BRIEF MENTION

Observer, Volume v, Issue 115, 25 November 1882, Page 172

BRIEF MENTION

Who is to be the new paternal at the Coromandel wharf ? - Major Green's appointment as Sheriff has caused general satisfaction. Miss Eegan was considered the belle of the Woodside Ball. Long Gr. "wears a perpetual scowl, this week lie lost £200 in Imperials. The Ooromandel steamer used to be noted for its excellent table, but now " bah !" The Gertie and the Observer will race for' £10 at 2 o'cloak on Saturday. Who was responsible the other $ig%t for that trying scene under the portico of the Sujprc&ie Court P Some of the Native Lands Couwiafncials arc . feeling blue at the prospect of a Southern exile. Hcrr Schmitt is to ha.ye a concert given to him by the Choral Society shortly. Miss Yause, of Onehunga, is to be married on the 3rd of next, month, to Mr Jones, a new arrival. The return ball to the old Colonists given by their sons takes place on the 29th, St Andrew's Eve. Won't the' Coromandel girls be in luck this season with the poetico-theodico's new racing yacht. We hear that the smiling contractor is about to take the fair widow of Vulcan Lane into a life partnership. Charley Snowden,who made a pile in the Corby, has collared another Bonanza not a hundred miles from the Success. Harney's long expected money has arrived, but he looks "very pensive on account of the lawyer not antying up at once. Miss McLarnon sang at the Woodside concert "Sweet Flowers, Emblems of Parity," with exquisite taste. An erstwhile popular barmaid^%^reported to have met her fate for life at the hgmdspf a half-caste sugar boiler in Fiji. **w«^ The lon ton of the Choral Societj^hj.ve found out a new way of paying old debts. Get Hjhe ijjfiicials to wipe out the "score. " l ffs^ We learn that Mr G\, of V street, and the fair Miss G., of Oosgrave's, are engaged. How about poor Miss D., of Helensville ? It is rumoured that Mr Bloxsoryje^telegraphist, now at Taranaki, will shortly return Auckland station. The girls are rejoicing. It is said a prominent member of the St. James' Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association has found his long-looked for " affinity." Was it because the dear little things would pull his beard that A. Reuton, of Cambridge shaved it off ? N.B. An immediate answer is required. There are two curious farms at Papatoitoi. One is so fertile that it will grow new tails on dogs, while the other is so bleak that it will take a dog's tail off. A certain gallant skipper, residing in Ponsonby, is said to have had a windfall, in the shape of a good laany thousands totting up to over half a century. So sinful a thing was the first theatrical performance in Boston thought to be, that the law-makers interfered, and no other was attempted for 27 years. Dickey thinks that Imperial quartz is better than Imperial pints, teapots, scissors, etc. He has netted over £7,000 this last six months out of Imperial quartz. In his starring tour through Germany in January next, Edwin Booth will be supported by a German company, but will play his own part in English. Humour has it that a certain Borough official is the immediate cause of the City Surveyor's resignation of his office. Meddlesome interference is the complaint. Why does not the Coromandel G-entile take the hint, about poking his nose round people's back kitchens at all kinds of unseasonable houi-3. The North Shore larrikins have taken a leaf out of the book of their native visitors, and are now practising the haka with great success. Lieut. Skinner, of the Victorias, did not return with the Auckland representatives from Dunedin. He is still enjoying himself in the South. The man Larkins sent to tiie'EL'unatic Asylum during the week, it may be stated^fto prevent misapprehension, did not "go off ? i}isj;chuiiip" through having South Sea Island affairs on'the brain. There is a good story told $&6%b that floral offering to Bishop Luck, which leaydb it Jn some little doubt as to whether Bishop Cowie os'ei/proffered it at all. _ J^ Charlie McMurdo was in towpsfcist week. He is now beneficially engaged in savsig life in the North. He was once a terror for "taking irweS'' — for insurance purposes. We advise the young lady in the maroon hat not to do the spooning so openly, at a certain parson's gate not far out of Queen-street. It looks to much like a free exhibition. Messi'3 Williams and Walker of the Patetere Company have been in Auckland during the week, and shoals of landsharks have been cruising about in the neighbourhood of the clubs. Mrs Phelps, the new American Evangelist, is an earnest, fluent speaker, but in point of eioqrujnce and power of holding an audience in hand sse iamot to be named in the same day as Mrs Hainpsoji,,..^^ The Professor could not Swall&^ithat encore the other night, but he had to bow at lasfitJD the popular mandate, as every eye, so to speak, waTj^Revitt-ed on him. Two members of the party of American Evangelists now in Auckland, devote themseVesf^o what is termed " singiny the Gospel." A good %iany of our people do that, at all events they dont practice it. How was it that Sammy Coombe^^as out of that " soft thing" on Saturday afternoon, spd arrived too late? The early bird gets the wol^g/bccause he goes for it like " a hatter." Snyder Brown was in Auckland the other day ; we don't believe that ho is to be a captain in the Snlvation Army and was up here raising recruits under his " Standard." The brewer and wine merchant proved quite a godsend to the Coroinanclelites, they made the township quite lively, and made the discovery that champagne generally turns to real pain. A photographic instrument, by which the wheel of a bicycle taken at full speed is represented as an apparently stationary object, has been invented by the English scientist, Francis Gatton. We- have much pleasure in informing all suffering from scrip mania that Rowley Campion has resumed possession of the old house, the Cosmopolitan, where he dispenses the best brands of all liquors. A caution to would-be sporting racehorseowners :■ Never have too many agents to buy-in a horse after a Selling Race. If you don't believe us, just ask Jack Laing or Chanticleer. Who is the lady in a suburban choir that employs her time casting " eyes " at the stranger with the moustache or giggling at every little passing event instead of attending to her music (?) or the sermon ? Prudent housewives who desire to secure a -stock of clothing. at marvellously low prices should examine the list advertised by Mr Bridgman in another, column. The final public notice in Bridges' " Haydon " Gallery of art will be found among our advertisements. Handsome sums are guaranteed to prize winners who may desire to sell after the drawing. There are fifty prizes of the full value of £10,000. St. James' Mutual Improvement Association •'Social," held at the Temperance Hall, on Monday night was successful in every way. The best dressed, ladies in the room were two well-known lady vocalists, and two ladies whose Christian names begin with the letters R. and S. Mr A. S. Reid acted as M.C. Despite the unpropitious indications of the weather, the fifth concert of the Philharmonic Society drew a large number of interested friends to the Theatre Royal on Friday evening last. Their manifestations of approval must have been very gratifying to the

•participants, who numbered about 60, half being in the orchestra and half in the chorus, the sexes being evenly divided. The 'orchestra contained ten Vouug l a( ly violinists. Vocal solos were rendered by Misses Gribble, Marson, Mrs Evitt, Messrs Boyle, Ijeedhaui, Bartley ; and piano solos by Miss Campbell. Professor F. O. pailliau performed the duties of conductor conscientiously and well, and may enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that the event passed off very happily, promising a brilliant future for the Society. See the sprinkling of the Belles, Lawn Belles ! What extravagance their peacockery foretells. Cash jingling, home jangling, Domestic peace entangling, As they clutter and they flutter. While the angry heavens sputter, And the Lawn is a big gutter, 'Mid the Belles, Belles, The jingling and the jangling of the Belles; Oil dit that P.apa Larkins has "been seeking to induce the editor "oi; Lc Nco Zealandais to regularly publish several columns of evangelical extracts from the works of the French divines. M. Villeval is inclined to think the man has been " larking " with him. G-arry Reid now sports a dainty pair of spectacles. "The craze for wearing these visual appendages is rapidly spreading amongst young men and women who affect, studiousness or rare talent. W. looks both interesting and suggestive of uncommon gifts,' you know. Little Pond wears a perpetual smile. Wo wonder, iie has struck a rich imtch in Imperials and Qneen of Beauty. Having discovered platinum in the Queen of Beauty, he is about, in the interest of science, to examine the lower workings of the Prince Imperial, to ascertain if there is any sulphur. Some very proper people who happened to be in the Opera House on Monday night had their modesty shocked by the appearance of a dozen young ladies (pros.) in the tight pants of inaii-o'wars men, the eifect being to display rather openly the contour of the female form divine. The shrieks and tbundei'ing pounding noise heard nightly in the neighbourhood of Napier-street, is not a drunken row, its only a way that Arthnr and Lizzie have of making love. The neighbours declare that Lizzie is a regular " Screamer," and think that the sooner the young couple get married th.Q better. " Billee . Taylor " was produced on Monday night uuder the distinguished patronage of the Rev. W. Tebbs and his quondam assistant, " the pale young curate," yclept Hitchcock, who was of course accompanied by his future relatives. Both the medical luminaries of St. Matthew's were in attendance. Messrs Cooper and Armitage have now commenced business as hatters and gentlemen's mercers in Queen-street. Mr Cooper served his time with Mr I'entou, and has finished his education iv the study of the heads of the people under the leading hatter in Sydney. The festive young persons of both sexes in the yiciuity of the Cit3 r -road should remember that though it may be perfectly laudable to teach " the young idea how to shoot" during the week, it is scarcely the correct thing to teach them how to play cricket on Sundays. It was very rough on the Carbine Champion for the Dunediiiites to let him sit for two solid hours as a " wall flower " at their Citizens' Ball to the representatives. Perhaps the Dunedin belles had a wholesome dread of his " sighting" qualities. Private letters received by R. C. Greenwood from London, state that his uucle Mr Alfred Domett, author of " Ranolf and Ainohia," has been honoured with a request by the Princess of Wales to allow the poem to be translated into the German language. A Parnell shopkeeper made extensive preparations for a house-warming at the opening of his new premises. Amongst other provision ho had sixteen turkeys, but some miscreant poisoned the lot, and now that festive event has been postponed sine die. The latest definition of the word gentleman is a ruffian who breaks into a house at night and gives a helpless woman a black eye. A wretched harridan, who appeared with one eye in mourning at the Police Court, persisted in referring to her assailant, the defendant, as "that gentleman." The Direct Supply Store, Queen-street, is oiferirg spleudid opportunities to storekeepers, hawkers, and prudent housekeepers. The whole of the stock, valued at £4000, and comprising upwards of 1700 distinct articles of domestic use and ornauent, is being sold at an immense sacrifice. When Mr G-ordon Gooch arrives in Melbourne he will doubtless meet many of his old professional friends, snvmgst whom we may mention Muss Christian fwho studied tinder the same master as -tvlr Gooch at the Royal Academy of Music), Rosina Carandini, and many others. The musical festival will be conducted on the same principles as the Birmingham Festival. — Mr Montague Smith was very fortunate at Gisborne Races with his horses both days. He won the Ladies' Locket with Lucits'All, the Corinthian Cup witb Kingask, the Maiden with Soabqy.the Hack Hurdles with Lucks All, the Handicap Hurdles with Trovatore, and the Hack Race with Lucks All. The evoluted saddler's assistant who aspires to lead the ton anc 1 mould the fashions of Ponsonby, is credited with causing the present strained relations between the local Choral Society and the parent Society. He was snubbed by the latter, and retaliated by getting the parent to put the screw on its offspring. It was rather rough on the feelings of the friends and relatives of "the nephew of mine uncle" who were present at the performance of "Billee Taylor" on Tuesday night, to hear Crab, the sneaking pedagogue, declare " I am not willin' to be kicked like McMillan." Although the "gag" was unpalatable to them, it "fetched" the "house." A Waikato correspondent writes :— Fancy how woeful the Waikato cricketing team will feel that none of them have been picked to go South. And quite right too. The enlistment of no one of them would have been the smallest acquisition to the representatives. Besides, Auckland is full of aspiring cricketers, and many fair players. It is to be hoped they will learn the salutary lesson that acknowledgment of merit goes before assumption of it. PAEROA. Armed with pickaxe, shovel and sack, he Nightly prowls round Karangahake, Digging away through the night so cold' — Ah, Fred, all that glitters is truly not gold ! Pounding away with mortar and pestle, Frowning while with a hard stone you wrestle ; Ah, Freddy, poor boy, you're easily sold— You'll find all that glitters is truly not gold ! The smiles of a woman — bright specks in a stoneHave caused weary hearts to beat sadly alone ; So take friendly advice, and think it not bold, Make sure all that glitters so brightly is gold. A very enjoyable concert was held at Epsom Hall on Friday last, in aid of a case of need. Amongst the performers, Mrs Cottingham and Miss Walmsley both sang very nicely ; and of the male performers, Messrs J. Reid, F. George, Marsom, Shirley and Coates, with the able assistance of the valuable Cullimore as pianiste,. caused the evening to pass pleasantly.- The weather was the only unpleasant visitor, which prevented a number from coming who lived at a distance. Messrs Smith and Buckland were splendid in recitations, and fairly brought down the house. * An esteemed correspondent writes : — To the Editor : Sir, — Allow me to enter my protest against the modern nuisance of paragraph advertisements. I suffer unfortunately from shortness of sight, and am obliged to carfully peruse a paragraph before I can master its contents, instead of being- able to grasp the general sense by a cursory glance. I may say that I always give a cursory glance when I come across such as tho following: — Of all the wonders of this age of scientific invention and skill, there is probably nothing in the whole range of human industry to equal for beauty of design, artistic finish, cheapness, and durability, the wonderful boots and shoes manufactured by Garrett Bros., of Auckland. The complimentary benefit tendered to Mr R. S. Barry (teacher of elocution) took place in St. James' Hall on Tuesday evening, and deserved to be better attended than it was. The singing generally was good, and the elocutionary display very creditable for amateurs. Miss Tapper, Mrs Stephenson, and Messrs Gooch, Edwards, Joseph Hanua and Edtniston were the vocalists, and Mr A. Bartley the accompanist. The dramatic display comprised selections from acts 1 and 4 .of " The Merchant of Venice " iv character, and some of. the characters very admirably pourtrayed, Mr G.

"W. Lawrence, a yovmg man who has a decided aptitude for histrionic efforts of a tragic cast, took the role of and made an excellent acquittance for himself. He only needs to restrain a certain tendency towards melodramatic staginess, and some training, to make a very capable actor. Mr C. D. Robinson impersonated Gratiano, and did it admirably. He should, however, have had a more pretentious part. Miss Halstead appeared as Portia, avd'spokS her linos well, but betrayed too much emotion. Mr Barry's Duke is the only character worthy of mention. The rest were mere " sticks." Mr G-arnier, the eminent electrician, lias succeeded in perfecting his system, of galvanic baths, by means of which he is enabled to lay on hot and cold water, and to apx^ly the electric current to any part of the human body with the most beneficial results. Those who have tested this cuvativc agency speak in the highest terms of its efficacy. Mr Garnier's system is practically illustrated by a series of instructive drawings in bis room, which show the operation of the electric process. In consequence of the tyrannous monopoly and crushing prices of the timber" trade, an agitation is on foot to repeal the import duty on. timber, and place an export duty on Irauri, m order to fceep down heavy shipments from the Colony, which denude the local market and raise the price of timber enormously. It is said that the Union Sash and Door Company made a profit of 30 per cent, in last year's transactions. As the man says in the melodrama, "This is too much." An Auckland firm which has a reputation for sailing too closely to the wind, is popularly credited with making a practice of putting/a tract in every bale of goods despatched. When th"c •country storekeeper^ open out, and catch a glimpse 6f*6Ee missive, " Arc you saved ?" some of the " ransomed" one 4 with a fragrant recollection of the past, invariably/ejaculate, " Yes, thank God." But whether the^ exclamation refers to deliverance from their owh shortcomings or the film's toils must bo left to the reader's discretion. The following sweet and precious thing was picked up near the Post-office. The young woman thus lets the cat out of the bag :— Oh, to tease him. Then to please him With a tender smile, And to fret him While I lot him Watch me all the while Throwing glances Through the dances Rival hearts to thrill, Till he boldly Turns, and coldly Leaves me to my will. Then my gladness Turns to sadness, Bat no word I speak, Till he presses Soft cai'esses On my lips and cheek. While the thrillingTouch is filling All my heart with light, Soft I say, " I'll vex you never, But will strive to please you ever, Helped by love's sweet might !" The singular reticence which marked the recent negotiations between Mr Bryce and Tawhiao has already been commented upon by the Press, and has evoked much public censure. For instance, it is only now that one important feature in the negotiations has been allowed to transpire. It seems that everything had been satisfactorily arranged, when Mr Bryce was startled by a new and unexpected pro^iosal by the Maori Kin?. Striding majestically up to the Native Minister, the dusky monarch gazed, downwards at his seedy and ill-fitting inexpressibles and exclaimed : — " Kapai. Salutations to thee O, Bryce. Your words are good. But one thing is lacking. Throw in a pair of Phillips and Sou's matchless suits, and I'm your Moses." Tor the first time Bryce hesitated, and in that fatal moment, when the x^eace of the country actually hung on a pair of trousers, all was lost. We would, in a spirit of Christian charity, recommend the persons who superintended the arrangements at Mrs Revitl/s concert to take reasonable precautions in future against the vagaries of a certain old fossil, who grossly insulted the representative of this journal the other evening. The old man suffers from two things— an extraordinary retentiveness of memory and a want of civility. The sight of our representative ripped up afresh an old wound inflicted about a year ngo. It seems that in the report of a concert given at that time, we omitted to mention tha-t this eccentric old party contributed enormously to the success of the affair by bossing the ticket-taker at the door. We are sorry for it. This apology comes rather tardily, hut it is better late than never. If it will smooth the closing days of this venerable Rip Van Winkle, and prevent his dipping his hands in our innocent gore, we will keep on apologising every year in future, and stick it on his tombstone. To save a catastrophe next year, however, it may be prudent to lock the old man up for the occasion, and place him under proper restraint. Mrs Eevitt's annual concert took place in the Choral Hall on Monday evening. It was well attended, and passed oil very agreeably. The programme was well arranged, and the performers, who included a number of the lady's own pupils, acquitted themselves with credit. Mrs Revitt obtained her full share of kudos for a tasteful rendering of a French serenade (" Chantez Toujours ") and Blumenthal's " Message," and Mr Gordon Gooch gave " Sailing " and "Simon the Cellarer" with sucb fine effect that he was obliged to favour the audience on each occasion with a second song. Professor Swallow's pianoforte solo on airs from " Trovatore " created quite a furore amongst the audience, and after vainly resisting the popular demand for "more" he favoured his hearers with Thalberg's well-known arrangement of "Home Sweet Home." It was a genuine treat. The Professor has a rare delicacy of touch and a perfect mastery over the instrument. Mr J. Edwards, who is without doubt the most xjroinisiug tenor we have, gave " Love's Request " and "Some Day," for each of which he was duly recalled. He has a voice of great sweetness, good compass, and rare flexibility, and although somewhat contemned by those who affect to rule the roost in matters musical, he is bound to get a place in the front rank of our amateur singers. We have no tenor to beat him. Miss Tapper sang acceptably. Mrs Revitt's and Professor Swallow's pupils attested, the efficiency with which they had been trained.

™nsffTn!BvsTJßHiuffim" lines" by the ill-fated liinds^ Gordon, whose work is too little known and appreciate!* in this decade, are quoted by " The Vagabond " in " No Mercy." " Billee Taylor " was iDroduced, for the first time in Auckland, on Monday evening. The attendance was good, and the reception accorded the opera exceedingly favourable. The mounting of the xriece was ou a par with the previous productions of the company. "Billee Taylor" is, however, considerably inferior to the " Tambour Major," or the works of Gilbert and Sullivan ; yet, at the same time, it raust be conceded it possesses more than the average merit of opera-bouffe. The dialogue is certainly not particularly witty or entertaining ; yet its defects are fully compensated for by the prettiness of the music. Mr Vernon, in the namepart, was an iindouiable success. The character is unworthy of his acting- ability ; yet it afforded an opportunity of displaying his vocal powers, which he amply availed himself of. In the introduced song, " I

Thought of Thee," in the second act, he was cxt^wi good. Mr Dray ton's Sir Mincing Lane was also neletj and diverting performance ; it is, without doubt ft best stage portrait he has yet presented us with 'i. Captain Flapper of Mr Bnrt was fairly good. Mr Iv was in- his element as Crab; his introduced song, i u « second act, was most amusing. Mr Sullivan infnsedt much of a " Dick Deacleye" flavour into his per^onna. of Barnacle to give him claim to anything like accmi or originality. Miss Elsa May gathered fresh laurel* Phoebe, and her singing of the ballad, "Love in Youtv gave incontrovertible .proof, were it needed, that sh 8 ; a songstress of a very high rank. The extraordite power, volume, and flexibility of her voice wero fe displayed in the song, " Love in Youth,'" and heartily recognised by the audience. Miss Fanny y diard was a bewitching little Arabella Lane, pw with much archness and grace, and singing the vaiii allotted to her in faultless style and marked oil'ect. j ballad in the first act was one of the best things in j performance. Miss Blanche Lewis had but a uiinorn' in Susan ; still she did all that was possible witli it % looked exceedingly pretty. In the second act, in cm pany with her sister, she danced a hornpipe, which it fully deserving of the flattering recognition it obtain; On Wednesday evening the season closed. The en£ tainuieiit comprised the second acts of " TamW Major," " Billee Taylor," ■ and " Patience," and v for the benefit of Mr Vernon. The performance » well palronised, and the beneficiare enthusiastic^ received. The company left for Gisborne yestetdj After playing in the principal New Zealand towns, ft will proceed to Tasmania, thence to Australia. * trust they will meet with the success their merits, fully entitle them to.