Thames TITTLE TATTLE

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 91, 10 June 1882, Page 196

Thames TITTLE TATTLE

—One of the best items at the Presbyterian concert last week was the " White Squall," rendered by Alf Vowles in a really excellent manner. —The overdraft of the Steam Navigation Company is said to amount to over £2000, the greater part of which was incurred in the purchase of thep.s. Te Aroha and s.s. Metnsahib. , — Mr Wiseman's latest comic song, on the t Police Station embroglio, is above mediocrity. It was ! received with thunderous applause in the Academy last week. —A lady friend expresses her conviction that a certain stockbroker in Grahamstown is in the habit^of dyeing his hirsute appendages, in order that he may appear more fascinating in the eyes of the fair sex. — It is the opinion of a gentleman who recently' returned to the Thames from a visit to the South Island, and who is no mean musical critic, that if th» Scottish Band had carried out their intention of visiting Christchurch and taken part in the great band contest there, they would have proved themselves the winners of either first or second prize. — General satisfaction is expressed at the action of the Licensing Court in granting a license to Geordie Symington for the old Theatre Eoyal Hotel, on condition that he effects the necessary alterations and ! repairs to the buildings. Geordie is deservedly popular throughout the peninsula, and will no doub* do a good biz in his new hostlery. , ; — It may now bo considered a settled thing that there is to be no rinking club this season. Those gentlemen who wore most active last year in carrying on a similar organisation, apparently have no desire to be saddled with the duties this winter, and hence the improbability of the rink being re-opened. Last season's reunions were greatly enjoyed, and it is a great pity efforts are not made to resuscitate them. — The Linda String Band is still in existence, and grinding away as usual. The members meet weekly for practice,and delight the neighbourhood by producing solos, fantasias, and break-downs in a manner whieli would do the orchestra of the Choral Society no dis- | credit . Gilmour has become exceedingly proficient in j the use of the bow, and is now one of the leadingviolimsfcs. Prank Puekey still works tlie bass via], but j no longer causes it to emit the discordant tones it was possible for any description of instrument to produce. — The vicissitudes of life in the colonies is strikingly shown in the career of Charlie Quint, an old Quartzopolitan. At one time Charlie was considered a wealthy man, but from one cause and another he and his money parted, and he is now in a state of abject ■poverty in Sydney. He has been deserted by his friends (including one who had promised to love and' cherish him for ever) and is in a most miserable condition. Eight or ten years ago, Quint could have drawn a cheque for five thousand pounds ;' at the present time he probably does not possess a £10 note. — Although the Committee of the Toole Dramatic Club lacked the courtesy to forward "your own" an invitation for tbeir late .performance in St. George's Schoolroom (probably fearing an adverse critique), I was offered the particulars of the affair by two diiierenb gentlemen, in order that I might work lip an article for tho Observer ; but I declined both otters of assistance with thanks. Tho next tiiue the Club plays, however, I intend to be present in spirit, if not in flesh, and shall give a true and faithful account of the performance. I may also take it into my head to enumerate some of the persons present, so as to enable the city readers of this journal to form an idea of the class of people at present composing the local- aristocracy (save the mark!) — A friend of mine lias just come to the conclusion that girls are frauds, and this is what caused him to form such an opinion. At the Scottish Ball the other evening he made the acquaintance of rather a nicelooking young lady from tb» tVey, with whom he danced and flirted the best part of the night ; in fact, it was a. case of love at first sight. He felt extremely satisfied with himself and the reat of tho world as he retired tobed nt about -i a.m., and determined the very next ovening to pour his amorons tale into the ears of the Auckland belle, accompanying the same with a request for her hand in marriage. But, al*3 ! he knew not at thetime what deceitful oreittnrea aonie women are. During the course of the day he learned from a friend of his. that tbe girl bud been drawing him on "just fora lark,", and some months previous had consented to beeoinethe wife of a Waikato settler ! It; is almost needless to saythat the love-sick youth failed to pay his intended visit to Miss Blank's residence, and has also given up aIL hope of her ever becoming his better-half. — " The young men of the Thames are very fast, and unless we are sure of a sufficient number of our own class attending to form v dance set, we'll noc be present to-night." such was the remark which T overheard one young lady making to another as tbey were walkingalong Pollon-street the other day. They wore cou versingtogether on the subject of an entertainment which wa^ to be given in one of the public halls that evening, and the person to wboin the remark was addressed is the' wife of a gentleman who only arrived from the South a short time ago, whilst her companion is the daughter of a prominent citizen, whose family are in bad odour in the district on account of their snobbishness. Thedaughter of Eve, who has such a good opinion of Thames youths, is considered by almost all her acquaintances to, be the "fastest" member of the local beau monde, aiuL ,the remark made to her married friend therefore comes' with extremely bad taste from her. Don't let it -occur again, my dear girl, or I shall be obliged to say something more unpleasant concerning you. t — A case of unexampled " generosity" has beem related to me, the facts of which can be vouched for. I Amongst the passengers by one of the river steamers the other day was the wife of a settler in the Upper Thames, who was coming down to Grahamstown on a visit to some friends. The day happened to be a very I inclement one, and in walking from her home to the boat— a very short distance— her delicate kids became. ! spotted with yellow clay. On boardiug the vessel she divested her pedal extremities of their covering, and. j handed them to the cook with a request that he would 1 dry them at the galley fire. The obliging disciple of. i Soy er did as he was asked, and, to prove himself still I more gallant, applied a quantity" of " Peerless gloss "to I the boots, with the result that they shone liko Old Sol on a mid-summer's day. In due course the botines. were returned, to thelady,who rewarded the, accommoda ting cook by remarking that he had been " an awful longtime over those boots !" Comment is needless.

A great many persons imagine that a period of dullness sets in, and that business becomes stagnant,, at certain times during the year ; and indeed this may be the case with some branches of trade, but it is certainly not so with that branch of trade at the corner of ' Queen and Victoria streets, known to everybody, as. Goodson's London Arcade. This establishment is not. run by fits and starts, but presents one unbroken round., of attractions and novelties from the beginning of the' year to the end. Almost simultaneously with the ap«pearance of any novelties in the Home market, they appear at Goodson's Arcade ; and whenthere is nothing now there are always Goodson'a prices,, which would keep the Arcade full if there was nothing to- sell. The> very lateßt thing out is the Terracotta Ware, which is at? tracting so much notice in the Queen-street window.of . the Arcade.