The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3900, 21 February 1870, Page 3

The Daily Southern Cross.

LUCBO, NO'S URO. If 1 have been extinguished, yet there rise A thousand beacons from the s p arlt I bore.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1870,

The amount of evil which accrues from bad, careless, and imperfect legislation in New Zealand is both great and serious. Framing Acts of Parliament seems to be a work in which blundering constitutes the rule, and careful work the exception. When legislation becomes necessary on any important subject of general concern, the course taken is not that which affords any reasonable prospect that the law made ■will serve its intended purpose. The usual practice is to get hold of an English or Australian Act on the subject to be dealt with, and to adopt it en masse, with a few merely formal alterations. The Act thus passed is in most cases found to be unsuitable to the special circumstances and requirements of the colony ; so, when loud and general complaints are made against it, the work of tinkering commences, and during the next few years two or three Amendment Acts are passed. By-aud-by the law becomes a perfect muddle, which even professional men find it difficult to understand ; so, as a last resource, an attempt is made to frame a Consolidation Act, embodying the existing incongruous mass of legislation. Sometimes this leads to improvement, but just as often to the reverse. TKfe proper method of framing laws is usually left untried. There are several conditions indispensable to this. It is necessary, in the first place, to ascertain what are the special objects which legislation is required to accomplish ; secondly, by what provisions those can best be served ; and, thirdly what is the best kind of executive machinery for carrying out those provi. sions in practice. Were these conditions complied wibh by the Assembly, the New Zealand statute-book would contain fewer unworkable and imperfect Acts, while the system of overlegislation would receive a salutary check, and our laws be better adapted for their intended purpose. A practical illustration of the truth of these remarks is to be found in our system of bankruptcy legislation. The insolvency code is a most complex structure, fearfully and wonderfully made. Its foundation was laid in 1862, by that imperfect and crude piece of legislation, the Debtors and Creditors Act. This was tinkered up by an Amendment Act in 1865, and by another in 1866. In the meantime, the complaints of the mercantile community against the Act became so numerous and pressing that some amendment was attempted in 1867, when what was practically a new bill, repealing the others, became law. Up to that time jobbery had been paramount. The law had created lucra- i tive offices in the shape of inspectorships of bankruptcy in each province, the duties of which were merely nominal and entirely superfluous. But

the law had done nothing for creditors. The assets of estates were frittered away in needless costs ; the proceedings were unnecessarily tedious and costly; while the haukrupt in nine cases out of ten passed through the ordeal, aud came forth relieved from debt without having had to account for the money or money'a worth with which he had been trusted, and which he had either Kst or spent. Some of these abuses were now in some measure rectified, but unfortunately the bill did not receive tint careful consideration which ho important a measure deserved, and thus legislation on the subject was still left in an unsatisfactory s>tate. A fresh Amendment ct, passed in 1838, merely supplied some minor provisions ne essary in carrying out the measure of the previous session. With all this legislation it would be surprising if something good had not been effected. And in some measure this has been the case. The principle has been fairly established that the creditors, through a trustee and supervisors of their own election, shall manage the bankrupt's estate, doing everything requisite for its realisation. This is a very decided improvement upon the system which formerly prevailed in England of handing the estate to an official assignee, over whom the creditors had practically no control at all. Creditors complain much of the existing law, and say that it neither enables dishonest debtors to be punished, nor secures an economical realisation of assets ; but the creditors themselves are in some measure responsible for this. When a debtor becomes insolvent, and his assets are too small to afford the prospect of a reasonable dividend, the creditors usually trouble themselves very little further about the matter. They fail to attend meetings ; they make no searching inquiry as to the causes of failure and the precise nature of the assets ; they rarely take measures to bring home charges of fraud and reckless trading, so that the bankrupt usually gets through the whitewashing process and obtains his dischai-ge very easily. Now, the existing law gives ample power to creditors to protect their interests in the direction we have indicated, and, if such are not used, the blame lies at their own door. If fraud and reckless trading are often not punished, it is because creditors do not take measures to show that they have occurred, and the punitive clauses of the Act are not thus brought into force. Certainly, the existing law : stands in much need of improvement. It could be made shorter and simpler less cumbrous in form and less expensive in working. But no Act, however perfect, will protect the interests of creditors who are too apathetic to look after such themselves. A careful synopsis of the new law of bankruptcy, which came in operation in England at the beginning of the present year, has recently been placed in our hands. A few of its provisions are valuable, and might fittingly form pare of any new bankrupt legislation which may be adopted in New Zealand. There are, however, very few fresh features in this measure, and its chief improvements on the old .system have been part and parcel of the Scotch code for the last sixteen years. Moreover, as the i x ew Zealand Acts are in some measure adapted from the Scotch system, much that is only now enacted in England has been in force here for a considerable time. The general tendency of the Act is, however, in the right directiou. It gives to creditors very large powers, and imposes a salutary system of supervision over trustees. In the case of " secured " creditors," it provides that they can only prove for the balance of the debt due after deducting the value of the | security held. They can, however, by ghing up the security for the benefit of the rest of the creditors, prove for the whole of their claim. The provisions relative to the discharge of the bankrupt are very stiingent, aud will make it no easy matter to get rid of liabilities. A discharge will not be given by the Court unless a dividend of not less than ten shillings in tLe pound is paid. If, however, the ci editors by special resolution have declared that the failure of the bankrupt's estate to pay such a dividend has arisen from circumstances for which the bankrupt cannot justly be held responsible, and that they desire an order of discharge should be given to him, then such will be granted by the Court. So far the honest but unfortunate insolvent is protected, but the fraudulent bankrupt is dealt with in a different fashion. If it be represented by the creditors, to the satisfaction of the Court, that the bankrupt has not given up all his property as required by the Act, then the Court may suspend or withhold the order of discharge altogether. Moreover, the undischarged bankrupt is still liable to have any property seized which he may afterwards acquire if the 10s. in the pouud has not been paid. Three years' breathing time is allowed, during which the bankrupt cannot be proceeded against, but at the end of that period the old liabilities can be enforced as judgment debts. The provisions for securing the punishment of fraudulent practices, contained in this and the Debtors Act, 1869, are of the most comprehensive and minute character. There is scarcely a criminal offence possible of perpetration by a dishonest debtor that is not specifically provided for, the penalty being periods of imprisonment not exceeding two years. Failing to give up all property and business books, concealing property, allowing fictitious debts to be proved, falsifying books, entering fictitious losses, obtaining property on credit within four months of bankruptcy and absconding with pro.perty, are some of the offences specified. It is not unlikely that the question of bankruptcy law in. New Zealand may be once more reopened during the ensuing session of the Assembly, and some further reform and improvement attempted/ In that case we trust that the chief object kept in view will be to simplify and render less cumbrous the existing code. In doing this it -will be advisable to take whatever is good of itself aud suitable' to ourßpecial requirements for any other existing codes. It

iis quite possible by adopting this •system to frame a Bankruptcy Act for j New Zt aland, which shall be" at once short, simple, and efficient.

— *. Mr Reybuiuv favours as with a letter, j in reply to our leading article of Thiirsj day, which had reference to the total I break down of the Provincial Council during the present session on the highw.iy question. This gentleman, cuiiousjy enough, justifies to the utmost, the strictures we felt called upon to make, lie assures us, however, that the Council did not fall into a trap laid by the Government, to postpone legislation ; because, he says, he had made up his mind to oppose a,n umeuded Highways Bill, "as soon as he learned " that it was decided to introduce a bill ', " during this session." And he further ' assures us that he "expressed his inten- 1 " tion to oppose it, about a week before " it was brought iv, to some of the " country, members, who agreed with | " him." Now, if Mr. Reyburn would reperuse our article, he will perceive that we did not charge the Government J with entrapping the Council into a resolution shelving this question; we associated that gentleman with the Executive ; and we now find that in his eagerness to vindicate the Council he convicts himself. Our objection to I postponing legislation was based upon [ the argument that the rural coustituen- I cies expected an amended Act this session, and had leturned men pledged to affiim certain principles of rating, as opposed to the principle of rating incorporated in the Rural Districts Bill ' of 18G9 ; and Mr. Reyburn unconsciously admits the force of this argument in his letter. It is true that his ideas are somewhat confused, but it is not difficult to guess at hia meaning. He says :—: — "It appeared quite obvious to me " that the few who were desh-ous of "hurrying on this bill were most " anxious to settle at once and for ever " that rating should be on valuation " only ; and they did not desire to " know the opinion of the country " settlers on that point, as they already " well knew that it did not agree with " theirs." If this means auy thing at all, it means that the country settlers had publicly expressed their opinion on the principle of rating, and that their opinion was already well known to the Council; consequently, ifc was the bouuden duty of the Council to face the difficulty at once, and settle it, as was remarked by a country member in the debate on the Adcliess. But, by a stiange abeiratiou of intellect, Mr. Reyburn regards an accurate knowledge of the opinion of the electors upon it as a sufficient reason for shelving the question. If the majoiifcy of the Council, as we are bound* to assume, repiesents the views of the majoiity of the electors on this question, what iisk was there in discussing it 1 What does he expect from delay 1 He cannot imagine that he will make more convex ts to his own views amongst members during the recess, nor can he suppose that by continuing the present Act he will give satisfaction to country settlers. If the law lequires amendment, the piesent soasion was the fit time to amend it. The members came fresh to their work, smarting under the sufferings inflicted by the operation of an imperfect law, and conscious of its manifold defects. Surely, if ever, they were now competent to deal with the question. But no. Mr. Reyburn had made up his mind to oppose all legislation this session " a week before the " bill was brought in," and " some of " the country members agreed with "him." He therefore moved his amendment to burke the question, and the Government but too readily fell in with the proposal. The farce had been kept up long enough ; and as it was then too late in the session to discuss the proposed amendments to the bill thoroughly in committee of the whole, the Council had no help for it but to fall into the trap so dexterously laid to defeat legislation. Perhaps it is not thought politic to amend the Highways Act. It may be necessary for the purposes of agitation in the country districts to keep up a chronic grievance ; and therefore it would never do, as Mr. Reyburn apprehends, to " settle at once and for ever" this highways grievance, which has beeu useful in so many ways lately. But we are convinced the country settlers expected something very different from their representatives in the new Council. They looked forward to something more than a sham and makebelieve of legislative reform, which is all they have got in. return for their confidence up to the presenc The time for Mr. Reyburn to has-e objected to the bill was on the second reading, but he allowed it to pass unopposed, and to be referred to a select committee ; and it was not until the report of the committee came up for consideration, that we find him digging the grare of the report, which was most willingly interred therein by the Government. In the interest of the province, we kept a strict watch upon the proceedings of the Council in regard to this measure throughout the session ; and we are compelled to say that the requirements of the rural districts have been studiously ignored by those who were returned to look after them. Mr. Ball said that in t wolyears hen cc provincial institutions would become as unpopular as ever they were in Auckland ; and there can be no reason to doubt the trath of this prediction, if next session should be as barren of useful measures as the session which closed its labours on Friday. ■» -.

Mr. Kino-, late Believing Officer and Inspector of Lunatic Asylums, sends tis a long letter in explanation of the charges brought against him in the Provincial Council. Mr. King complains — and, we conceive, with much show of reason-~of the conduct of those who preferred and undertook to in\estigate these charges. The Council took the matter out of the hands of the Executive, and appointed a select, committee to inquire into the truth of the allegations made against Mr. King

by Mr. Hurst and the Provincial ; but the investigation before the committee broke down on technical g'ouuds, and an interim report w,«a brought up recommending an address to the Superintendent, inviting him to appoint a commission to inquire into the management of the public department,* with which Mr. King had been connected during the years (868 and 1869. Bat the Provincial Council did not- affirm the resolution when it waa submitted to them. There was no investigation, and the accused was absolutely prevented from jusfifving his conduct, if he could justify it, whilst the stigma cist upon his character by the proceedings of'the Conn- 1 cil was allowed to remain. We offer no opinion whatever on the merits of the case. The public have now both statements before them, and may judge for themselves ; but we regret that when this matter was brought forward, and the Council took the action it did, it should be permitted to remain in its present unsatisfactory state. "We hare no doubt, also, that in expressing their opinion we shall be boi-ne out by the almost unanimous voice of the public.

Messrs. Swan, M.H.K., Grove, M.P.C. Ollivier, and Hawkes had an interview on Saturday with the members of the Genera: Government now in Auckland, viz.: The Hon. W. Fox, Premier ; the Hon. J. Vogel, Colonial Treasurer ; and the Hon. D. McLean, Kative Minister. The object was] to learn whether the General Government was prepared to assist in relieving the distress at the Thames. The reply of the Government was, substantially, this :—Constitutionally, the duty of dealing with the distress belongs to the Provincial authorities. The Superintendent is the delegate of the Governor with respect to the goldfields ; and it is understood that his Honor believes that he can, out of Provincial resources, do what is necessary, If the Superintendent finds that there exists any difficulty in his way which the General Government can remove — whether technical or even financial— the Government, on beiug applied to, will be prepared to give ita best assistance. But the Government, not having been applied to, must necessarily decline to pledge itself to any definite course. The Government regards the vote of the Assembly for roads into the interior as a special one, for the employment of natives, and of the Constabulary to some extent ; and expenditure in both directions has been goin^ I on almost ever since the close of the session? ' A condensed report of what passed at the < interview will be found elsewhere. In our correspondence columns will be found a letter from Mr. J. C. Firth respecting the alleged censuie passed on Dr. Pollen. We understand that his Honor the Superintendent will visit the Thames goldfiehl tomorrow, in order to satisfy himself as to the ' condition of tho miners, and the state of .inv.na on the gohlneld geneially. Tenders are invited at the Defence Office, Wellington, until noon of the 2Sth instant, for the conveyance between Mauulcau and intermediate ports and Dunedin of about 40 pass>engois, competitois for the Geneial Government pi uses, the firing for which will take place at Dunedin during the mouth of April. Information may be obtained at the Mihtu Office, Princes-street. Tenders are also invited by Captain B. Tunks for the supp y of rations, fuel, and light, in bulk, in the Tauranga militia district. Particulars aie given in the advertisement. Extraordinary meetings of shareholders art* announced as follow :— Cieat Britain, KJfcn •' Wandering Star, 11th • Princess Alice, 11th.On Saturday we inspected sveral cases of stuffed Australian birds at Montague's ' Bazaar, Queen-street. The birds, which range from the size of the parrot to that of the humming-bird, are very nicely pre- , served, and torm really beautiful objects— j being partly surrounded by the native foliage. Kmk case contains a number of the buds, tiM would form a mobt handsome object u| any gentleman's drawingroom, lhere are also several cases of imitation Australian fruits, worked in wax, and nicely mounted. The whole weie ieeently brought over by the s.&. ' Hero,' and are really worthy of inspection. In the last generation, and indeed even later than that, younger sons of good families ! who had '-outrun the constable," and dreaded Whitecross-street or the Fleet, used I to find protection from importunate creditois I by obtaining a seat in Parliament. The new Bankruptcy Act, which comes in force in England at the beginning of the present session, has a special clause with leferonce to M.P.s. It explicitly declaies that the privilege of Parliament does not exempt from bankruptcy, and that if a bankiupt is a member of the House of Commons he cannot sit or vote for twelve months after the order of adjudication, unless within that time either the order is annulled, or his creditois are fully paid. If the order of adjudication is not annulled within the year, the &eat of the member wdl be declared void and a new election ordered. James Dil worth was taken into custody yesterday, charged with breaking three pane 3 of glass at the Odd Fellows' Arms Hotel, value 3s. 9d. A man named Albert Walker was taken into custody yesterday, charged with assaulting a. constable in the execution of hia duty. We give elsewhere a report of the annual general meeting of members of the Waiuku Agricultural Association. A unanimous vote of thanks was accorded to the officebearers and committee for their exertions during the past year in carrying out the objects of the Association, A public meeting was also held on the same day to receive a deputation from the Drnry Auxiliary of the United Kingdom Alliance, when resolutions were unanimously passed approving of the principles of the Alliance, and urging upon women to lend their influence in favour of the Permbaive Bill. Tarapipipi Te Kopara, of Piako, appears to be indignant that the natives of Piako and Waihou should have been charged with having supplied arms and ammunition to Te Kooti, and has written a letter to the Hon. the Native and Defence Minister on the subject. A copy of the letter, with an accompanying translation, forwarded to us for publication, will be found in another column. A Coromandel correspondent sends ua a brief account of a fire which occurred there a day or two ago in Messrs. Renshaw and Wilson's store, at the lower township. We notice, among the arrivals per 'Ahuriri to-day, the talented Gourlay Family, who aomehttle time since delighted our Auckland public with their entertainments. From the Tuapeka Times, we learn that "the man Doigh, and his wife, who were arrested on the charge of attempting to poison some of Mr. Camerons family at Schlotel's Station, Tapanui, have been discharged." To the Editor of the Daily Southern Cross. — Sir,— In your issue of to-day, I notice a highly entertaining letter from Dr. Tassell, whose lucubrations on the subject of vaccination, and animadversions in another medical celebrity, apeak wonders for his knowledge and powersjof invective. Amongst other interesting matters, the following paragraph, is calculated to alarm anxioua mothers: — "Dr. Stratford should practise what he preaches. Only a week or two since, I am credibly informed, he not only vaccinated a child taken from the arm of another infant, but that the matter had , been kept some "considerable time as well." This " is a singular phenomenon, and may possibly be of interest to the scientific world. — I am, Sfd., Ait Ai^qvs Inquirer,

''A Woman" sends us the following:"Sir, — The City Mission seems to hav< died a natural death. Without for oru moment excusing Mr. Cunningham's blun ders, I should despise myself could I forge! the year 9 he toiled among the poor of Auckland, without pay, and cc tainly without thanks. The man who did not hesitate to go down on his kneea to scrub out roonw, when he found poor wretches sick and in filth, was not altogether the bad man some would have us believe. Public opinion will never be worth a rush so long as men are such shuttlecocks as to be blown hither and thither by every puff of wind. A man must act according to the light he has. To make Mr. Cunningham's mistakes a reason for neglecting our duty is paltry in the extreme. If Auckland does need a refuge, let it be an institution worthy of our city— with land to till, and appliances for giving a trade to the boys and for fitting the girh for good domestic servants. Prom the earliest years make work their duty and happiness ; never, except in sickness, give a meal till it is earned ; if anxious there should be no want, we should be as care f ul there should be no waste. Benevolent societies as a rule do incalculable mischief in tending to pauperise the poor. Never let the idle prey upon tho industrious; determine that the mau who will not -work shall not eat." Notice is given by John Charlea Marfcer, J general dealer, of Grahamstown, that he is unable to meet his engagements with his creditors. We hare received an amusing letter, headed "jßabea in the Wood," from our esteemed correspondent, "James Crow, professor of oratory, Rangitoto ;" but we 2annot give his letter a place iv our columns without violating our promise regarding his hopeful ward. The kitchen clihnney in the house of Mr. Darby, at the corner Gf High-street, caught Sre on Saturday afternoon, and for some time saused some little alarm to the inmates. To the Editor of the Daily Southebk Cross. — Sir, — In reading the debates in the Provincial Council, one cannot help aeeing how very selfish and shortsighted are the remarks of some of ita members. In the Rural Districts Bill, rating property is coniined to acreage and value fco sell. England :s, or was, valued by annual rental. For example : property valued at £100 per innum at Id. in the pound would pay 3s. 4d., and so on in proportion. Why should not such a system work well here, or rather around Auckland ? As land varies in value, so may the rate be altered. All expensive works then, such as bridges, are paid nit of the county rate. But every charge Here is placed on land, as if it were the most paying business in the colony. Some of the ncmbors grumble at having to pay toll for *oada and bridges made and built out of the public exchequer. 1 have no doubt of yet loeing them charged to the whole district, [n country districts it is hard work iv many places to get a dray or sleigh to a place of portage of only a few miles. Great complaints have always been made of neglect ;owards them. I plainly see the present* Douncil will fall into the same error ; I see wt little hope of assistance. I feel confident ;hat the mode of rating property around Auckland and country districts should be lissimilar. In the country it should be per icre ; arouud Auckland by annual value, as property rises in value so frequently^ But, in*, I have seen enough of tlxe present Council to say the country settlers have no hopes >r faith in them. They will break up with, nit one act for their benefit. — Yours, &c, ix Old hSrriLfiu. The ludian papcrrs state that great damage las been done to tho crops m We&tern India jy the locusts, hi some districts they swarm like dust.- An extraordinary flight )f these insects has visited the Mahikanta listri^t. They covered a space seven miles n length, live m breadth, aud more than 300 :ee^ deep. Green trues are stripped by them n f jive minutes, and large bva.ncb.es break town under their weight. Enormous quantities \>f y^ain -have' been imported into ji-uzera^ from Bombay during the first rveek -of October, in consequence of the aiovinces^ing overrun with locusts. It ippearn t1T0..-,tliebO disagreeable creatiues, is soon as they are born, crawl in an easterly Ihection, destroying all vegetation in thenpath. When they get then- wings they take ;o flight. A range of hills will deflect their course to the north or south, as will a crowd >f villagers boating tom-toma ; ami fights are not unusual between the party driving them 3ii t of their lands and the party who wish, bo prevent their entrance to another district. No other obstacle seems to .stay their course. They will swim through water find climb over walls — many fall into wells, ditches, and pits, and many are destroyed by a bird called the "bay ah," a little larger than a spairow, -which is said to pierce a hundred locusts for each one it eats, and which follows the young swarms iv flocks. They ti\-u el about twenty-four miles a day until they reach the neighbourhood of the sea, when the taste of the salt kills them, f have been reading a little pamphlet by "Fcminina," published at Nelson. It 13 about that much-discussed question, the right of women to vote. She thinks, as I do, that to withold the light from self -helpful women, women who work in the world, are taxpayers, householders, &c M is an injustice, and i eally a relic of barbarism. The law as it stands places woman absolutely at man's mercy. She is bound by the laws that men make, she has no voice in making them ; she incurs her full share of all the penalties in breaking them. I think myself that women have gone to very silly lengths on this subject, and havo really damaged their own cause. Many indeed clamour at the difference m the position of men and woman, and abuse men tor it. Nonsense ! God made the difference. Who made itphyaicallyimpossible for women, as a rule, to stand side by side with man on the battlefield ? Was it man? Who tuned her voice to a key quite unsuited for haranguing multitudes ? Waa it man ? Who makes her the natural attendant and care-taker of children? Is it man? Who calls her the weaker vessel? Is it man? No, my dear sisters, all these things are by God ordained, and by Him inspired. Argue not from a Joan of Arc, from the queens of the stage, the Amazons, &c. You know, and I know, that these do not i epresent women as a sex, but are exceptional cases. Don't {women run from a cow ? Are they not afraid to sleep in a house by themselves ? Don't they dislike being out after dark without one of the stronger sex ? Yes, these things, that would be contemptible in men, are consistent in women. We are emphatically "the weaker vessel, "and we shall never, as a body, equal men as a body. We have our special'blessings, our own particular virtues, our w own especial gifts, aud, ! indeed, our own privileges. For my part, I i should be sorry to see the day in which women occupied the position of men. I should be sorry to see the day in which men ceased to show us the chivalrous devotion, the protecting courtesy, that real manly men feel bound to accord to woman as the weaker vessel, f shouldn't feel at all compensated for such a change by being allowed to be myself a lawyer, a doctor, or even a member of Parliament. I don't want to be any one of thc3e thmg3, and I don't believe any true woman does. " Well then, Polly Plum, you are inconsistent, for you have over and over again advocated allowing women to become doctors and lawyers if they can." I have, and I do yet, simply because I know only too well how crowded aye the so-called legitimate channels for women to earn their livelihood — how hard, how dreadfully hard it i$ for even clever and active women to make a competence. Who evca. heard of a governess making a fortune — of a, seamstress retiring ? Men must know such things are unheard of — that only women who are in men's positions, keeping shops, &c, have a chance of making fortunes. Who thinks of curtailing a man's spheres of usefulness ? No one. He may keep a milliners' shop, a laundry, a babylihen warehouse, or go out as a cook ; and he does : we find him invading all the best-pay- , ing of women's avocations, and then grumbling that she tries to earn a living in some of the" professions he chooses to consider absolutely masculine" This is why I speak up ia behalf of the women. I don't want to claim

for them the place of men. Their mental capability 1 will leave out of the question, for some women may be really more intelligent than many men, but I am sure they have no* the physical capacity for being the equal of men. Where women must work or ought to work {I think they more often ought than they do), show the chivalry that is not wanting in private life; give them a chance; do no 1 drive them with sneers' and snubs into professions purely feminine but already overcrowded, but help them, and aid them to something better. Treat with just contempt and indignation the woman who neglectu hei domestic and God-given duties from an unfeminine desire for notoriety. There is not a good and true woman in the world that will not side with you in your condemnation of the Mrs. Jellabys of society ; but do show a little discrimination. To draw a line between her and the woman whose vary existence depends on her own exertions — this is all I cry out for. When woman ia perforce invested with man's duties and responsibilities, give h?r fair play. She has * right to do that for which she feels best litted, and she ought to have some voice in the disposition of the revenues she has helped to raise. So far, and no farther, do I go with the champions of woman's rights. I can't go the whole length ; common sense forbids it, for I am met on the very outset by fthe unanswerable questions ; Who's to mind the babies and cook the dinner ? — Polly Plum. The Waimrapa Mercury says that at Hunuiorangi there is to be held a large native gathering, the ostensible object of which is I to adopt openly the Christian religion and to give up Hauhauiam. Our lady readers would feel an interest in learning a fact which the daily papers mentioned in recording the marriages of the daughters of the Duke of Abercorn in Westminster Abbey, but that it has been contradicted by the Duke of Marlborough — namely, that " the beautiful lace which was so profusely spread over -the dress of the Duchess of Marlborough was the very same lace which formed part of the spoil taken by John, the great Duke of Marlborough, in his wars in Flanders a century and a half ago. The Blenheim lace, as it is called, is said to be simply priceless." The Duchess of Abercorn has seven daughters in all ; six of these are married, and not one below the rank, of a Countess, while one is already a Marchioness, and the other two are Duchesses in prospectiv.e, being married to the heirs of the houses of Marlborough and Buccleuch. A lady was reading to her five-year-old boy a story of a little fellow whose father was taken ill and died, after which the youngster set himself diligently to work to assist in 'supporting himself aiid bis mother. When .sue had finished the story, she said —"Now,- Tommy,i if pa were to die, wouldn't you work to help mamma ?" " Why, ma," said the little fellow, not relishing the idea of work, "what for? Ain't we got a good house to live in?" "Oh yes, my child," said the mother j "but we can't eat the house, you know." "Well, ain't we got plenty of things in the pantry ?" said the young hopeful. "Certainly, my dear," -replied the mother; "but they will not last long— and what then?" "Well, m»," said the little incorrigible, ' ' ain't there enough to last till you get another husband ?" Ma gave it up. "Ma, didn't the parson say last Sunday, that the sparks flew upward?" " Yes, my dear; how came you to be thinking of it?" " Because yesterday I saw cousin Sally's spark stagger along the street and fall downward." "Here, Bridget, put this child to lied. PThfi must. Vlfi <Y<vM-.inrr aloonir »