LOCAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10836, 20 August 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

LOCAL GOSSIP.

Let me have audience for a word or two. —Shttktsptre. When- the mining boom was on, some bustle and activity were developed in Auckland, especially in the vicinity of the Exchange. Now, however,' that has dwindled away, and you cannot tell a skurebroker from one of the group that hangs about .Vulcan Lane when the result of a big race is expected. Wc in Auckland are all saiu to be inclined to be lethargic and lazy. A friend remarked the other day that the only times when Auckland men seemed to have the energy to be in a hurry were when they were leaving work and getting home to their evening meal, or on a Saturday afternoon when they were going out to a football match.

The Rev. W. J. Williams is to mo a psychological puzzle. When you speak to him on any matter whatever he is courteous, sympathetic, considerate, and civil. He is indeed, you feel, in every way a gentleman, and I may add that I have the highest respect for his ability as a preacher when he confines himself to Scripture exposition and religious exhortation. But when he takes a pen into his hand, especially when prohibition and the liquor traffic are in the air, he is—well, perhaps it would be safest to say that lie is the direct antithesis to the description given above. The phenomenon of a practically altered personality with pen and tongue is not altogether unknown to me, but Air. Williams case is an extreme one, and is well worth study as a curiosity in mental science. I have of course known men who were quite different drunK from what they were when sober. That has been known from of old. When a woman who asked Philip of Maccdon to do her justice was snubbed by the petulant monarch, she exclaimed, "Philip, I shall appeal against this judgneut." "Appeal!" thundered the enraged king, "and to whom will you appeal';" "To Philip sober!" was her reply. There are other kinds of drunkenness than those caused by alcoholic liquors. In Mr. Williams' case you would have to get him out of sight of pen and ink. I know men who, when sober, will be uncharitable, strict in exacting everything they can get out of their neighbours, not over-scrupulous at times in taking advantage of their fellows ; and these same men, when they are mellowed by a little generous liquor, are kindly, compassionate, affectionate, in fact, are models of all the Christian virtues. It would sometimes be useful, for the sake of mercy and justice, to have an appeal from Philip sober to Philip mollified by an intoxicant. I call to mind one conspicuous instance on the other side, where the individual was as different as the dual personality of Air. Williams. When he was sober, he was kindly, upright, honourable, most scrupulous in all his dealings. When he was disguised in liquor he was really disguised. He would do anything; he was irascible and cantankerous, and would cheat his dearest friend. lam glad to say for the credit of human nature that such cases are rare.

We have all a tendency to vary at times, and we should all have the chance of two occasions, such as that Grecian old lady was willing to give Philip. Reflecting back upon a recent' controversy in the Herald, and those who figured in it, 1 think the two men whom I have known unaffected by times and seasons in regard to strict truth and justice, and all the Christian virtues of charity and courtesy, are Dr. Giles and Mr. Blyth, who figured in a late famous controversy in our columns on what I suppose I may call the Agnostic side. I was at first inclined to include the Rev. W. Beatty in my category of perfection, but I recollected that he was an enthusiastic angler, and I felt some doubt as to how he might turn out if he got to telling fishing stories. He is also a golfer, and we know there are strong temptations when it comes to " drives" and " bunkers," and so on.

I remember that some years ago I went to see Sir George Grey, at the time whenJJismarck had been dismissed from the supreme control of the affairs of the German empire. I remarked to Sir George that I supposed Bismarck would return to his home, and live the quiet life of a country gentleman on his estates. -Sir George replied that lie did not think Bismarck would be contented in that role; when a man has been accustomed for many years to the exercise of almost despotic power, he feels restless and uneasy when relegated to idleness and impotence-" Soul and body rive not more parting than greatness going off." " You may depend upon it," added Sir George, "that Bismarck will give the Emperor William much trouble yet." I have often thought of these expressions since. And even now, when that strong will is at length at rest, he seems to have found a speaking grave in his Reminiscences, which are securely deposited in London, ready to be brought forth at the critical time.

A Northern settler writes:-" Dear Mercutio,—l have been reading the talkeetalkee about the Auckland-Wellington railway line, and I want your opinion about what I am. Twenty-six years ago I landed in Wellington, 15 years afterwards I landed in Auckland, then migrated further north. What troubles me just now is, am I a-a-(I don't like to say it, but 1 must) a Northerner? God forbid anyone dubbing me a 'dead-and-alive Northerner In those early days the iron horse could only travel 11 miles outside the Empire Uty, viz., the Lower Hutt; three years afterwards the'went snorting up and through the Bimirtaka Mountain (with the centre Mil) into the Wairarapa, a distance of 100 miles or thereabout. Think of that, ye Noithern Rip Van Winkles !" History repeats itself, ''A policeman's lot is not a happy one" and what,witt..one magisterial decision and another He Dunno Where 'e Are." As showing how magistrates differ, take a case which occurred in Wellington the other day, and deed by Mr. Kenny, S.M. A man was fined 10 or 48 hours for drunkenness, and 40sin 14 days for assaulting a constable. Ihe constable was in plain clothes when he made the wrest-that is not 'a plain cote man," which is a very important distinc- . tion-and the man refused to take the of--1 fleer's word that lie was a constable, saying that "he never recognised a iceman unless he was in uniform. his led to: magistrate to remark that "it was a common error to suppose that because a constable was in plain clothes lie was therefore .Without authority, and could be assau ed ■ A constable in plain clothes was entitled to just as much protection as one m uniform." . A very good story was told me the other I day In Connection with ; an entertainment l In the course of the by-play and it shows ■ the trend of popular belief and opinion an •' old ladv goes on a philanthropic mission "Xiptionli It is for a good • object, namely, to raise money to bury a policeman."' She encounters a citozen to • whom she makes an appeal. He admits : . that to bury a policeman" is a g.odobject The old dame says she only wants 5s from ' Mm, and he hands her a sovereign- Oh, said she, "I'll have to get IBs change loi V vou " With a for away look m Ins eye, ne ■ Sed, "Never mind the change,, granny; bury three more of them. •:'■;,••,' ,•.. I Last week I referred to a highly-esteemed v. citizen who was exasperated at the etow ■ progress of a co-operative job at the new , guard-room at Government House gate and ; .who offered, to make a wager . that he could *. build the concern in three weeks Into X connection i. story; was told mM V.;.- day, .in, connection wth: the co : opoofave .', system, which is worth gating. A .high :' toned official was having a co-opeiatveo') r' done in ' connection : with his, dement ■;.'•. He asked the foreman, ate a weeks c* ■F: perimenting, if he were a co-op. JM ;f, : .foreman replied ig thnegative, but owned

"will" m tle workmen were "co-ops." Well, i said;the high official, "you l' ad better plant a tree in the backyard'; it will be grown when the job is finished, and will commemorate the event," • '" ' ,

The Women's Reform League seems to be making a better record than the Women's 1 ohtol League. •: The latter body ™ on the &ot i Island Trunk Railway, but either got off tie rails or shunted; it" is not clear much, but;, when the Women's-Reform League gets on the job of a night, it completely falls the bill.i Take the following as a sample of ;an evening's work, for its Omniscient taking no account of the sparrow that falls to the ground—embraces in its scope of vision everything from the CD. Act to a row in a public-house, and from electric lighting to "soiled doves" and their progeny. First of all, the relations of the government and the Government employees to the Labour Bills were settled. Then the filllen women and their illegitimate offspring were dealt with, one proposal being taken seriously and carried, "That such women be detained in a reformatory for an indefinite period." The League does not throw any light upon the Electric Lighting Bill, but all the same it passes a hostile motion. We get more light upon the next topic, about which it appears to know a good deal-the CD. Act-judging from its numerous amendments to the measure, and which it urges the Government, rigidly to enforce, with fortnightly examinations". Shade of Mrs. Aldis, "Where are we all going to?" Oh, for one short hour of her vitriolic pen, and she would scarify them hip and thigh! The time was when the knowledge of Auckland womanhood on this unsavoury subject was at a low ebb, but now they have eaten of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and have had their eyes opened, and "are as gods, knowing good and evil." It is not so many years ago when an Auckland lady first broached the subject in a meeting of women in the hall of the Y.M.C.A. The result was that the body of women incontinently made for the staircase as if a bombshell had been thrown among them. One young married lady, with whom ignorance was bliss and 'twas folly to be wise, endeavoured to arrest the stampede, but uniivailingly, by calling out, "You're all out of it; I asked John this morning about the Contagious Diseases Act. He said it was an Act passed to stop the rinderpest and pleuro-pneumonia. You're all out of it I" That young matron, thanKs to the Womens Political Leagues, now knows better. She, too, has the knowledge of good and evil, hen eyes have been opened, and she is even as the gods. The Women's Reform League ought to have known that the CD. Act had been discussed bi-weekly at the different women's political coteries, long before the League was born, politically speaking, and therefore ought to have given the topic a rest, and furnished lis with Something new. This, however, they seem to have anticipated as "a felt want." for the next topic is a pronouncement of judgment on a row in a publichouse, on which the League, judging from its dogmatic utterance on the question, appeals to consider itself an authority. I conclude, from the League's positivity of view, that some of the members must * have been there, or thereabout."

The Women's Suffrage League in New South Wales is hopeful of getting the suffrage at last. Mr. Reid, the Premier— the great " ground tumbler" on the Federation question—has announced that he has undergone a change of view on the subject. This is how ho explains his political acrobatism:—"On the broad principle tllattaxpayers should be represented, the women of the country|who, apart from their other duties paid their taxes to tho State in the noblest form in bringing up tho future nation in such a way that it would play its part in the world, were entitled to such representation." As ,pno critic {remarks: "It, seems to show that in the judgment of Mr. Reid, the business of bringing babies into the world, and of taking care of them, is a public service on the part of women which entitles them to representation." By parity of reason, adult suffrage should have' been conceded many a long day ago, on the ground that these babies must have had somebody for their father. Evidently Mr. Reid, in forecasting the political future, and promising lovely woman the franchise in the sweet by-and-by, considers that she may have a wider mission than " suckling fools and chronicling small beer."

A lady gives me a description of the Premier's great Federation opponent, " Toby" Barton, the champion of the Federation movement:-"I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Barton, and found him as great as his reputation, and a most charming gentleman altogether. He fairly fills a room, being about 6ft 4in mgn, broad in proportion, and when he removes his hat about 4in of thick iron grey hair', parted in the middle, and 'tossed aside, seems to add greatly to his height. Ho just looks like a great lion, and is altogether very fine."

Some time ago Rawei, the evangelist, went on a tour to the mother country, it was understood to raise funds for building a mission church in the King Country or Wanganui district, in which to hold an evangelistic mission to rescue his race from the evils of frontier civilisation. He married a very intelligent native girl, and they have been giving a series of entertainments descriptive of New Zealand life, with limelight views of New Zealand scenery, both at Home and in Australia. Rawei and bin wife are at present giving these entertainments in Sydney under vice-regal patronage A correspondent informs me they are certainly charming as to themselves, and the views (beautifully coloured) of the Sounds and Southern and Hot Lake scenery mo lovely than anything they have > Sydney. Mrs. Rawei is a very pre ml, and takes' quite half of the descriptive leetu« on her shoulders, using choice English, and also sings with a cultivation and an;ince of Lining that is quite aston, Jing, when one remembers that they aie Maoris born and bred."

Tho death of Mr. Gerald H. Supple, tl E'could scarcely have been P f-tgvine,»l have only room for an extractswelled with winter rains. in thunder, M if rocks L SSKf.'W mv barred winlM£?i» of old, swift, foaming, white In branch Wen moonlight shoot in silver M^i°cKtV tlieliast ' lial,prEleain3 . HZ Sgmnl.^S g . S in gloom, caprice, Somo Sle g e racious spirit on your wing comes Cnlun'Mlnight waters, when the fatefnl Wanness bound me, . And the waves ye roused' broke round

• Enfant, wrestling down to tread me-. N™?elentlo3S.Mpye i sped me. ; An now : mute, listening on .my couch, I wander by * nay— , v;.." ??. ... ■:: ■■■ .'.-■ •' In^uf4^Xw M e»aen,ofmycha vMSnd m path sweet peril-there' a darK-uaired, graceful girl. .- She that I deemed might he my bride, ■;.:'.' \ "hi those blithesome summer eves, ., : ■.; ■"■ Wo three only by the tide- ,;.". • ■:_.■■. ■■: A 3 you stale from the amorous; south. . Sly wind! and kissed her. upon the mouth. How you tossed her shimmering, ringlets like fevSto&Sne, bring the D fflt^tta.r y ou,andnotto • hear me speak? • ■ We were rivals, frolic wind, ■':"■, You and I,< ■■•', ■';,• ': ■'.",.":... .:"■ ■::■■■, ■■' In the wild' days left behind- .:•.;. .■■ <,* ■ The bright days long gone b^.^