THE WANDERER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume V, Issue 766, 5 April 1884, Page 2

THE WANDERER.

A picker-up of tuiconsidered trifles.

The little Rose Casey spanked away at the rate of seven knots towards the North, and we sat on deck. The old knight chuckled, " Yes it was great fun to upset their Federation apple cart, I would have done it sooner but did not wish to put Wm'taker off from the knighthood." You seem to have a wonderful insight into the future Sir George? "Yes I can read the signs of the times, forecast coming political events, tell the destinies of nations, just about as easilj as a farmer can calculate upon his future returns. As nations sow, so shaft they reap." •' I£ then, Sir George, you can thus anticipate, how came it that tbe Government of which you were Premier was upset so ignorminiously ?" "Oh 1 well," says he, " there were other fingers iv the pie than mine over that business. lam nob the one to cast reflections or cry over spilt milk ; but there was Ballauce (who talks as beautiful as a parrot, learning everything off by heart), my Treasurer, you know. Why he could not grasp his financial subjects, got mixed up with the consolidated, the land, and general Revenue, and when I tried to help him (not that I knew much about finance either) he took a tif and we parted. Then old Mac be was always pulling to the off like an old bullock, wanted to drag everything to Otago. Fisher and Gisborne were harmless decent men, but Johnny, my political offspring, Johnny always used to driving tandem, was placed in tbe lead on the native question one day, took tbe bit into bis mouth, and before we knew what was up, Atkinson had shunted us off tbe track and came in hands down," "However," said I, "you did well in opposing Federation, because we have few interests in common with Australia, and it might lead to heavy obligations and expenses in the future." The little steamer passed around the North Shore, and soon left the Rangitoto behind ; we were now at the spot were the pilot had left the Triumph. She should have stood clear out to sea, instead of which she sailed straight for the lighthouse, tbe lamps of which you know were burning brightly. "So you have joined the Blue Ribbon Army, Sir George ; what is your rank — lance 3ack or fall private ? "Oh 1" said he, " I merely joiued to set a good example to tbe native King, Tawbaio. You know he is such a drunkard, and unless he abstained altogether during his trip to England, would degrade the race in the eyes of tbe English people. Our agreement is but for a year, so that I hope he may be encouraged to hold out during his tour." I saw the bright little damsel, his niece, Mrs. Seymour George, tbe member's wife, who plied the needle so deftly when sewing on the bit of blue.

At last we reached the Kawau, the old knight's beautiful island home. It is close to the mainland, there being but a narrow channel between. Years ago the Maoris taken prisoners in war were sent here by the authorities, but they escaped to the mainland. Space will not permit me to relate this interesting reminiscence now, but on some future occasion I will do so.

However, we were soon afc the little wharf, and wended our way up to Sir George's mansion. The building itself does not strike one as beiug mucu out of the common, but tbe interior and the surroundings are decidedly marvels. The library, in which there are books and manuscripts not to be found in any other part of the world ; translations in lauguages now unknown, dead. The bulk ol this library has been donated to the City of Auckland, for the reception of winch the City Council is now erecting a magnificent building to be used as a public library. In addition to the library are fill sorts of curios ; whilst in tbe park are deer and various uncommon animals, and birds from mauy climes. However, I have no time to tarry now ; I fancy a minute description would not answer my column.

Topics relating to your district will be more iuterestiug, of which we discussed mauy. Hit George has no bitter feelings against your member, the Major; he looks upon him as our cleverest financier, and hopes in time to vnako a thorough statesman of hi.n. "He has pluck and the brains necessary, but is not yet quite up to snuff; took hold of the National Insurance scheme, but wisely dropped it like a hot potato ; and now, with the Federation nostrum, I doubt me not, after reading my advice aud reasons, he will bid good-bye to that, too. Still, Atkinson is a good man and true. If I could but have had him for my Colonial Treasurer you would not have crowed over me as you have done." I then asked him if he knew that McGuire thought of running for Egmont ? There was a merry twinkle in his eye : " Yes, he ran once before ; did not win the M.H.R. Cup, but sold his backers and secured the J.P.ship instead." Time will not permit rue to relate onehalf of our numerous dialogues, but in Jitnre notes I way refer to my visit more minutely. Home again 1 but not from a foreign shore. All shores are now so familiar, none are foreign to me : lam at home everywhere. I find my note-box crammed during my absence, and also during my trips along the line ; thus, many texts have I gathered for future ramblings. " Gomorrah " it was called by the cynical writer in the Taranaki Herald. Why was Hawera so called ? May be because the wit knew her to be the City of the Plaius. Let me see, Gomorrah the ancient existed before the Ten Commandments were formally given to man through Moses. Is that any reason why the modern Gomorrahites should flaunt their disrespect for the law, sacred, secular, and social, relating to the Sabbath clay, by playing lawn tennis on the public recreation ground in the full blaze of the Christian day ? Last Sunday three gentlemen (I am sorry to so degrade the word) were stripped in lawn tennis fashion and practising in view of the Opunake match. If the exhibition took place under ihe auspices of the lawn tennis club, it is not to its credit. Anyway, lam informed the club's paraphernalia was used. If the Hawera tennis players lack agility and ability, let them get up early in the morning. Opunake, be merciful; give these Hawera men points, and thus equalise matters and save the Sabbath desecration. So, too, public works department : they were needlessly at work last Sunday morning. How dreadfully hard your civil servants must be worked, poor fellows ! An extra half hour during the week would keep things straight. In fact, public work should always be in such order as to save rushing and tearing about on Sunday, to get things ready for Mr. Stewart or any other engineer. Pickings, did you say, they get in your Borough Council? — make use of the Council to gain personal ends by needless costly legal proceedings about chimneys, and so forth ; watch their own interests about leases, and so on ; carefully picking out the mote in their brother burgesses' eye ; laboriously anxious that others should not break the by-laws, and yet breaking by-law 101, clause 19, every day themselves " bj' placing, leaving 1 goods, materials, and other things on the footpath." Now then, Mr. Mayor, don't make fish of one and pudding of the

other. Give all a taste of la,w. This chimney case, got up at the instigation of a councillor, only cost your ratepayers about five pounds.

Now, in Normanby, tbe members of the board get their pickings in a different way. By-laws have been made to prevent stock running at large. Still, there are a good many acres of splendid grass iv the streets of Normanby : what matters it, theu, that the footpaths are cut up so long as the members' cows, horses, and bulls can wander and feed at pleasure ? But bellowing cows Ido not like ; take your calves where they will not be a source of annovauce to other citizens of Normanby. If your public men must have pickings, let the cows aud horses nip the grass silently, and it won't be so bad ; but bellowing cows aud angry bulls are not nice things to have about, even if they belong to members of the board. If that bull does any damage, knocks over anyone who is responsible, I commend' these matters to the resident constable. Policeman of Normanby, do your duty.

So my friends tbe Episcopalians are to have a bazaar ? They at least do not glory in debt ; they are anxious to pay their way. Churches are really essential. Their influence for good, direct and indirect, no one can estimate. Men who never attend church are influenced more than they think by the current of thought from those who do. You go to your races and the club netts four or five hundred pounds, and next day you have nothing to show for it. Now, with the church you have the building, with all its pleasant associations ; and if you purchase wisely at the bazaar you will, I am assured by the fair lady-workers, get full value for your money. My friend the Mayor is to open the bazaar. It will, I am sure, be a success.