ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1816, 26 February 1884, Page 4

ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Thl following paragiaphs were unavoidably ciowded out ot Saturday's issue :—: — Well ! I think I ha\eboied you enough about the licencing eleotions, so I will not do it again, for sonic tune, at any late. Let us pi oceed to a inoie pleasant subject. Last .Satin day Williamson, (Jarncrand Musgrove's Comic Opera Conipany began a season at the Opel a House with " La Mascotte " (thu Luck Bringer.) They have had good houses every night, and deseivcdly &o, as the company is a reirui Uafoly good one, and the opera is well put on in every respect. As is trequently the case in ope) a bovfl'r, there is not \ery much plot, but the music is light and spatklin<?, though there are rot many catching airs, and the acting is good throughout. The libretto is amusing, ami to add to the fun a certain amount of local "gag" is introduced. The opera company weie fortunate in coming here after wo had had a dearth of amusements, following after Professor Payne (w hence he got his title of Professor no one seems to know), who gave some proof of his skill ■with the lifle to small audiences iv the Waikato, and was not much more successful here than in your towns. What brought him most notoriety here was shooting Mr Pulford, the manager of the Australian and New Zealand News and Advertising Association, who was s>o iash as to stand with an apple on his head for Mr Payne to shoot at. He struck the apple, likewise Mr Pulford's head. '\ he apple was not hurt, but the head was, and the unfortunate proprietor thereof has not yet recovered from the wound. He, at any rate, is not likely soon to forget the \isit to Auckland of Mr Payne. (No ! I will not make any pun on the subject.) i- * ■!■• Sir George Grey was recently the victim of one of the basest pieces of ingratitude of which I have heard lately. On public holidays it is usual for one or more steamers to take excursionists to the Kawau. On those occasions Sir George Grey not only throws open his house to all comers, but also provides tea, milk, &c. On ore of the New Year holidays there t were the usual excursions to Kawau, the proprietor of which extended his usual hospitality to all and sundry. After the people had gone the old gentleman discovered that some wretched ingrate had stolen a valuable field glass, worth twelve guineas, from the dining-room. That certainly was a very sorry recompense for his kindness and hospitality. The man who would commit such a theft is'rrean enough to steal the nails out of his mother's coffin. It is a pity that we have not the stocks in this country, as I should very much like to see him put in them, so as everyone could see the champion mean mam 1 should not like to send Jbim'to MpuntEdeii Gaol for fear he, would corrupt the others prjijwwii *<■> ,

I am not in the habit of meddling with elections, but would like to say a few words with regard to the election ni three members of the Boaid of Education. Among the candidates is Mr W. P. Moat, who was formerly a member of the Board and for some time chairman. He was an honest and painstaking member and the best chairman, the board has had, and having no business to attend to he de\oted much of his time to educational mattcis, so I venture to suggest to any )f the Waikato school committees who ha\ e not already voted, that they would act wisely in including Mr Moat among their chosen three. St. Mungo.

A uraxd new palace of iustice has just been opened with gieat ceremony in Btussels. It is a grand building— too large, say critics, for the country. Its cjst, fifteen millions of francs, is said to hi a third of the annual income of Belgium. Deputations of barristers from n arly all the European countries were present, and were welcomed by the King, who afterwards recehed them in the Royal palace. Clydesdale Successes in America. — We {North British JgneidturiU) have had pleasure of late in recording the success of several Scotch exhibitors at the State Fairs in America during the past season, and have now received a list of honours gained by the well-known firm of Galbiaith Borthers, Janesville, Wisconsin. This firm claims to have won more premiums than any other exhibitor of any breed, having no fewer than thirty-two first and eighteen second prizes to their credit. These were gained in nearly every case against strong competition, not only from all the leading Clydesdale importers, but in some instances from exhibitors of Norman and Shite bred horses as well. Among other victories are the following :— At Minneapolis Fair, first prize in aged stallions with ' Glencoe,' a noted son of ' Prince of Wales ' (673) : first prize m threeyear olds with ' Sweetbriar.' a son of ' Darnley ' (222) ; first prize in two-year-old tillies with ' The Lintie ;' and second in yeailing fillies with 'Bonnie Jessie,' a grand-daughter cf ' Druid ' (1120). At Minnesota State Fair they were again awaided first prize with ' Glencoe ;' first in two-year-old colts with " Lord Dnmlonald ;' first md second in yeailing colts, the former being a promising son ' Topsman' (886) ; first prize in aged mares with ' Meg Merrilees ' ( ) ; first in three year-old with ' Rosalind ;' first and second in the two-year-old fillies with ' Highland Lassie,' by ' Pride of Aberdeen' (1241) and ' The Luitio ;' and second prize in yearling fillies with ' Bonnie Jc3sie.' At Wisconsin State Fair they gained highest honours again with ' Glencoe ;' second prize in three-year-olds with ' Dating Foe' | (2048)— the Lauderdale premium horse of 1883 ; fiist and second in three-year-old maies with • Gipsey Queen ' and ' Rosalind '— the former a daughter of 'Druid ' (1120) ; second in two-year-odd fillies with ' Dutches of Moutrose ' (the winner of fit st piize at Greenock Show in June list); also second in yearling fillies with ' Bonnie Jessie.' At the Northern Wisconsin Fair, held at Oshkosh, they took the leading honours in the following classes namely. ,— Aged stallions, three-year-old stallions, two-year-old colts, yearling colts, three-year-old mares, two-year-old filliep, and yearling fillies ; also giand sweepstakes for best stallion and best mares on the ground.