BY THE WAY.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 223, 17 November 1888, Page 2

BY THE WAY.

This district ought by this time to have a pretty go rd idea of what a poll-tax is. Here we have been put to considerable expense, to say nothing of lost time aud trouble —for what ? To aflim what had all along been a foregone conclusion, that this district was prepared to accept the inevitable and make the beat of a bad jobs If there was the least anxiety on the subject it was only on account of the unfair conditions-under which the poll was to ba taken—conditions which treated the absentee and the negligent or careless voter as voting against tha proposal. For my own part I look upon the taking of a poll as inveterate nonsense. The thing is all right in theory, but when it comes to ba practised it is extremely irksome and expensive.

No doubt the idea of leaving questions to the judgmentof the people themselves, instead of that of their elected representatives, is a good one, but it can be carried too far. We can now close up a public house or stop a loan and I expect to shortly see the poll brought in to decide whether we shall shave on Sunday or trim our nails on Monday. Perhaps the greatest gainers, or losers, (which shall I say ?), by the poll being completed will be the newspapers. It would be impossible to calculate precisely the labor and material expended in putting the Harber question before the people week by week. Column after column of matter was devoted to the ventilation of this subject, and now that it is so far settled hapless editors will have to look elsewhere for a new sensation. By the way, how is it our colonial papers are so much lacking in originality 1 Tbcmm seem to follow in the wake of the Hotflp* papers like so many sheep. There may ob fearful disclosures to bo male, but it is only when ths Home papers give the cue that anything is said. Take the sweating system tor instance. Did wo ever hear anything about sweating in Nev Zealand before tha London papers took tha matter up ? But suddenly comes the awakening, and we are treated to a list of horrors which are said to he unparalleled. It was exactly similar when the Pall Mall Gazette published its startling revelations of the maiden tribute. Immediately all the colonial papers discovered that *' we're just as bad, if not worse,’’ and suggested that all our principal towns were very sinks of immorality. I expect soon to find some of pur papers following the load of the Tinies, and bring some dreadful charges against certain members of Parliament. Is it not possible tor instance to dissect the celebrated Skinlint Committee of last session, and prove that whilst the members of that committee were nominally supporting retrenchment they were sunk deeply in the mine of extravagance ? Colour might be given to the assertion by producing a letter in /ne simile from one of them, showing that at the very time he was meat loully advocating, thrift ho was hauling hie laundress over tbe coals for not putting sufficient starch on hie shirts.

But joking apart, the power o! the Press, as illustrated by the recent action of the Times, is samathing enormous. Here we have a newspaper, regardless of consequences, and at a cost which must bs stupendous, bearding the Irish Na'.ionalis's in Parliament and roundly accusing them ot connection with crime, if not of crime itself, and yet it goes on the same as ever. In any other country we might expect to see tbe paper proscribed, but in England, the true home ot the free Prose, such a paper must ba hearkened to, and tha consequence is the oppointihent of a Cominis, sion, which must eventually have aa historical interest, The Times has long been conspicuous for its boldness. No power in England is more felt, more feared, more obeyed. It never withdraws from a position it once takes up, and vary seldom is it that it will acknowledge to have been mistaken. It has had several severe struggles iu tha pas’, and ha* endeared itself to the mercantile population of Lotion by its prowess in exposing sever si great commercial frauds. It has not near the circulation of soma of the penny papers, but among the middle class it is looked upon as an oracle which there is no contradicting, and which cannot err. It is little wonder then that its present conflict with Ireland is watched with absorbing interest by the whole civilised world. Cleanliness if next to godliness, and so “ our girls” ought to be ex'remaly grateful to Mr Faram and those who are working with him, for their efforts in their behalf. Tha baths will be established, but how long will it bs before thay are neglected, I wondar ? It is a remarkable thing in Giaborneto find any one thing patronise 1 for any length of time, and it is thosa things which arc got up on the spur of tha moment which seem to pay best. But in Gisborne, where so much dust and sand is fl ing abou’, baths are vary necessary. Da not think for a moment that I wish to suggest that hitherto our girls have neglected to wash themselves. Farfiom it, for I believe the inhabitants of this town, with one or two very notable exceptions, pay a great deal of attention to cleanliness. Speaking about our girls generally calls t > mind their dress, and I must confess that there are sonic parts of their attire which to the masculine mind are inexplicable. An American paper, tha Chicago Inter Ocean, gives un ace unt of an action for damages in which the fair plaintiff recovered Bdols. oOceits. Said the Judge:—This is a most peculiar case. I kayo heard of bustles being made of horse hair, muslin, newspapers, pillows, bird cages and even quilts. I have heard of alarm clocks striking the hour within the folds of a lady’s dress. Smuggled cigars, jewellery and brandy have also been brought to light; but I never before hiard of an air tight bustle exploding in church and then being made the subject of a civil suit. The Judge then went on to explain that being single he had considerable.difficulty in understanding the case, but he would decide it simply on legal grounds, He concluded with the sapient remark : “ Had a non-explosive bustle been used this suit might never have been brought!” Surely we men have horrors in store for us. Mark.