THE LOAFER IN THE STREET.

Press, Volume XXVII, Issue 3644, 14 March 1877, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE LOAFER IN THE STREET.

It must be rather curious work, I should say, that of a telegraphist, a little dreary sometimes perhaps. There must be such a Bameneß3 about wiring. Such things as:— *flj7 Jones' Bafe arrival at Dunedin to his affec- w 1 tionate wife here ; that Brown will give bo much for oats, and Smith will take it—but I expect the operators get a sensational paragraph to work on now and then. I understand too they are occasionally in tho habit of complimenting e*ch other by wire. A bad operator at one end has I believe been sworn at by his more artisti? confrere at the other for slow or inaccurate sending. "They lisped in numbers and tho numbers came," or rather they cubs on wires and the cusses oome I won't vouch for the following, because as you know the secrets of tha telegraph are as thoße of tho grave; and it may be an invention ; but I bear'that an operator was delayed over his time tbe other day waiting for a message from a big telegraph official. The youthful telegraphist got tired, and wired up to the operator at the other cud. "Now then hurry up, ain't the old swine gone yet." Unfortunately the " old swine" happened to be ia tho room, and took the message himself. He smiled sweetly, and answered thuß—" The old swine ia not gone yet, but you may go nt onco." The youthful operator thinks now thero are cases where fuuniments don't run quite smooth by wire.

Tho nlerlt of the Wostland County Council, the Wett Coast Times informs n», is in a Gomew hat un peasant position. Ho has no office, and is provided with neither stationery, letter book, or any otber official requisite. The Council have no funds, and in the mean* time the clerk must rub along ue beet be may. It becomes a question for the enquiring mind what a council with no funds want with a olerk at all. lam not quite so posi* tive however about his position being so very unpleasant. He can have nothing to do except, in the absence of stationery, keeping the minutes of the meetings in tne pages of his memory. It is to be presumed that some day the council will make a rise somewhere, and then the clerk who keeps his minutes in his head may make the warder of the brain a very useful servant.

Professor Ayera advertisement is rather nice. " The Professor's own experience dates back twenty-four years in London, Ohriatchurch, and Dnnedin, and begs to iaform the ladies of Canterbury in particular, and New Zealand in general, that having at last secured the sarvices of first claes artiste in ornamental hair work (a want so long and bo much felt) he can confidently assert," &o, &o. There is something a little shaky about the grammar, Professor, at least it seems so to mc; but I'm glad you bare got some hair workers. They eeem wanted here. Anyone who could construct a plait that would hare even a semblance of really belonging to the wearer would make unto himself a name here. Perhaps however its all in the adjuetment,

A writer in a Nelson paper eaid that the All England Cricket business ie growing " monotonous," and winds up by saying:—"For onr own part we can say, in view of wire charges, &o, that we shall receive with feelings of relief, akin to pleasure, the news that the All England Eleven have carried their bate oat—of NewZsaland." I wonder if this be a general opinion. Who ie accountable for that very cruel joke the other day on poor Mr Towle, the teDor of the Chicago Minstrels. Towle pro* dnced a new eong—" Hark the Drum" Which was a spirited composition, and which knocked the audience immensely. Towle is not a comio vocaliet. Funniments are not his speciality. You can perhaps judge what he felt when he saw hie song advertised as " Hark the Drum," the most popular song of the day, received nightly with genuine burets of laughter." It was rather hard on a silvertoned tenor. Except in being silver-toned Mr Towle does not remind mc much of Mrs Scott-Siddons, but I want to say I'm surprised a little at this lady's success here. It seems bo thoroughly understood in Christchurch that high art in the dramatic business is not usually cared for. Dramatic criticism is not in my line, but I suppose I may be allowed to say that Mrs Siddona' impersonations hare been appreciated here, even by our class, and I have come to the conclusion that were I not a Ipafer, I would, could I shine like her, be a star. I always thought Ghristchurch was (he goodiest place anyone could live in. That's why I'm so fond of it, but the Oathedral City must brash up or Danedin. will be ahead of it. They hare discovered down there that playing a game of billiards is illegal, i.e., if it be understood that the loser pays for the game. I don't know how old the game of billiards is. We have W. Shakespeare's authority that Cleopatra used to play ; so it can't be a new game. It is played in every town in the world now, and co far as I am aware, it has never occurred before to the most vigilant police officer that the game, m described in this case, waa gambling. The Dttnedin oQicial may be— and I believe is—a very efQoient officer, but I hope he is not so good at swallowing 'a, camel as he proyea hiniself in thin case to b,a at straining at a gnat.

Apropos of the force, J. read with gome interest the proposed changes which are to come into force on 30$h July next. I always feel sort of eager about the well-being of onr guardians of the peace. Too mightn't believe it, bat I'm often taken care of bj the members of the force. It appears the Government are going to save £30,090 oat of the department. It seems a good large sain, but I presume retrenchment of expenses will be carried into other departments as well. It would be bad economy to save money oat of the police. In the telegraphic statement of the proposed change*, I see no mention made of any pension. I do not think for many reasons I shall ever have the honor of belonging to the force myself ; therefore my remarks on this sab* ject are purely disinterested ; but Ido think if any public servant be entitle i to a pension it is a policeman. I coald very near write « leading article on the subject, bat perhaps yon wonld prefer my not trying, i They have bad a session of the Free Dress League at Philadelphia. It would appear that the ladies of the League consider the present form of female attire unhealthy and cumbrous ; and wish to induce the sex gene* rally to go in for a more masculine style of dress. A resolution commencing with the following extraordinary sentence:—"Whereas the fashionable dress of women is unnatural and incompatible with health and exercise, is never likely to be consistent, and would not remain so if it could reach that point," was passed. The resolution goes on to state that women have duties. in relieving the world of poverty, and that by abandoning debilitating costume, they directly reach the most fertile cause of human ilia. On these grounds they decide " to repudiate fashion* able dress, and conclude that the prejudice against certain garments is baaed on ignot* ance and tyranny."- The spirits assisted at this very interesting liauce, tod wen unanimous, it appears, in favor of the Phesge, Qae ißd> w*f frftTt «Be9gVlf

proof of the strides which had been made in espect to cricket since that first match was played, find he thought that Canterbury had every reason to be proud of the cricketing -displayed by the Eighteen. [Applause] The team was in all respects a representative one. It comprised gentlemen who had been born in the colony (and not until after the 4rst match on the Plaine came off) and a number of gentlemen who hailed from various collegiate institutions in the old country, than which there were not better nurseries for cricket. -[Applause.] There was no doubt that with such elements amongst them, the game would be well fostered, and be predicted an excellent status in cricket for the men of Canterbury. 'Applause.] He believed the time was not far distant when an Australian eleven would go home to do battle with the cricketers of the old country. | Hear, hear.] All he could say was that if the Australian team would acquit themselves as well as the Canterbury eighteen did, they would have reason to feel equally proud. He would now ■ proceed to distribute the prizes. The first lie had to give was a silver cnp to Mr C. Frith for his excellent bowling. He regretted that Mr Frith was not present to receive it, but that duty would be discharged by his brother, whom be hoped some day would take a prominent part in the game. Mr W. Frith then accepted the silver cup on behalf of his brother.

Mr Sweet said he had been requested by Mr Frith to return thanks, which he did meat heartily. All he could Eay was, that Wr Frith had worked hard, and deserved toe cup which he had won for his admirable bowling. [Applause. J The chairman said the second recipient on his list was Mr £. C J. Stevens, who had obtained the highest score. [Applause.]

Mr Stevens, in accepting the pair of bats, said he had to return thanks to the gentlemen who had displayed so much liberality on this occasion by presenting these trophies. By so doing they enconraged cricket, and he hoped that in future the excellent example they had set would be followed by others. Be was very pleased to think that a pair of bats had fallen to bis share, and they had an enhanced value from the fact that this -trophy was the first of any kicd that he had won at cricket. [Hear, hear, and applause."} Nothing afforded him greater pleasure than to observe the great progress which had been made in cricket here since the first All England match in 1864. [Applause ]

The Chairman said he had next to present a Rilver cup to Mr Alpe for hie admirable fieldiog on the occasion of a recent .match. [Applanss.] Mr Alpe, in accepting the cap, joined with •what Mr Stevens had said in returning thanke to those gentlemen by whom th« trophies had been presented. |_Applause. J •He hoped that on future occasions the ladiee would take the matter up. [Hear, hear, and applause.] For hie own part, he might say that as long as he was able to hold a bat or ion after a ball, he would be at the disposal •of the Canterbury cricketers |n any matches he might be selected to play in. £ Applause/] The Chairman said his next duty wae to present Mr T. S Sweet with a smoking companion and a bat—the first for the highest 8 rare in one innings, and the second for the second highest score in the match. When Mr Sweet was seen coming out, they all expected to see something, and they •certainly did so at the recent match. [Hear, bear.] Mi Sweet, in accepting the trophies, made a few appropriate observations, and said he •only hoped he would do better next time. {Hear, hear, and applause.] The Chairman said he had next to pnsent -s bat and ball which had been won by Mr Allan Bill, of the Krglish eleven. He was only sorry that Mr Hill was not present to receive the trophies, but they would be forwarded to him in due course.

Mr Sweet said he would like to read out the splendid analysis which Mr Hill made in the second innings. It was as follows: —103 bolls, 17 rune, 12 wickets, and IS maidens. THear, hear, and applause | The Chairman said 'that all the trophies had now been presented. Mr George Turner said he wished to propoae a vote of thanks to Mr Harman for the ikindnees he had shown on this occasion, and the great interest he had always displayed in -cricketing matters in Canterbury. The vote of thanke was carried by acclamation.

Mr Harman briefly acknowledged the compliment. A few bottles of champagne having been uncorked, a number of toasts were proposed .and duly honored. Mr Turner proposed—' . The Cricketing Interest," coupled with the name of Mr Sweet, to whom he paid a high compliment ior the interest he had manifested in cricket:injr affaire. The toast having been duly bonorrd, Mr Bweet returned thanks. Mr J. H. Bennett then proposed—" The Two Teams, coupled with the name of Mr Harman" He agreed with Mr Stevens as to the great progress which had been made in every branch of the game since the visit -of the first English team. In fact, he (Mr Bennett) bad had not such a treat since he left England than that afforded him in the recent match, f Hear, hear, and applause.] The toast was duly honored and appropriately responded to. Mr D'JSmden proposed the health of the winners of trophies, which was duly honored ..and responded to. A number of other toasts (including the iealth of Mr Stevens) were drunk most -enthusiastically, after which the company .-•separated.