PERSONAL

Observer, Volume IV, Issue 84, 22 April 1882, Page 86

PERSONAL

— That whaling business don't pay, Tommy. • . — Detective Jeffrey has gone back to Wanga nui. — Who is dying for another opportunity to trot out " The Charge of the Tight Brigade ?" — A rising young legal practitioner, of Short-land-street, is shortly to become a benedict. —Judge Fenton'is casting longing eyes on 3?ranklyn North. — Grus Grant was a regular lady-killer at Mahurangi. Why was that Presbyterian, parson walking up the wharf the other day with two policemen ? What was the offence. — J. Oakley Brown is "doing" the Eotorua ■ district for the Lyttelton Times, while compiling materials for his " Tourists' Guide." — Family Fred is becoming unpopular in Ponsonby. Most people prefer to be answered civilly when a pertinent queston is asked. — How very kind of that nice tall swell at the North Shore to carry bundles of fish to that interesting widow, and in the rain too ! Mr Edmiston's bow is a study in itself, it completely fetched the fair ones in the dresscircle at the benefit the other night. — Jack Arneil nearly fainted when he saw the Mahurangi Cricket ground. Ask him how he liked that bed ? — Who is the sombrcst skipper amongst the captains now in our harbour? No red-nosed men are to be included. — Some prominent colleagues are credited with recent leading articles in a contemporary against the Governor and incoming Premier. — What were those three Tauranga couples doing all night at Mangatapu ? Poor Bob was running up and down the beach all night. — It is understood that either Mr Hall or Mr Kolleston will be Speaker of the new House of Representatives. — An interesting • tale anent a Thames Police Officer has reached us, and yet he is such a devoted member of his church. — Mr Thompson, in all probability, will be Chairman of Committees, Mr Hamlin, of Native Affairs, and Mr Moss, of the Petitions Committee. — At the next fancy dress ball, the manager of the Auckland branch of a certain big company is going to introduce a wonderful coat, which has been in the family since the " Georges." — Te Whiti is likely to be brought to trial in the beginning of next month. It is a legal point •whether he should have been lodged in gaol at ■ all. A Christchurch jury, however, will decide. —Although all preparations were completed for the Hon. Mrs Whitaker and her • daughters going to the Empire city next month, we understand they purpose remaining ■ here. — Mr Sherrin has assumed the editorial duties of the Freeman's Journal. Sherrin's star is in the ascendant. It is said he will have a finger in the management of the new paper which is projected. ■ —Who is the North Shore rresident who is to be seen in the early morning when the' tide is low standing in the sea with the water up to his knees enjoying a shower bath by the use of his neighbour's frying pan. — Dr. Campbell is building a mausoleum m St. Stephen's cemetery, Parnell, for the reception of the remains of his daughter, who died recently in England. 3t is said that the monument will cost £1000. —So Sergeant Kidd has left the Auckland police. The public feeling in the matter has been so " intense " that it puts one in mind of the memorable occasion when Mr Ewington left the Baptist Church. — What return does the company get for the numerous cheap dinners, wine, whisky and - cigars which certain public officers get whenever they choose to visit one of the steamers. Somebody has to work harder to gratify these great gourmands. The matter should be seen into. — The young ladies in the vacinity of Hepburn and Beresford-streets complain that they liave experienced a peculiar feeling about the heart, since that good-looking young watchman lias been in that locality, and very much want to mow his name. "Xlie Bay of Plenty Times thus criticises \ !« Weighed in the Balance" :— " It is another of those many pusillanimous digs at Sir George Grey j published within the last two years, and is neither witty nor original. By the bye who is .. Mr Arthur Fonthill ?"— [Mr J. C. Firth, we guess. — Ed. Obs.] — Mr Swanson believes Mr Sheehan will be a unit in the new Ministry. He has grave doubts of William John Hurst ever getting a portfolio. Strange this. Did not Mr Hurst once fill the position of Chairman of Committees for an evening, and was he not told by Mr E. G. Wood that there was a portfolio awaiting him. Mr Raynes is offering for sale the goodwill of the National Hotel, Cambridge, one of the most • flourishing businesses in the North Island. Any enterprising man with his weather eye open could make a fortune in the National in three years. Haynes only retires from the business because he has become so beastly rich that he must either start a bank, or a newspaper in order to utilise - liis capital. The district is rapidly going ahead, A and is destined to become at no distant date one of the finest in New Zealand. — N.B, — This is not an advertisment. Mr E. Harrison, a journalist of great ability and long experience, from whoso pen have emanated some of the best leading articles that have appeared for some years past .in the Herald, was a passenger for Melbourne by the s.s Eingarpoma. . -.Having had a difference of opinion with 7^ne ; pf:th^ involved • "no" breacli\of^friendship; and. ."..personal esteem, Mr Harrison' voluntarily. iseVorcd" his connection -with the iJ2"<3J-«2^-''' His -pecuniary circumstances. Teßder;"iliin'Practi.callj r ;iß.clGpericlent of journalistib , employment, -:aiidhe,iaiJJkoly':tOi pay,; a visit t'p; Europe, but ianncertain whether or not he ma|r, Teturnlt"o7AucWand.Tatino.orer;yj.distanjb date, in "■■'," order to establish-a newspaper of his own.

— Genial Joe Bennet was in his element on board the Victoria coming from the Takapuna Eaces. The Tongariro had performed the trip to the North Shore in the morning against the flood tide in 10£ minutes, with as many passengers as she could conveniently carry. Bennet wanted to bet the captain of the Victoria that she would not do the return trip to the Queen-street wharf in comparatively smooth water in ten minutes, but the skipper was not on, though he went below and instructed the engineer to throw on the hams and kerosene. Messrs John Smith, B. Tonks, and the enterprising J. B. timed the trip, which occupied exactly 12^- mins. from the first revolution of the engines. An instance of vindictiveness and petty spite of a wretchedly mean nature was discovered the other night. It appears that for several years Mr W. H. Stanford, the popular host of the Ponsonby Club Hotel, has allowed the use of one of his rooms to the local Eegatta Club free of charge. His liberality met with a poor reward. The secretary of the club, for some reason known to himself, and also to others, was very particular, in leaving out the name of the hotel from all advertisements, so that the landlord reaped no advantage from publicity. This actually continued for two years, and during the whole of this time Mr Stanford was secretly made the victim of the secretary's enmity. Other people had, however, been watching Jones' little game, and it was unearthed at a meeting of the committee last week. Fortunately for the club they elected a committee of gentlemen, and immediately the petty malice was exposed they expressed their disgust' and disapprobation by passing a cordial vote of thanks to " Stan." for his generous behaviour to the club since its foundation, and gave the secretary a forcible reminder that in future he was not to allow his private spite to lead him to such questionable actions.