DALHOUSIE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 140, 13 October 1870, Page 5

DALHOUSIE.

(From a Correspondent.)

There was a very pleasant gathering here last Friday evening of Mr. Oliver Dawson's friends and well-wishers, to celebrate the opening of his new hotel by a supper and ball. The supper was served up in the large billiard room, and previous to seventy or eighty ladies and gentlemen sitting down to it, looked grand ; but what a change a short time makes during war, an army after a charge looks very different to what it does on parade. But 1 mu3t not moralise, sufficient to say, every one enjoyed the supper, or if they did not, they were hard to please. The chair was occupied by Mr. Arbuckle, Mr. Richard Williams acting as croupier, and a gentleman, whose name I did not catch, filled the vice-chair. After the usual loyal toast of "The Queen and Royal Family," Mr. Kendall sang a very pretty song called " Ring the bell, Watchman." The Chairman then called upon the company to charge their glasses for the toast of the evening. He alluded to the enterprising spirit Mr. Dawson had displayed in erecting sucli a neat and commodious building for the convenience of the travelling public, and although some might think the house was unnecessarily large, the place was growing, and in his (the chairman's) opinion, would continue to grow, and the time was not far distant when the accommodation provided would prove to be inadequate to meet the wants of the community. He had great pleasure in asking them to drink " Health and prosperity to Mr. and Mrs. Dawson in their new undertaking," which was enthusiastically drank with all the honours. Mr. Drury then sang, " When other lips." After which, Mr. Dawson, in a very neat speech, thanked the company for their attendance and good wishes, and hoped so to conduct his establishment as to meet with the approbation of all sections of the community. As he was not much of a speaker he hoped they would take the will for the deed, and would allow him to sit down. — (Great applause.) Mr. Roscoe then sang " Doolan's Ass." Mr. Ford afterwards proposed "The Ladies" in his usual graceful manner, and referred to the refining and softening influences of female society from the time of Adam down to the present day, which was responded to by Mr. Cantwell, in whom they found an able spokesman. Mr. Drury proposed " The Visitors," which was responded to by Mr. Richard Williams. After which, songs were sung by Miss Dawson, Mrs. Richards, Mr. Ford, Mr. R. Williams, and other gentlemen, when the room was cleared for dancing, which was kept up with great spirit till six o'clock in the morning. The whole affair went off without a single jarring string, and every one went away highly pleased with the moderation by which the gathering was characterised. I believe Mr. Taylor, of the Tuapeka Mouth Hotel, intends also to have an opening at an early date. He also has gone to grsat expense in enlarging and improving his premises, and has now got a very comfortable hotel, and a neat little store detached from the hotel. The teetotallers also intend having a soiree to commemorate their 'opening, and from what I hear, I believe it will be carried out with great spirit in order to show that forced excitement is not necessary to rational enjoyment. There is every appearance of the abstinence cause taking a firm root in this district.

Great indignation is felt here with your Railway and Water Supply Committee. A short time ago a notice appeared in the papers stating that a meeting was to be held here last Friday evening, the consequence being a lar^e number of miners up the creek knocked off work, and came down to attend it, when they found they had simply been humbugged, as there was no one there to represent the Lawrence Committee, and no notice of any postponement ; in fact, no nothing; One thing certain, " once bit twice shy," they will have some trouble in getting the miners together again. I think common courtesy demands that if it was postponed, some notice might have been sent us to that effect.

I must take great care for the future, and not make use of any French sentences, such as au reservoir, as I hear one of your learned classical scholars was deeply moved with pity at the ignorance displayed by me in making use of such misapplications. So long.