ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1330, 8 January 1881, Page 2

ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

The great feature of the New Year holidays was the continuance of the races at Ellerslie. A very good continuance it proved, for the racing was very good. Times have changed since the days when our races used to consist mainly of matches between two horses, with a walk-over or two thrown in by way of variety An unpleasant feeling was caused by the opinion expressed by many people that Fred. Matthews, who rode Foul Play in the Grand Stand Handicap, when he was beaten by Libeller, had "pulled" the horse. However, on Monday Libeller met Foul Play on 21bs. worse terms, in the Stewards' Handicap, and beat him again, thus proving the correctness of the running on Saturday. In the Steeplechase, the old Waikato horse, Sportsman, after running a splendid race, came m second, as Agent had too much speed for him. He went in grand style from start to finish, and, had he won the race, I believe it would have been the most popular wiu of the meeting. A good deal of surprise was manifested at the poor running of the Southern crack, Lone Hand, who baulked at his jumps to such an extent that he was not able to get a place. New Year's Day was. of course, a bank holiday, and Monday was made one also, so, as Tuesday was mail-day, the bankers were unusually busy. They showed an amount of consideration for their clientele which is very unusual with them, by opening the banks at 9 instead of 10 o'clock. This was, without doubt, a great public convenience, and many business people express a hope that the bankers will do the same thing again, especially if the day before or the day after a bank holiday happens to be a Saturday. There was a great rush of business at the Cafe on Tuesday, probably on account of the number of country people in town. When I went in about niy usual time to get my dinner (I am vulgar enough or sensible enough to take my dinner in the middle of the day and my tea at night), I found that the bill of fare consisted of vegetable &oup and roast mutton. No doubt a man could make a very substantial meal of vegetable soup and roast mutton, but it certainly would not cause the mouth of an epicure to water. Professor Swallow has filed his schedule, and sought the protection of the Bankruptcy Court. The first meeting of his creditors was held on Tuesday. There was an apparent surplus of £135 of the assets over liabilities, but as the former included upwards of £200 worth of music, and as a harp, which was bought from Hoffman and Sons foi £72, and, not being p.iid for was taken away by Mr Hoffman, was put down as being Avorth £100, I am very glad thot I dm not one of the creditors. "When he was examined the bankrupt said that he estimated his income at £-500 per annum, and that he was compelled to *<eek |the protection of the Ourt because his tailor, Mr Posseniskie, had sn^d him for £30, the amount of his account. No doubt, the bankruptcy proceedings will damage Mr Swallow's position, and, if lie is compelled to leave Auckland in consequence I do not think there will be many hme who will rogiefc his departure. He plays the organ "and the piano very well, and lie has the reputation of being an excellent teacher, but the way in whir-h he gets himself up would be disgusting in a woman, much more so in a man. On the «arne day the first meeting of Horace Lmgard's creditors was held. Mia UubilitiaM wave numli larger than llr Swallow's, being -61,100, while his assets were meiely nominal. The principal creditor is Mr J. C. Williamson, to whom upwards of £500 is owing for the unauthorised production of "Pinafore." I think it was very dear at the money, as, especially in comparison with the way in which the opera was perform ad by "Riccardi's company, it was a very poor production. The other creditors were Mr. Searell, Lingard's agent, and sundry actors in the company. There was a good deal of the "happy family," not the " serious family " style about the meeting, for. when Mr Searell proposed that the bankrupt should receive his discharge, everyone else wanted to .second the motion. The copyright laM- seems to be something \ cry like a farce. It seems but f.ur that a man should have a proprietary interest in the product of his brain, as" well as m the product of his hand, but, whereas the man who steals the latter is sent to gaol as a thief, the man who .steals the former merely files his schedule. " Such is life, dear boys !" Some people have very extraordinary notions of what constitutes a practical joke. Three men were brought up at the Police Court on Wednesday, charged with having assaulted two other men, by clipping their hair with a horse-clipper, shaving them, and painting their bodies pink. In both cases the victims were drunk. In one case the complainant was so drunk that he could not give evidence, so the case was dismissed. In the other case, one of the men was found guilty, and wan foied ten shiUlnqs and costs. Of course, there were two ot the " great unpaid" on the bench. Neither Mr Barstow nor Mr McDonald would have passed such an absurd sentence. No doubt it is very wrong for a man to get drunk, but, if a man does such a thing, it is no reason why he should have his hair clipped off with a horse-clipper, be shaved, and have his body painted, and the punishment'inflicted on the miscreant who committed the outrage, was, in my opinion, totally inadequate. The "Lady Jocelyn" has arrived at Tauranga, and has been safely towed into and out of the harbour there. The Tauranga people are jubilant over the fact, and -well they may be, as the loss of the "Taranaki" and the " Taupo" has given Tauranga harbour a bad reputation, which the safe arrival and departure of so large a ship as the "Lady Jocelyn" will go a long way towards removing. I have no doubt that Captain Jenkins felt very much relieved when he found the splendid ship safely out at sea again. Yesterday I was balking to a gentleman who has been down South for about two years and has just returned. He said he was much surprised at the improvements made in Auckland during his absence, and he made a comparison between the Empire City and the Athens of the South Seas, very much to the detriment of the former. He expressed a very firm opinion that this city would, in the course of a few years, become the aeat of Government once more, as he cays truly that Wellington has nothing to recommend it except its geographical position, and the extension of railways and the telegraph are fast annihilating distance. Horse-racing excitement is now finished here, at least for some months, and the Regatta excitement is rapidly taking its place. Crews are in active training, and sailing boats are out practicing almost every day. The weather, which has been rather unsettled lately, is now very fine, and the aquatics-loving ' portion of the 'community 'are "enjoying' themselves thoroughly. I believe we will have a splendid regatta,' arid would etrongly advise all •Waikato'people who take 'an interest in »uoh ( m*tterfl, to cqme down.