LOCAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11544, 1 December 1900, Page 1 (Supplement)

LOCAL GOSSIP.

f Let mo have audience for a word or two."

—Shakespere. Peobajjlt most of my readers have lead the details of the Styche case more attentively than I have, so that I am not going to give the remotest expression of opinion about it. But I want to point out how. with modern changes in the law, wl>h the progress of sentiment in certain directions, with increased facilities of travel, crime in one category ought to cease. In old times, one of the most common capital offences was the murder of a wife by a husband, or a husband by a wife. But of late years there has been a diminution of this offence in the 'Anglo-Saxon world, for a very simple reason, which I think I am the first to point out to observers of social phenomena. If B, wife objects to her husband for any reason whatever, if, indeed, she simply grows tired of his society, she does not need to lay plots for his life. She need not run any risks by buying arsenic for his consumption. She can simply clear out. He cannot compel her to go back and resume cohabitation. .The highest judges have settled that point. lAnd then, after not a very long interval, the parties can be legally divorced if they are in any way anxious to re-enter the marriage relation elsewhere. .With the husband, I admit, the process of running away is not so easy, and this is one. of the many points in which my sex is at a disadvantage, in these later times. The law will very quickly be after him, and will sternly compel him to support his wife, and any " pledges of affection" she may have. But still even he can manage it, if he does not mind a little sacrifice. There is a wide field for energy in the United States, and there is now" a San Francisco mail every three weeks. Even in the case of a man the game of murder is not worth the cand'e. That is to say, the. risk of clearing out is not so great as the risk of detection in a crime. " I make nothing of the feriing of tfrnr and remorse which one course of conduct involves, although that cannot be altogether lost sight of even by the most callous or philosophical. It would bo interesting if Mr. Giffen or Mr. Mulhall, or Mr. CoghJan, or some other statistical genius would make a study of the figures on the subject, and show us how murders had decreased by the simple process, so easy in modern times, of running away.

Several good people of my acquaintance— the Rev. Mr. Lush, for instanceare always declaiming about the dreadful perils which the human race is foiling into by the loosening of the marriage bond. lam happy to be able to administer even a. small dose of comfort. All who know history have read of the wholesale poisonings of husbands which went on in ancient Rome, and how in later times, epidemics of poisoning passed over Continental Europe, the heroes- being such people as Spana and Toffania, and Madame Rrinvilliers. In some European countries, in quite recent times, we have bad epidemics of husband poisoning. Such a crime must, of course, be frowned upon, because, as De Quincey says, there is no saying what, murder may leaM to —forgery, theft, "lying, or even downright prevarication. But at all events there is one form of it quite inexcusable nowadays, seeing the handy condition of our marriage law.

I really think that Mrs. Coleman, who saved her child when it fell overboard from the coalhulk into the middle of the harbour on Tuesday last, should be entered on the list of heroic women, who at a crisis have the courage to do the right thing, and the presence of mind to carry it through successfully. She was on the hulk alone with her children. One of them fell overboard. She could not swim, and she was in a condition which further unfitted her for exertion. But she plunged into the sea, and seized the child, when it was being carried away by the swiftly running tide. She lost no time in hysterical screaming, but acted at once. Fortunately, a rope dangled over the side of the hulk. This she was cleareyed enough, and had presence of mind enough, to see and to seize. It was some time before her cries brought help. In the meantime, the wash of a passing steamer •went over her, while none of those on board heard her cry. But she held on, and above all strove to keep the child always above ■water. She was about half an hour in the Bea before help came from the shore. I say she did nobly and acted promptly, and -with brains. Her husband ought to think more of her than ever he did before, if that is possible.

The Auckland bowlers had some adventures during their stay in Melbourne. One of them is likelv to have a high opinion of the Melbourne cabmen. He was desirous of finding the office of Huddart, Parker, and Co., and asked a cabman what he would chaise to take him there. The cabby said half a crown. He got into the cab and was drawn a few horse lengths when he ■was told he had arrived at his destination. His feelings may be imagined ! However, the bowlers squared things up on the Victorians. On arriving at Flemington they ultimately found their way to the viceregal reserve. The John Thomas at the avenue, not knowing them from Adam, let them go in, and when the vice-regal party arrived no one ventured to shift the New Zealanders, so that they saw the Cup to advantage.

The decision of Mr. Brabant, S.M., with regard to Mr. Richardson, the temperance lecturer, is one which will commend itself to the common sense of the community. The City Council must have some control over the" streets, both as a matter of principle and for the protection of the public. It is not advisable that in the busiest -street in the town there should be an assemblage of people congregated under circumstances which might lead to a disturbance at any time. It is idle to say that as the streets are public therefore a section of the public have a right to use them as they please. At all events, Mr. Richardson has hL remedy; if he is not satisfied with the decision "he can appeal, and thus have the law more authoritatively expounded to him on the subject by His Honor Mr. Justice Con oily.

I understand that His Excellency Lord Ranfurly is not likely to go over to the inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth, but will instead go to the Antipodes Island and others in the Hinemoa. The Duke and Duchess of York, it is settled, are coming to Auckland, and will visit Rotorua and the Lake Country. It is not decided yet whether they will stop at Auckland Government House or remain on board ship. It will be interesting to them tf. visit, the places which have been associated with the name of the Duke of Edinburgh when he came to Auckland. The Duke and Duchess of York will receive a hearty welcome here, and they will go to no place in the colony where the people will accord them a more sincere and loyal greeting.

It, is now stated that Dr. McArthur Las thought better of the " relieving magistrate" business, and will remain in Auckland. Possibly he has not finished with the doctors yet, and intends to " see it through,'' or maybe he is Interested in seeing the Auckland Liberal Association i«et a new- lease of life'. The doctors think that he was very rough on the profession in his recent remarks, though they are willing to let sleeping dogs lie.

It was very amusing to see, at the late meeting of the City Council, the general desire to be excused from serving on the Charitable Aid Board. "They all began to make excuses," except that none of them had the hardihood to say, " I have married a wife, and cannot serve." Mr. Haunan even thought he had given enough time tc the public, and was delighted when he was put out by the election of Mr. Young Warxen, who was not a member of the Council at all, but who was willing to give his services to the public. Three councillors were .excused who had good grounds for object•Wg, Messrs. Aickin, Farrel], and Tudehope.

I notice in the Heraxd a letter in which it is claimed that before the colours of the 68th Regiment are removed to the Free Library that the consent of the Primate and the authorities of St. Paul's Church should be obtained. When Bishop Selwyn refused to allow the colours to be placed in St. Paul's " the incident was closed" and, therefore, to say that the consent of the present Primate and of St. Paul's authorities is required is sheet nonsense. Those authorities have allowed the colours to remain in the Supreme Courthouse since 1868 until the present day, which shows their earnestness in the matter. It is only when the Mayor wishes to see them placedin the Art Gallery, where the whole community, of all creeds and no creed, can see them that the authorities are brought in. To place the colours in St. Paul's would be to prevent a large portion of the community from ever seeing them. The great majority, rather than see that brought about, would prefer that they should be left to be viewed, as heretofore, by the prisoners at the bar, the policemen, and " the Devil's Own."

A little bird has whispered to me that the Girls' Korero Club have a surprise for their final meeting this season, and even now the parts are being allotted. The period supposed to be reviewed is A.D. 2000 (about 100 years off), and eulogising the progress of the leading sex is the piece de resistance. Of course they justify the partial emancipation of man from the tutelage of his sisters, who alone occupy seats on the Legislature and the Cabinet. The Governor of New Zealand is Prudentia Rarotonga, and her Orders-in-Council are only vetoed in Westminster. Whether a man should have a Protection ot Property Act to allow him to hold chattel interests real estateis a question that can stand over, some deeming it not yet within the range of practical politics. A consensus of the peeresses tentatively agrees man may sit on coroners' inquests and parish vestries, but his education is not ripe for school —except the discipline. Altogether they believe they have accomplished something in bringing the creatures to the bottom rung of the ladder. Their motto is Meliora, but Sister Amelia places more reliance on the birch to ameliorate.

Meeting a Scotsman in Queen-street yesterday — typical North Briton— who would have been termed " douce" in the Old Country. I asked him if he were not making holiday on St. Andrew's Day, and whether he was displaying sufficient loyalty to the patron saint of "his country. "Well," he said, "I don't know that we Scotsmen have less affection to the land o' cakes than Irishmen have to the island of saints. We are not less patriotic, but simply less noisy. If it depended entirely upon Scotsmen, there would be less holiday-making than there is. Those people who are so eager about holidays are those who don't care about work. * But the fact is that Scotsmen are not so uplifted about saints in general as some people. John Calvin and John Knox are their religious guides. These men were admirably suited for the work they bad to do. but not even a Scotsman can bring himself to believe that they were saints and had no share of human frailty."

St. Andrew really deserves a higher niche, in the temple of fame than most of the other saints we hear so much about. He was the first disciple, and one of the Apostles of Jesus. We find him in the Bible, and do not need to go to the Bollandist " Lives of the Saints" or any other place for him. Now, Andrew was a brother of Peter, so that lie is not far from the foundation of the church. He was a disciple of John, and the very first thing he did when he made up his mind to follow Jesus was to go and find Peter,'and say to him. " We have found the Christ." Could anything be more decided and practical than that? No wonder he became the patron saint of Scotland. In another gospel we are told how Christ saw Peter and 'Andrew casting their nets into the sea. And when he told them of the higher calling to which He destined them in making them fishers of men, " they straightway left their nets and followed Him." There was no rashness in Andrew, but no hesitation when he saw what he believed to be right. Coming to the domain of tradition, we find that Andrew preached in Scythia, Northern Greece, and Epirus, and suffered martvrdom on the cross at Patrae, in Achaia, in 62 or 70, A.D. Then St. Regulus, a very zealous man, brought certain bones of St. Andrew to Scotland in the fourth century. He was wrecked near what is now St. Andrew's, and there the bones were preserved. That place became the arcbiepiscooal see, like Canterbury in England. We know nothing of St. Andrew but what is good, which 'is, perhaps, more than can be said of St. George.

A doctor informs me that the Auckland doctors have been a good deal victimised in certain localities by having calls made upon them, which have never been paid for, and, therefore, that they may be excused for iiot turning out at every summons at night. He says that some excuses work like a charm. This is the sort of thing: "Sorry I can't go, would be delighted, but have just got a call to a confinement. As a case of urgency, I must go." Other excuses were given, equally ingenious, but my medico friend thought none of them answered so well as "just been called to a confinement." He offered to let me take a number of doctors on the telephone any night, and note the answers. My friend says that some localities are such noted bad marks that the doctors have them on " the little list," and a call from these side streets is taken as read.

The committee of the Auckland Society of Arts have done the right thing in giving a duplicate medal to Mr. Macky, who was bracketed equal with Miss Coulier, in the award of the Canterbury Society, on the competitive examinations at the late exhibition. It is a pity that the mistake should have occurred, but all's well that ends well, and justice has been done. The society was not able a la Solomon to have the bronze medal divided, so they did the next best thing, they have made each of the competitors happy. Mkrctttio.