FLASHES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 6877, 10 August 1889, Page 2

FLASHES.

Whitebait are showing up at Waitara, and the Maoris predict a very early spring and a hot dry summer. If that's to be tho case how about our wator supply ? We have not had a great deal of rain this winter so far.

Tins is how the truth gets distorted. Tho New Zealand Herald says :— The Wanganui Harbour Board have decided to make anothor attempt to patoh up their breakwater.

For tho information of the Horald we may say that nothing of the kind is being done, but an oxijtriuient that has failed once will probably be tried under-different conditions. Please correct.

They havo typhoid in Auckland just now. Professor Carrollo. tho athletio tewhor, is down with it.

What about the Literary and Debating Society last night? Well, at first it seemed like a failure, there were the three essayists and one auditor, but after a while tho numbers increased to about 20. There was some discussion at first as to going on with the thing at all, but failure was the las t thing to put up with,and the audience increased by degrees till at the last it felk quite comfortable.

A vory good start was made with Mr Owen s paper on Contemporaneous Fiction, tho first portion of whioh we publish elsewhere.

It only remains now to be seen whether or not there is sufficient talent in the place ' Tho absence of ladies was a mistake— and strange to say not one of those who were prominent in urging that tho speakers would do better in their absence were present. However, next tune they are to be invited. Last night pipes and^cigarettes were the order of the night, so that the wind was tempered to the shorn lambs.

The Church Circular, as usual, contain! some gems : " January is agood time for the weather and money,"must be sound Church philosophy. "The Rev. Mr Blackburn has a parish now in the Canterbury Diocese, and he gets his £32S a year. He says his stipend is paid quarterly, prompt to the day. He must have a congregation of saints or angels, or, he has found a second garden of Eden." Still more on the pay— and we are not surprised— why don't the people pay their parsons?

"Mr Powles, the treasurer, says on» clergyman's stipend is £200 in arrears. We may call ourselves the rear-guaid of the Churoh Militant, and some of us may soon qualify for the noble army of martyrs. This state of things cannot go on much longer. To our oflico and to ,the soule of the faithful we have a duty, but common self respect will, at no distant date, become ascendant."

Old Lord Elphinstone was asleep in church. The minister, a prosy preacher, stopped and cried, ''Waukin my Lord Elphinstone," a grunt, and then "Am no sleepin' menister." '• But ye are sleepin' I wager ye dinna keu what I said last." "Ye said waukin myLord Elphinstone." "Ay, ay, but I wager ye dinna ken what I said last afore that. "I wager ye dinna ken yourself menister."