TAURANGA JOTTINGS.

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 78, 11 March 1882, Page 410

TAURANGA JOTTINGS.

— It ia confidentially asserted by those who should know, that our Lord Mayor and Aldermen intend to invite the Burgesses to a sumptuous banquet on the 18th prox. I'll be " thar."

— We'll have our Thames-Tauranga-Te PukeRotorua railway yet, despite your metropolitan opposition. The irrepressible George Vesey is making a proposition to the Government, that they can't decently avoid accepting.

— The numerous friends of Mr William Henry Bennet (late of the Star) are anxiously enquiring after his health and present whereabouts. Quite a number of gentlemen called and left their cards with Mrs 8., previous to her departure. The dear departed and much-lamented B. , certainly showed more of the brilliant but evanescent nature of a meteor, than the constancy of a Star,

— The fact of E. C. Jordan bei.ig wheeled round in his chair on the polling day, will appeal to people's sympathies better than the most logical reasonings. If the gallant Captain or George Vesey, could only get accidentally shot, or hare a few odd legs or arms broken, and be carried to the polling booth — like a certain victorous monarch mentioned in Irish History— on a stretcher, it would improve their chances.

— The Buster says that "Mr Rollestone and the Surgeon-General are to arrive in Tauranga. Probably the " intelligent compositor " thought that as a surveyor's employment generally consisted of cutting up and laying out blocks, dissecting sections, and bleeding his patrons, the difference between the knights of the scalpel and theodolite was not very great.

— I was very glad to see that Mr Edgcumbe promptly repudiated the authorship of the Buster's attack on me. I hardly believe he could he guilty of writing so untruthful and uncalled-for a par. Someone writes signing himself "An Occasional "—(an occasional what ? Companion to Balaam ? This ass is evidently in advance of his prototype ; the original beast was only made to litter, but this animal puts its lugubrations on paper. He has written to the Busier assuming the responsibility of the despicable effusion, but unfortunately this individual forgot to append his name ; it must have been an omission, so perhaps he'll rectify it when he reads this. But what an astounding cheek the fellow must possess, when he could sit down and coolly attack a writer in a respectable journal on account of his anonymity j and then endeavour to foist his production on the public as emanating from the editorial pen.

— Mr Clendenning's Tonic Sol Fa class gave an exhibition of their progress on Monday night. The choir rendered several pleasing selections, which were interspersed with an exposition of the " so-lah." system by the conductor. Mr Clendenning remarked "That this was a great system ; a system which comprehends the universe in its magnificent scope ; a system so grand, so majestic, yet so simple, beautiful, and efficacious as to appeal to the understanding of the youngest child. If we studied this system for but an infinitesimal period of the "so-lah" cycle, it would become a source of light and enjoyment to us. In fact by its borrowed light, we would become bright " stars " gloriously illumining the stygiau darkness of musical ignorance, and shining with celestial splendour in the firmament of the world of music. Age is no obstacle. Were we as old as the moon herself, we might at least aspire to the rank of a lesser luminary. Mr Clendenning instanced the case of someone's grandmother — aged 72 — whom he had enlightened, and who was now before the public. During the evening a few larrikins, to whom the free admission had probably proved an attraction, endeavoured to create a disturbance, but thanks to the good temper and good sense of Mr Clendenning, their design was thwarted. The collection to defray advertising expenses, notwithstanding the number present, only realised 19s. After that display of meanness I'll say no more.