Our Wellington Watchman.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2843, 9 March 1888, Page 2

Our Wellington Watchman.

Continued.

But contemplation of the Buillie fiasco lias led me into the retrospective vein, and as there is no Wellingion news stirring I may be pardoned for indulging another retrospect to which 1 am prompted also by the Gordon Bitillie contretemps. More than a quarter of a century ago there was in London a young man abmit town who was more varieties of ass under one skin, than even young men about town generally are, He bad from earliest boyhood been this way. and a rnadlirained spendthrift, snd though heir to a good estate married from the baylcarket a trull of peculiar disrepute. Young Wyndham, as we will call htm, had, however, an uncle, a good soul who deterniin to pluck this brand from the burning, or, what was of more impoi'r tance, rescue l)is estate from the Jews and stick toit himself. So the good uncle launched into certain legal proceedings which brought the unsavory nephew into considerable and anl ill-smelling notoriety,

These mutters were finally adjusted, and voting Wyndhit m's freaks been me so frequent anil extravagant tliat the town became sick of him, and the newspapers ceased to report. Suddenly "sussiety" which was chit fly naval and military, in Shanghai, (Ihinu, was astoiifcdi'd hut by no disgusted —lor- morality was not of a severe order—to learn that th.e P 0 'Steamer !' Aden," had left Port de Salle for Shanghai carrying as passengers, tho Hon, P, Wyndham and valet," I don't knqw tjiat any regular open agreement was come to by " sassiety," but it was nevertheless tacitly ui}dfrstood that sassiety would recognise young Wyndham wjren he 'arrived. " flpg it (ill, dontchei'jjnow, gentlemanly young fellow, good family, spends his money like water,'" fle

arrived, put up at tbe" Astor House Hptnl," which was run by an ex-body servant of General somebody, and which was a place of tone and kultchaw, and in the smoking room of which hung notices requesting gentlemen'to " expectorate in the Cuspidores and not to propel saliva upon the floors." Young Wyndham was just as mad and foolish and spendthrift as everyone expected him to he, but his extravagant tastes were considerably curbpd by the fact that he. bad abso-.. lutely no readv money. -Partly by his own desire, partly owing to an arrangement with the good uncle, it was so worked that the valet alone should be paymaster, aud the most young Wyndham could do was to give an 1.0. U, which the valet, when satisfied his muster had not been swindled, promptly paid, That is, lie paid at first, but owing to an excellent sussestion made by some one, it was decided, as Wyndham's stay was short, that all accounts should be paid on the eve of the young man's departure. The truth was all the gay young bucks of Shanghai had something or another they desired to sell the English youth: awatch, a priceless ring, a little loot from the Pekin Summer Palace, a horse, or what not. And Wyndham bought everything offered,' but-, of course, gentlemen did not like a ' derailed flunkey poking his inquisitive nose into, all their little bargains,' and so held tipr little 1.0.U.'s till the last, when there would be little time to inspect them. Theti, again, the wealthy young Englishman gambled like thunder. Like »11 fools, he most frequently won. When he won, he was paid j when he lost, he gave an order on his calm, gentlemanly, responsible-looking JMajor domo, 'who duly filed the order for payment—on the eve ot departure. Everybody liked young Wyndham, however. Indeed nearly everybody had done pretty well by him, or would have so done—wlm mid.

Two steamers were announced to leave Shanghai for Point de Galle, via Hong Kong. An irregular boat left on the 20th, and the ordinary P. &0. boat on the 22nd. Young Wyndhara decided to leave on the 22nd. Advertisements to this effect appeared in the paper, with a notice requesting nil claims might be immediately sent in to that admirable valet. But, young Wyndham determined to sweeten his adieux by giving the most magnificent banquet to his friends of which Shanghai had any record, fie gave carte blanche to three of his newly made military friends to order the viands and wine. He would have nothing to do with the ordering, he said—and he kept his word. The three friends had lost a good deal of money at cards to Wyndham, and it was whispered that they could more than recoup themselves by the catering. I am sorrv to say that the valet interviewed one of the gentleman, and also the landlord, and delicately hinted that if his pain: were greased, he wnuld not on pay day scrutinize too closely the items of the feast. 1 regret to record that his pal in was ureased. The hanquet was ordered for the 'JOih. All bills were to be paid on th? 21st, Wyndham was to leave on the 22nd.

The 20i.b arrived. The lianquet was ready. The table was a dieatu in old china, silver, and go'd, set off by the crimson and blue of the soldier and sailor officer guests ofH.M. forces. Young Wyndham, his Chinese servant said, had been lying down all the afternoon, and as the gong sounded, a note, in Wyndham's handwriting, was brought to one of the three caterers, asking him to marshall the guests to the dining hall, when he ("Wyndham) would address his dear friends for the last time.

The guests were seated. A Band outside was about to perform a ravishing waliz by Strauss. Middle-aged Majors, with a penchant for heavy feeding, were bracing themselves to wrestle with the high-toned tucker— When—That Chinese boy broughtinanother note with Wyndham's request that it might be read aloud by the landlord, The Note " Dear Brother Snobs." I left this afternoon by the steamer " Carthage." ion thought 1 was Wyndhara. I was not, You thought me a fool. lam not, You thought to take me in, You did not, 1 thought vou wpro fools. You are. I thought [ could take yon in, I have, LetCapt,—, and Lieut. pay for the dinner. They ordered it, God bless you. Bye bye.—J. Jones." ST, MATTHEW'S SOCIAL GATHERING. , -

Presentations to Mrs W. E. Paige and Miss Beard.

Last night tliero was enjoyed- in the Church of England Schoolroom by a large assemblage of people, another of those pleasant evenings which, under the title of " Social Gatherings," have beoome quite an institution in connection with St Matthews Ohurch, Perhaps the knowledge that besides the admirable musical programme and the usual amusing attractions, including the, to the ladies, by 110 means despised luxury of being able to get a cup of good tea, there was something of especial interest attached to the present gathering, drew an extra number together, at any rate there were more in the room than there have been for some time past on such occasions, although these meetings have ever been popular. The proceedings were opened with vocal and instrumental musical contributions by Mrs Geo. Hooper, Miss Beard, Miss Payne Miss Freeth, and Messrs Coleman, Gant, and Moore, light refreshments having meanwhile been handed round. The various songs and piano soios were each and fill rendered with skilful and pleasing effect, and without exception each performer had to respond to an imperative encore. Although those present thoroughly enjoyed this portion of the evening's entertainment, there was an expectant

look on many faces as the programme ended, and it was apparent that what was regarded as of more cous&quence had yet to come. Information as to the subject in which such especial interest was taken was conveyecU&dien Mr .W. T. Grundy, mounting tlwlat* ornij announced that he, as churchwarden, had been .requested to undertake the very pleasant duty of reading. > an address and making a presentation , to Mrs Paige, the gift of the members of the recognised the unselfish devotion )and untiring ' kindness of that lady in all the mauy directions in which, for the years she had been among them, she had been ; , 'able to do good. Mr Grundy then read theaddvess, which. is reproduced below, and which had been beautifully and tastefully written and illuminated by MrF. G. Moore, , " Masterton, Bth March, 1888. - " Dear Mrs Paige, . ' We, the undernamed have much pleasure in availing ourselves of the opportunity afford A by the Social Gathering, this to place on record our high appreciation of the very valuable services which you haverendered to the Parish- : ioners of St. Matthew's Church during the past seven or eight years, and of the untiring zeal, as well as to con- , genial sympathy which liave stylized all your efforts to further then- in- i terests. We thank you for jour able assistance and coi'dial co-operation, which you have so frequently and heartily rendered in' the many and. various, undertakings in connection with tho Parish affairs, especially for the graceful manner in which these have been given,, and though we cannot hope to make any adequate recognition of your services, we request your acceptance of the accompanying purse of sovereigns as a token of our appreciation and gratitude, and we express a hope that both yourself and '. Mr Paige may long be spared to a career of prosperity and usefulness wherever your sojourn in this life may ' be!

"We remain, " Yours faithfully, " The Subscribers. . ..A On concluding the address,to whichr\ was appended about ninety signatures, Mr Grundy handed the accompanying purse of sovereigns to MrsAaige, on whose behalf the Rev. m Paige returned thanks, expressing in a few words a heartfelt recognition of the kindness which prompted the gift, and of the "willingness of Mrs Paige to continue to the best of her ability as 1 long, as she was in Masterton, her efforts in any direction which she felt would benefit those around her and do good to the parish. There was yet another gratifying ceremony to be enacted, and that was as Mr F. G. Moore, in a short, hut , . well-expressed speech, intimated a second presentation —one to Miss Beard -and -which he had been deputed by those subscribing to make tonight. The gift took the shape of a beautiful gold and black enamel . bracelet, set with pearls, and a locket to match, and it formed the accompaniment to the following address, - read by Mr Moore, and was the outcome of a feeling that Miss Beard could not be allowed to ldffis ton without, some endeavor, idwg made to express, in however inadequate a way, an appreciation of the manner in which, as President of the Ladies Guild, and as a member of the ■ Church she had at all tunes, and with much encouraging success rendered exceptional service and conferred innumerable kindnesses and benefits upon those with whom she had been associated and upon the community in general. After_ the address had been read, and the "presentation made, Mr W. G. Beard, on behalf of Miss Beard, thanked the generous donors, and said that the memento would be a valued reminder of the many pleasant hours spent in Masterton, and that his sister, although absent, would \ always be interested in hearing of the welfare of those she had 'lived among, and would ever value the gift in remembrance of the kind recognition it was intended to express. The-following is the toxt of the address which was written, by Mr W. Wellar, and is a handsoNikspecimen of the illuminator's and pMlnan's art; " Masterton, Bth March, 1888. - "Deak Miss Beard—The lad® of ■ Masterton desire to convey to yo\ tm the eve of your departure from Masterton, their deep sense of the kit d and unselfish services which have been, rendered to the community during your five years residence m this neigh- ' borhood. The cheerful readiness with which you have on all occasions placed your time and means at the disposal f the rich and poor, the valuable aid you have given in church work, and in organising "the Masterton Ladies' Guild have earned for you the respect and gratitude of one and all, and in wishing you God speed, they ask your acceptance of the accompanying memento, sincerely trusting that at some future period it may be your lot to revisit Masterton, and their happiness to again welcome one, who has proved herself in the past so kind a friend." "Yours SincereljA "E. T. BoddinjPn, "On behalf of i|ie subscribers."

Before separating three hearty cheers were given by those present fop, the recipients of the presents, Mrs JMge and Miss Beard, r

The bracelet .and locket, which it may be mentioned were of exceedingly chaste design and artistic finish, were purchased from Mr W. Dougall, the well-known jeweller. Mention should not be omitted of the fact that the gifts were quite unexpected on the part of both' ladies, , everything in organising the presenta- ; tions, having been although enthusiastically entered into, carried out very quietly.