RANDOM SHOTS

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 32, 8 February 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

RANDOM SHOTS

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Some write, a neighbours nama to lash, {some write—vain thought! for needless cash, Some write to pleaso tlie country clash, And vuiso a din. For me, an aim I never fash - I writo for _un.

I was sorry and surprised to read the recommendation of the Library Committee regarding the desirability of appointing a librarian with "good literary knowledge." In what way is such knowledge requisite in the librarian ? Is he supposed to be acquainted with the contents ot" tho 7,000 volumes in the Library—a kind of living er-cyclopasdia —a man who is so engrossed in literary pursuits that he is able to pub his hand on the very section and page of any particular work ? If so, there is no doubt as to the accuracy of the Mayor'B statement, that the present remuneration would not secure such a man. The salary of £120 a year, with house, firing, and lighting, is small enough in all conscience for a man who is responsible for bhe care and custody of such a valuable literary collection. One would think that common sense, courtesy, and average ability are all that is requisite in the custodian of the Free Library * and the popular verdict, I am positive, would unhesitatingly pronounce thab these qualities aro possessed by the gentleman who now fills the position, in a very conspicuous degree. But the Library Committee appear to think that tho Library has now reached the stage when a man of "good literary knowledge " is necessary. Yes ; now that the hardest part of the work has been satisfactorily accomplished— now that everything connected with a. new library, to say nothing of the old one, has been got into good working order— now that the mdet difficult part of the literary work has been done—a man with " good literary knowledge "is considered desirable. Most people will agree with tho Councillor who said he thought this recommendation was a slur upon the present librarian ; to my mind ib is an ungrateful slap in the face.

What was the causo of this precious proposal on the Library Committee's part ? Had there beeu any complaints against Mr Shillington ? Had he proved inefficient in any way ? Oh, no ; there was no fault to be found with him on those grounds. But he had had the "cheek" to ask for an increase of his inadequate salary, and, as some of the Councillors stated during the discussion of the proposal, ib appeared as though the Committee wished to retaliate on the librarian for his audacity, or at any rate, to frighten the poor man by the contemptible expedient of getting somebody else ! Fortunately, wiser counsels prevailed, and the clause was referred back. Let us hope thab no more will be heard of bhe silly suggestion of the Committee—at least, not until the necessity for a man of "good literary knowledge" has been made more apparent than it is at present. If the position were reversed, and the " good literary knowledge" test were applied to the Committtee, I wonder how they would stand it. Bub perhaps bhis thoughb has already occurred bo their own minds, and they recognise- the desirability of having ab all events,,ope, man. of "good literary knowledge " in the show.

There is one aspect of this question that I inusb not overlook. Perhaps the idea of the Committeo is, that tho librarian should be able to deliver literary lectures to the visitors of the Library, "in that case, the necessity for a man of "good literary knowledge" is obvious. This would, of course, be a questionable extension of the Library's functions, and it would probably raise discordant notes from other scholastic institutions. If I might presume to give a littio advice to the Library Committee, it would take this form: Don'b treat a good servant shabbily, and don't geb your backs up if such servant asks for increase of salary, bub consider the application upon its merits. Above all, don't talk of going to extra expense to geb a man for work that is now performed in a highly satisfactory manner at a lower outlay.

Now that our Jubilee celebrations are fairly over, ib is only right bhab I should draw my readers' attention to the fact that the credit of originating tbo idea of a monster Jubilee celebration rests with Mr A. E. Devore, at that time Mayor. Mr Devore saw that the Exhibition at Dunedin would have the effect of attracting thousands of visitors to our shores, and he thought Auckland should reap some of the benefit from the influx of visitors. With characteristic energy he set himself to work up a good attractive show which would bring some of these people to Auckland and give them an opportunity of seeing the capabilities of this part of the colony as well aa its natural beauties. He took pur Anniversary Regatta as tho central point, and around it grouped a number of other interesting attractions. He had it well advertised all over the colony, and tho result we have ween in the magnificent display of last week. pJ** * * * *

The Jubilee celebration as it was carried out here brought most of the visitors to the Exhibition on to our own city, and gave them a thoroughly good impression of the town and its surroundings. True, they saw little but sport, bub they must have folt thab when a whole town can sport there must be a prosperous foundataion. To warrant it the sight of our well-dressed, happy-looking citizens with their children must have spoken eloquently for tho capabilities of the province, and I am sure none of our visitors havo lofb without a better impression of the colony from seeing Auckland during Jubilee week. ,-,

To Mr Devore is the credit mainly due, for in the early days of the enterprise he had to contend with lukewarmness and indifference, he had to talk over this man and gently bully that one, to put up with empty meetings and to reconcile opposing bodies, and withal to keep his temper through everything. Those who worked with him know how well he did all this. He was well assisted by many of the Regetta Committee, notably Messrs C. C. Dacre and H. Roes George, who became for bhe nonce "sturdy beggars " of the most pronounced description.

What is all this I see in the papers about the Primacy of New Zealand ? Every day, almost, one's eye catches some reference to the subject. Now it is a letter, next day a telegram, at another time the opinion of some person or bet y on tho burning question ; and all over what? Simply a dispute as to which ia to be " greatest in the Kingdom of God." I have not gone through a theological course, nor have I done much in the way of Biblical _teges_ ; bub from all that I have been able to gather as to the correct teaching upon this question of supremacy, those who are now so agitated with respect to the Primacy are on the wrong track—every one of them. They surely forget the distinct references in the Bible with regard to this matter of supremacy ; and the proposal to

take the question into the Supremo Court for settlement ia to my lay intellect utterly ridiculous. Can parsons wonder that they have not more' influence among the masses when they are so jealous of one another in regard to the " upper seats," and when, in contradiction of their own preaching, they are so keen in their pursuit of the main chance ? The settlement of this dispute is perfectly easy and simple. Let each of the candidates for the Primacy come down from his dignity and Gain' to make room for some one else ; and if they cannot thon hit upon the right one, well, take a ballot- anything bub wrangle and jangle over a little gaudy tinsel ol ecclesiastical preferment.

**** - + * » * * hew Zealand Churchmen, however, are nob alone iv their troublo over the Primacy ; for since writing the above paragraph, the cable has brought the news that bhe Rev. Dr. Smith has withdrawn his acceptance of tho Australian Primacy "in order to remove bhe existing deadlock." This course indicates the riu*ht spirit, and if all the other eligible bishops wi'lact in a similar manner, iho mountain that has hum reared will soon assume the dimension.* of a very small molehill. For the Church's sake, let us hope so.

A nice little Jubilee story reached my ears the other day, and really ib is too good to be allowed to pass away into tho depths of oblivion "unwept, unhonoured, and unsung." As ono amongsb that vast assemblage ab the squadron sports on Saturday afternoon last, it fell to my lot to have for some time the benefit of an exceedingly interesting conversation between a maidenly-looking spinster and a child of about ten years of age. The latter, a little girl, was enjoying the sport immensely, and as the Chinamen raced around the animated circle while some bushels of crackers piled in the centre of the ground fizzed, cracked, spluttered and then piled themselves up in a blazing heat, to the disgust of the cricketer's, who saw the beautiful turf withered up under their own eyes, she chatted away gaily. "Auntie!" she at lasb ejaculated; "oh, auntie, do they have these jubilee sports every year ?" " No, my dear, only once in fifty years." The child was somewhat taken aback, bub only for a moment, and then, struck with a new idea, she observed, "Oh, auntie, what a long time the men havo to practise."

Ib is possible to expect too much even from a colonial Governor, and I thought, during our Jubilee festivities, that some of us were inclined to have rather an inclination to extreme in this respect. Nothing, however, appeared to come amiss to either of our distinguished visitors Lord Onslow or Lord Carrington, and they have been voted on all hands "jolly good fellows " by lofty and lowly alike. The patience of Lord Onslow has stood many tests, but I question if any was more trying than the sequel to the semi-private Maori address and dance ab the Devonporb Naval Depot. At the conclusion of "the business announced on tbo order paper," the hundred and odd half-naked savages promptly wheeled into a circle and marched past the Governor, each animated warrior and coquettish wahine confidently expecting to shake hands with the Queen's representative. ..*** * * * • * « » Lord Onslow apparently believes that " when one is in Home, it is wise to do as the Romans do," and he entered good-naturedly into tho business, negotiating all kinds of hand-shakes with much artistic skill and considerable strength of the wrist. The natives, as they filed past, ejaculated "Tenakoe t'Gubernor," in all sorts of tones and voices, and the women accompanied their salutations by curbesying after the English custom. On his trip across to Orakei His Excellency entrusted himself to the tender care of a native party in charge of the large war-canoe, and as tho canoe could not be brought to terra firma, he had to complete tho voyage on the back of a stalwarb savage, who will uo doubt have a great deal to boast about from that time henceforth. However, all's well thab ends well. The fesbivibies are over, ib is admibted unanimously that thoy were a magnificenb success, and everybody, including even His Excellency, is now quite willing to take a rest.

My shot lasb week in regard to the building of a certain school teacher's house has drawn forth some letters. One gentleman sympathises with the teacher for whose accomodation the house was built, as an old and faithful servant who should not now be kicked downstairs. I do not say she should, but I do say that public money should not be wasted as it was in this case. I have nothing to say against the appointment of the teacher to a school such as that to which she was appointed. Bub why should this beacher be favoured by the building of a fine little cottage, when grants of £5 or thereabouts are refused for the repair of houses occupied by men with large families, and houses are refused in ether localities, the excuse being no funds? Ib is such transactions as the one to which I drew attention thab endanger our system of education, and every truo friend to that system will do all in hia power to prevent them. -<- * - * •* * *

My other correspondent agrees fully with whab I said on the subjecb, _ and mentions two cases where abuse exists through the employment of lady teachers as head mistresses of schools. In one instance the lady's husband has a farm a few miles from the school and a fine house is being built for the wife, so the farmer will nob need bo go to expense for a homestead. In the other case tho lady's husband carries on a store and the Board of Education provides him, or rather his wife, with a fine hou?e to occupy. It is nob every storekeeper who has such advantages.

* * * What is to be dono with the surplus after all tho expenses of the Jubilee are paid ? This question is just now an absorbing one to many of our citizens. Each man has got his own fad ready, and on no other could the money be better spenb—in his opinion. No doubb some permanent memorial should be erected as an expression of our joy at having so well got over our first 50 years of life. It has been proposed to erect a statue of bhe Queen in some prominenb place ; to build a convalescenb ward ab bhe Hospital; to strike-a medal ; to plant a tree ; to erect a. drinking fountain ; to establish a children's ward at the Hospital, and so on. Any of these proposals which are likely to be of no use to the public, may be rejected at once. We want something lasting, and that will be a real help to some of our people. Statues and trees are sometimes beautiful, bub bhere are much more useful objects on which to spend the money.

•To my mind, the besb proposal yet made is to establish a children's ward at the Hospital, where.our suffering little ones may be cared for and separated from the adulb unfortunates in the institution. It is a shame that these sweet innocent buds of humanity should be forced to mix with those who are very often nought but ill-grown weeds. Take the little ones away from the contamination, as it frequently is, of adult company and give them a little place of their own, where they can have pleasant, child-like surroundings. Let us soothe their sufferings to the utmost. It would not cost much—certainly nob more than our surplus—to found the ward ; for, if I mistake not, the space is already vacant, now thab the nurses have had a new home built. We should soon have such a ward the centre of attraction to dozens of the benevolently disposed ladies ip our community, whose greatesb<happinesa

would be to minister to the little children by decking their cobs with flowers, giving them playthings, and singing, reading, or playing to them. Lot our Jubilee Committee think well over the disposal of this money.