NAPIER.

Observer, Volume 5, Issue 124, 27 January 1883, Page 314

NAPIER.

Tlie December mentioned in last weeks ObSEBVEB says he means to horsewhip the Napier correspondent, and if he cannot find that part he will very likely take a trip to Auckland and trash or shoot the whole staff. N.B. — Barricade the doors, bar the windows, and stick up a notice "Not at home," as December is on immense (I mean intense) young man, notwithstanding the grown-up wedding favours, &c... Several young spinster goody-goody satellites of Mrs Harnpson's have organised prayer meetings for unmarried females. They meet one night in each week in St. Paul's school-room, and there presume to pray for whichever of their acquaintances, friends or relations whom they audaciously judge. A few weeks ago one young woman it is rumoured presented to the meeting a scrap of paper on which was written something to this effect, — Pray for a cousin who is going to eternal perdition : given to dress, the world, and the stage. (Querie — Are the above young damsels so pure that they can afford to waste their precious moments praying for the supposed sins of those who may really be far better than themselves ?) The universal verdict of those who know anything of the above, is that the cousin prayed for is more to be trusted than the public-praying one, who, however, they say, has only just been let loose from the wilds of some country district, and therefore may be allowed a little latitude ; however, no one, not even a cousin, should try and hide malice under the cloak of religion... 'Tis said every Jack shall bave his Grill ; what a nice, innocent-looking one IST. and C.'s Jack took to Trinity Church on Sunday... Tom is going to leave us for the stage lyric. Of course he will come back to us in the future, as an Italian from the land of bogs. He has adopted the Italian mode of dressing the hair, which, however, does not suit his blonde style.

The gentleman who summoned a newsboy at the Hammersmith Police Court for shouting out false news, deserves general thanks for trying to abate a, public nuisance, although his attompt was not particularly successful. He was placed by the magistrate in an awkward dilemma. If be really believed that the paper offered to him contained r. " Minisfceaial statement " upon " war between England and Prance," he must have been — well, very easily taken it. But if, on the other hand, he did not beieve it, the boy clearly did not ' obtain his money on false pretences. The prosecutor, naturally enough, chose the latter alternative ; and'the newsboy would, no doubt, be only I glad if other gentlemen would buy his papers j3d apiece, in order to " discharge a public k." People with less public spirit are generally Ml not to giye more than f d or Id, as the ftay be.