TOWN TALK.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 193, 14 April 1893, Page 3

TOWN TALK.

[FROM OUR AUCKLAND CORRESPONDENT.] The Scott murder case was finished on Thursday, March 30th. When the jury were challenged as to their verdict the warders moved up close behind the prisoner in case he should faint or cause a scene, but he received the verdict cooly and remained silent while the judge prepared the black cap. Leaning his right elbow on the edge of the dock and lightly twisting his moustache the prisoner listened attentively to the sentence, at the conclusion of which he turned

round, walked down the steps inside the dock, and disappeared. The black cap used by the judge in this case was a doubled piece of black silk about half a yard square with a smaller piece of cardboard eornerwise in the middle between the silk which hung down at the corners. This ‘ cap ’ the judge placed on top of his wig' and his appearance thuswise was not particularly impressive. A petition praying for the commutation of the sentence is being circulated, but as the plea of the petitioners is merely that on the evidence of some of the witnesses the prisoner is eccentric and not responsible for his actions there seems little chance of success. The weather during Easter holidays was simply superb. Two more perfect days than Good Friday and Easter Monday could scarcely be imagined. Owing to the number of counter attractions in the shape of picnics, excursions, &c, the races at, Ellerslie w ire not financially a success a fact none hut racing people will regret. A large number were attracted to the camp at Kohimaramara where an enormous army of 350 men (and hoys) had assembled. With the exception of the Waiuku Cavalry and the Te Awamutu Mounted Cavalry the army was about the dirtiest, most slovenly, rag-tag and hob-tail crowd that ever attempted to intimidate Europe. The infantry especially were distinguished by every infirmity the flesh and bone is heir to. This supplemented by ill-fitting uniforms, helmets down like an extinguisher on a candle, knock-knees and dirty boots and you have a sample of the ‘ soldier ’ who is to defend us from the attacks of the invader. We were better to he defended by that other 1 soldier ’ —a red herring. The sham fight took place on Easter Monday and a murderous and sanguinary fight it was. The cavalry charged and re-charged and carved ar.d re-carved the enemy in a most dreadful manner. The mounted infantry also charged and re-charged (amongst the spectators) and fell eff and got on again in a reckless and dare-devil manner. They also executed several deeply strategic movements with the object of cutting off the enemy hut discovered after half an hour’s hard sweating and swearing that they had only succeeded in cutting off a portion of their friends. Then the Waiuku’s dropped on them suddenly and they turned tail and rode home for dear life. This was of course to show their knowledge of the art of war, which is to never get hurt. See what a lot of trouble that saves. The artillery blazed away manfully. And the infantry—the bould boys—they filled their shakos with blank cartridges and blazed them away to the infinite delight of the small hoys; the imminent danger of their comrades, and the absolute safety of the enemy. The battle was br. ught to an abrupt termination by the Waiuku’s taking the defenders in flank and capturing their battery which was full of Na vals who however were too busby occupied with tobacco and expectoration to bother about the enemy. Oh ! it was an illigant fite intirely. There were lashings of fierce looking Colonels, Majors, and Field Marshals all dressed in gold lace, top-boots and revolvers. Real Kohimaramara Bashi Bazouks ready to swallow every civilian son of a magic lantern that showed his face in the camp. And the result of the whole farce was the trampling- to death’s door of a poor little hoy who was carried off the field by a procession of the Ambulance Corps. Your own Archibald Forbes was in the thick of the fray and had several hairbreadth escapes. Jumpring a fence to escape certain death at the hands of a bloodthirsty brigand of the light infantry ‘ your own ’ lit on a portion of his anatomy not accustomed to sudden esneussion. A feather cushion has since been in use at meal-times. Should these notes he somewhat shaky and illegible please put it dowh to the horrors of war. The Gaiety Company open at the Opera House on Thursday, 13th inst. The bald-heads are applying cucumber and cream to their complexions hack and front, and the mashers are 'iliuoutly pm vising their most captivating smile- and ice ■• .sirig the depth of the:;- cop u-s. For why ? Why for the reception of Miss Alice L -ani d r. - iy a, •mb. r,,-,i c:,-;G fiery. who aresii ; : - h.- vary pretty and clever dancers. The <i o s s ■•re - dvertised as magnificent and—you know—burlesque.