark, pretty Missß., from Auckland, but he is not likely to succeed ; for, by all accounts, her heart is very safe in somebody else'd keeping. — Cambridge people must certainly be very fond of law, when it takes no less than four of the "learned profession" to administer their legal differences. •An importation of Victor's would materially assist the fraternity. — The Paddys are going to hare a " go in " on the 17th March, as per usual. They ought to invite Messrs A. Isaacs and B. Montague to render their favoiu-ite comical duet, "The Killkenny Cats," in character. Tickets would then be worth having. — Cambridge boasts of a clarionetist — Joe Lamb, I think— who plays that instrument with every member of his body, particularly so his eves, the whole working in perfect harmony like an automaton. His very imposing attitude is a centre of attraction for the ladies. — A new fruit-monger, whose exterior man calls up vivid recollections of the days of Sandy McNab, has opened business in Cambridge. He is a good business man, nevertheless, considering he sent mother a bad pine apple, by way of intimating the fact that he had commenced business iv.that line. — A newly-imported medico, a recently-arrived " learned friend," and somebody else amused themselves on Sunday evening: last infuriating Doolan's cow. The gallant detecter of crime, however, wasn't asleep, and, witnessing the affair, gave the sportive trio notice to quit. — The matter of where the Cambridge railway is to terminate is going to be talked out in the Public Hall shortly. William, the prominent upper-flatist, is, I hear, preparing a very lengthy and logical argument, which is to knock Wells into a cocked hat. Andus will undoubtedly sit on Hewitt — I mean metaphorically — who, I believe, will address the meeting from the platform on this occasion. Stewart should have a basket ready for the pieces. — Mr Speed, one of "my learned friends," who, by-the-bye, betrays a strong combative propensity from a pleading point of view, seems to be versed in the science of mystifying the local J.P.s, whose legal love is of a somewhat scanty character. His never-give-in-ism is a safe guarantee against his being " sat upon." The same young man is developing strong musical propensities, and a decided inclination towards a certain handsome heiress. — The Premier is going to pay us a visit, and a few of our prominent public men have gone into training for the occasion. The Hamilton folk have got very little to submit to the mighty consideration of the man of all power and wisdom, but, according to all accounts from Cambridge, I have every reason to expect that the honourable gentleman will be warmly (in a practical sense) received there. — " Blessed is he who does not expect, for he is not disappointed." I know to my own knowledge that several gentlemen, who are wont to boast of their popularity, went to the meeting of householders, which was called for the purpose of electing a school committee for Cambridge East, in full expectation of returning home duly elected members of that intelligent body ; but were, sorry to say, obliged to return as they went. In the excitement which generally prevails during the nomination, all present forgot to mention the name of Mr Johnson, who, I learn, went to the meeting with the expectation— if not the determination — of heading the poll. But, alas ! he expected aa the proverb says, and was consequently disappointed. Thus an intelligent community has lost the services of one great man. There has been some sort of a mash-up in the camp of Cambridge West agitators. Nothing is ever heard now of " the township of the future," of " our endowments," nor of the Duke-street sharks." Some say that Kealey aimed at the chairmanship, but that Madigan could not see it ; while others seem to think that Jim O'Brien's anxiety to be a full blown member of the Board was a purely selfish one, and that he consequently was not actuated by any desire to further the public interest beyond a wish to see his name figure in a local publication to the extent of " Mr O'Brien then rose, and with becoming dignity and true loftiness of spirit, coupled with an easy delivery and fine rhetoric, proceeded to address the meeting, as follows: — "Some say it was a matter of wanting a license for the " Lazy Men's Club" that moved Madigan in the matter of seeking the civil privleges of a township, while Hewitt seriously avers that there wasn't a sufficiency of intelligence in Cambridge West to constitute a Board. — The school-children's picnic, which came off in Cambridge on Saturday week last, was, without doubt, the greatest abortion of the kind ever held in a civilized community. It could not be that there was an insufficiency of money collected ; for the general public subscribed, I believe, a considerable amount. But lam fully convinced, in my own mind, that £5 worth of edibles was not distributed among the youngsters that day. Then, again, a gigantic ham was given by Jack Arnold gratis, and a heap of lollies by Mr Houghton. A bundle of very objectionable sandwiches, which all the youngsters said were fly-blown, was distributed; and this was washed down by some watery ginger beer and tea (!) the lot interspersed with an occasional bun by way of variety. The prizes given for races and such like events were dirt cheap and useless : indeed the kind donors might well hnvo been ashamed to present them. The primitive little entertainment in the evening passed off not badly, though, it must be said, there was too much of one thing, and that one thing was not entertaining at all. Mac's pupils, I.must admit, are really a credit to him, and they bear ample testimony to his ability as a musical tutor. The presentation to Mr E. D. Stewart was the most mysterious little matter of the evening, and, up to the present, I have been unable to solve the problem — Where did that little casket come from ? The School Committee know nothing about it — nothing whatever ; nor, I believe, does the reverend gentleman who presented it, unless that it was handed into his hands by somebody.