CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8423, 26 November 1890, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

ANOTHER BATCH OP CONUNDRUMS FOR THAT HAPPY " OLp BUFFER." TO THE EDITOR. Sik, —Having nob heard from him lately, I do nob know whether " Old Buffer" still struggles to follow Mr. Vaile's line of reasoning, bub if he does he must have that essential to all true happiness, viz., occupation for his mind. V, rily those poor brains at which Mr. Vnile sneers must be much exercised. Take this morning's letter for instance. In it lie says :— " Memorandum.—l do not propose to fix. the stages arbitrarily at the distances mentioned, but at the best collecting and distributing points nearest to them." .lust so ; and if so, who is to fix them, and how, if not, arbitrarily ? Who, for instance, is to settle whether Papakura or Drury is the best distributing centre '! Again ho says " My proposal is nob only to utterly ignore the existence of the mile, bub also equi-discant spaces of every kind,/is, in my opinion, in order to secure permanently good financial and social results, railway rating must be based on the location of population, and if this

principle is admitted it is manifest that th„ idea of space must be abandoned." This is a beautiful and most intelligible proposition, and one which even " 016 Buffer" must understand. He will, nt doubt, also see that nob only "all idea oS space," but all idea of the "stage system," must bo abandoned. Query. How can stages be maintained if some little idea of space be nob maintained ? Then our " reformer" goes on to show how he will, by issuing pink tickets instead of white ones to carry the passenger past a ticket station from and to the nearest stations on each side of it, " avoid the unappeasable heart-burnings and jealousies it the small townships." This, no doubt, is equally clear. But, i so, I should like to ask the following (pies tion with regard to Air. Vaile's other pro posal, viz. : —When the population of a small town liko Hamilton increases to 2000 to place a new seven-mile stage on each side of it; and when it increases to 4000, two stages ; and when to 0000, four stages on each side of it.

How, then, about the " unappeasable heartburnings and jealousies " of all the townships beyond which are thus further handicapped, by the advancement of that town, to the extent of having to pay .so many additional fourpences and sixpences before they can get to a port Would this tend to appease those " unappeasable" feelings, and cause them to look with brotherly love upon the progress of Hamilton, or any other town similarly circumstanced Perhaps, however, the richest thing in this connection is where Mr. Vaile says, " We do nob hear of these heartburnings in Hungary." No, we don't hear about that) and a good many other things in Hungary besides. If your readers were to inquire for themselves they would hear, amongst other things, that the Hungarian system is as like Mr. Vaile's as chalk is to cheese.

Then the greater part of Mr. Vaile's letter is occupied with showing how much fewer his issues of fares and freights would bo than at present. Well, he has told us nothing about freights, so we cannot remark upon the merits or demerits of his proposals regarding them, but how about fares? Ha says, My proposal is to collect tickets at each stage station." Now, whaJ does this involve Why, either that the passenger must at his starting point take out a number of tickets, in place of one as at present, or rush out at each " stage station "to get a fresh one. For instance, if he wished to go from Helensville to Tuakau he must either take out ten stage tickets at starting or rush out ten times for fresh ones.

This, it will bo observed, is simplification with a vengeance.

Does "Old Buffer " or any of your readers want any more to show what a farrago of nonsense the whole thing is ? If so, I can give him some more. Perhaps he will let me know if he be still interested, as I do nob wish to "wasto my sweetness." —I am, &c., Ax Older Buffer.

" IGNOTUS." TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —I am sony that I have jumped the claim of Ignotus (the original). 1 had no recollection of any articles signed Ignotus, although if I had any there can be no copyright in such a common Latin word as "Ignotus." I was at a loss, on first reading the disclaimer to account for its extremely emphatic tone, but a little reflection showed, mo that " Ignotus" has probably not kept the secret of his signature quite so closely as its meauing would indicate, and that he is afraid that he may be subjected to the fascinations of some colonial Mrs. O'Shea. To ease his mind, I use a signature to-day which I am sure that he will neves adopt. May I venture to remind him that One who taught a higher code of morality than any of the sect of the Pharisees, did not describe the sin of adultery as a crime, but said, in words that will live as long as the human race exists. "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at) her;" and " when Jesus.had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, woman, where are those thin accusers? Hath no man condemned thee She said, no man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more." Although the word jteccator—a sinner—is not classical, I will adopt it, to distinguish me from the " unknown," who is evidently sinless.—l am, etc., Pecca'iok Ign'otos.

ROTORUA TELEPHONE. TO THE EDITOR.

Sip.,—ln the issue of the Herald of last) Friday, an article appeared ra the application for a telephone to the old township, f think your correspondent should have stated the case more correct.'y, which I now ask permission to supply. Some time back a storekeeper in the place made application for a telephonic connection with the post-office. In due time the inspector, a Mr. Bold, came up to report on the matter, and he made a selection of the business places where the letter-box is fixed, not) the premises of the storekeeper, as it was thought, there being other business places of a similar character, it was not so suitable as the one he selected. I believe certain bonds were entered into, but the brother of the storekeeper got up another application for the premises of his brother, and as very few of the residents knew of the fact that the selection had been already made, it was readily signed by the business people. This is the cause of the hitch. If the selection had been left with the officer, of the department, it would have now been fixed Hp. —I am, etc., A Resident. November '24, 1890.

THE FREE LIBRARY. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—Your correspondent, "Cm.?," evidently is no judge of satire, or ho would not fall into the mistake he does in thinking that I meant the Library officials were highly paid ! ! The statement of the attendance between five to seven p.m. is nob borne out by the attendants, or by a careful account kept some time back.l am, &c., G.N.

AN INQUIRY FOR LADIES. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, Will you kindly allow me to inquire, through your columns, if any of the ladies who read your paper can inform mo where I can obtain patterns of the dresses illustrated in the Weekly Supplement. Probably a professional dressmaker or a clever amateur could cut out a pattern from the picture, but as I am neither the one nor the other, the engravings are simply useless to me. I should therefore be obliged to any lady who could inform me where the pattern of the first little dress shown in the Ladies' Column in the Supplement, November 15, is procurable.—l am, etc., M.J.L. Nov. 20, 1890.

THE BLIND.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —The subjoined letter speaks for itself. Deeds like these, having at their core tender and delicate consideration for the woes and calamities of others, carry the benefactors to tho high-water mark of commendation, and constitute the virtues which bring their own reward. Sentiment, chivalry, honour, heroism, love, are found in the skirts of these "garments which smell of aloes, and myrrh, and cassia out 01 the ivory palaces." Yes, these are tlu elegant and superb mirrors in which we se> "A man's a man for a' that," and herein recognise the tendrils and branches of that, kindness which trails over the wall.—lam, etc., J no. Abbott. St. George's Bay Road, Parnell, '25th November, 1890-

Auckland Burns' Club, 19th November, IS9O. John Abbott, Ks(j. Dear Sir,- —1 have much pleasure in handing you the sum of eight guineas, the whole of the proceeds derived from the concert given by the club on behalf of the Blind Institute Fund. The committee regret, through bad weather on the evening of the concert, and the late strike being at its height, the proceeds have not come up to their expectations. Yet, though the sum is small, we hope it will help to buov you up in your philanthropic desire to ameliorate the condition of the unfortunate blind.—Yours, &c., John Huknk, lion, secretary.

Tho New Zealand Dairy Association's new dairyman says:—"'The butter 1 am now making is superior to that with which I took first prize against all-comers at the Dunedin Exhibition." This butter, which is better than the best'' may be had from all grocers, and wholesale from the Association's van, or at the depot at .Messrs. J. By croft and Co.'9 City Flour Mills, Short land-street. The brand is lie word " Dairy" with the words "New Zealand Dairy Association"surrounding it. Ask for- it and see that it bears the brand. The gold mine craze ! People arc still investing money in gold mines they have never ; seen, and neglecting a mine of wealth in property, which can be seen at Thornes. SI, I Queen-street.