WAITAHUNA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 70, 12 June 1869, Page 3

WAITAHUNA.

(From our Own Correspondent.) I June 5, 1869. There is about a mile of splendid road from Coghill's Hotel towards the township 1 , and very often may be seen horsemen, and even horsewomen, galloping li^e mad, trying the mettle of their respective nags, making this piece of road the course for any bit of wager. On Saturday Jast, Mr. Boult and Mr. Eobert Sutherland tried the speed of their nags, each backing his own for £1, when Mr. Boult came in first. On Monday, another spin on the same road took ; place between Messrs. Boult, Coghill, and David Thomson, Boult's horse again winning. This event was followed soon after by a trottijig match, between Messrs. Agnew, Erazer, A. M'Pherson, and Stewart, one mile, for £2, Agnew' s horse winning easily. ' A meeting of persons interested in forming a Court of A.O.E. to place on the Ist inst., when it was decided to apply for a dispensation to open a Court here.

On Wednesday, June 3rd, a quadrille party was given by the members of the dancing class at the Bridge to their friends. A more brilliant affair has never taken place here before. Mr. Coghill's Assembly Boom was tastefully decorated with choice evergreens (relieved by artificial roses and •wreaths, lent to the Committee by Mrs. Hansen) worked in wavy coils along the sides of the room, and culminating in a large star at each end. Of the appearance of the ladies 'twould be impossible for me, an old bachelor, to attempt a description : suffice it to say that for all my experience in such matters, I never was more struck with the unanimity of neatness and taste displayed by the fair sex in the arrangement of their toilets. The blended harmony of colours in dress, without in the least approaching to gaudiness, gave a moral tone to the whole affair that drew from your bachelor friend many a sigh of regret that he was not the possessor of one of those angelic creatures. A little after twelve o'clock the first part of the ball pro- I gramme was got through, when the gallantry of the members of the Bridge Dancing Class was called into requisition to lead the ladies to a most liberal and bountifully-supplied table. The j Committee had engaged a professional to get up the supper, and every praise is due to Mr. Pennell for the efficient manner in which he discharged his duties under most trying circumstancs. Sanwiches ad libitum, and currant cakes, part local and part Tuapeka make, besines tarts, biscuits, wine, hot coffee, tea, &c, &c. The gingerbeer having got frozen, any lady or gent could have iced drinks at a minute's notice after a warm dance, which you must own is a consideration for an East India gentleman or Australian to smack their lips at. Even the milk, bountifully supplied by Mrs. Oudaille, got frozen before morning ; so that scalding coffee or tea could be reduced by ice-cream to a drinkable state in a second. As regards the Committee, they worked together unanimously, and some of them provided, gratis, a whole sheep, potatoes, &c. One party in particular was most enthusiastic, being in Dunedin at 7 a.m. and at the ball soon after 8 p.m. — a man of iron nerve, who stuck to the dance until 10 o'clock next day, and then went home rejoicing with every one at the delightful, pleasant, and happy gathering which had met, danced, supped, danced again, an 4 finally parted without an angry word or cross look, in the best , of spirits, and no doubt carrying a longing away for another party so pleasant and agreeable as this one. Mr. Jabez Burton and Master Eobert Lewis were the Terpsichorean's delight on the occasion, and that they did their duty well your humble servant can vouch for ; so well and distinct were the notes rendered that even he could dance with ease and spirit, where previously he had to labour hard, as a learner, to remember the figures and ' parts of the most ordinary dance. I cannot close this letter without a word for the excellent manner in which Mr. Joseph Cross, M.C., conducted his part of the entertainment, without flaw or blemish, and to the entire satisfaction of the whole company. June 10th, The Eeadings on Monday last, were but poorly attended, no doubt owing to the very bad state of the roads, yet there were enough to cover expenses. Mr. Turnbull gave a reading; Mr. "Black a song, this gentleman has a very sweet tenor voice, and will prove an acquisition to the chorristers of Waitahuna. Mr. Butters gave a reading ; Mr. Besester a song. Mr. Busst read an extract from a miscellany "Hunted by a Jaguar;" Mr. Smith, a song ; Mr. Cromly read the " Hard Bargain ; " Mr. Higgins gave a pleasing song, then a recitation ; Mr. Wilson a reading, " The Fascinations of Paris ; " Mr. Besester another song ; then Mr. Devonshire, who was introduced by Mr. Moggarth, as the infalable cure for drowsiness, closed the programme, and dancing commenced, Mr. Burton presiding.