ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1298, 23 October 1880, Page 3

ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

I thought that we had enough newspapers in Auckland, but I suppose I was wrung, for the cry i8 " still they come." Last Saturday there appeared the first number of the Xae Ztaeaml Labor Advocate, the organ of Garrard and the unemployed. It is a very poor attempt at a journal, and I venture to predict tor it a short life, but not a merry one. It is printed by Mr Field for some man whose name I forget, and whose address is given in the imprint as Panmure, or Howick, or Otahuhu, one of the pensioner settlements, at any rate. How the " unemployed" expect to be able to support a newspaper I do not know, and I feel pretty sure that the public generally will not invest their penuies twice in the purchase of The Labor Advocate The first ifrsue contained only one advertisement, a full page on* 1 , however, of H. H. Smith's portable ovens. Very appropriate ! The paper is fit only for kindling a fire. The great excitement, especially among the ladies, both this and laat week, ha« been the fancy dress balls. One was held on Thursday week iv the Poneonby Hull. I was not there, but I believe it was very successful. Many of 1 the dresses were very pretty, though one or two of the ladies wore pages' dresses, which looked very well but were not particularly modest. On Wednesday evening another fancy dress ball took place in the Choral Hall. It was a great success, in fact " the event of the season." Everybody and his wife were there, your humble servant among the number, being included in " everybody.' 7 The scene was most brilliant, the fancy dresses, especially those of the gentlemen, being a pleasant change from the usual sombre s ttire usually seen in a ball-room. I cannot describe the ball, for it simply " beggared description." At a raeetiug of the Board of Governors of the Auckland College and Grammar .School held on Tueoday, Judge Fontou took exception to the action of Mr James, the Secretary of the Board, for having taken part in the ceremony of conferring tho dVgree of L.L.B. on Mr R. H. iiattray, and for having bent ti telegram to Sir G. M. O'Rorke iv reply to one from him with regard to the Grammar School Bill, which Mr Fenton tried to get passed during the labt t>M.-sion of Parliament, without the knowledge of the other Governors. The other members of the Board «iid that Mr James had simply done his duty in the matter of the telegram, and Mr James fetated that he had taken ptirt in the ceremony of confeiring fhe degree at the reque-st of the Rev. David Biuce, the delejrdte of the Chancellor of the University. Mr James is a very quiet, inoffensive old gontlem.'in, and Judge Fenton has not iviiscd himself in the estimation of the public by cavilling at his conduct. The Theatie lloyal has, or might have, tho words "to let" over the door. Since the departure of the Lingnrd Company, there have been no performances there, with the exception of two on la'jt Frid.'iy iind Saturday evenings, given by Paddy Doran and his ronfrm's. On Friday evening the performance was for the benefit of Mrsßees, tho widow of the unfortunate man, for whose murder "Joe" is under sentence of death. The laudable object ,was not the means of attracting a very large audience, but that on Saturday evening, when the performance was for the benefit of the company, Avas still more meagre, A telegram from Dunedin contains the extraordinary intelligence that the Goi vernor of the Gaol there has received a j perfect flood of applications for the honour I of hanging Ah See, the condemned murderer. According to the law of the land, a murderer should be hung, but it is generally very difficult to obtain anyone willing to cany the sentence into execution. How does it happen that the reverse i 9 the case in this instance ? Is it in consequence of the difficulty of obtaining employment, on account of the nationality of the murderer, or because of the cold-blooded way in which the murder was committed P The Zealandia, bringing the San Francisco mail, arrived on Sunday last, three days in advance of contract time, The mail news contains little of interest now, as we receive information of all important i events weeks before by cable. It was different in the olden days. I well remember when the news came of the Civil War in the United States, which did not reach us until after many battles had been fought and thousands of lives had been lost on both bidea. Looking back still further, I can remember the news of the fall of Sebastopol being brought here nearly a year after the event. A large poster, with the words, "Sebastopol has fallen " was placed on the front of the old market place, which stood on the side now occizpied by the Post office. Farmers are privileged to grumble, and some of my farmer friends are availing ! themselves of their privilege to tho tops of their bent. Their present trouble is the decision of the Agricultuial and Pastoral Association tg keep their show open

for two days— November Bth and 9th. They say they are not going to send their hones, cattle, sheep, &c, to be kept penned up for two days. At previous shows the farmers have complained that one day does not allow sufficient time to judge the exhibits before the public are admitted, consequently, the judges when examining 1 the exhibits, were very much hindered by people who went round with them and expressed their opinion on the respective merits of the cattle, &c. The s.s. Te Anau, which left here for Sydney on Tuesday last, was crowded with passengers who were going over to Melbourne to see the Exhibition. Among them were His Worship the Mayor, Rev D. Bruce, Mr "Watt, accountant in the Bank of New Zealand, Mr Coates, accountant in the National Bank, and Mr James McFarlane, besides a great many who are not so well known. There was quite an exciting scene caused bya young lady who wens onboard the Te Anau, to take leave of Mr Haygarth, the actor. Sho was so much affected that she fainted, and fell into the arms of, not Mr Hay garth, but Serge»nt Martin. The scene reminded me of a little ditty sang on a 'similar occasion. Oh ! Nicodcmus ! Nicodcmus ! Don't ) ou fjp away. I love, ?ou, Nicodcmus, and I've loved you many a day. I loved you in your silk attire, And in your fustian coat. Oh ! Nicodomus, don't you go In that bilcr-bustin' boat. St. Mungo.