LOCAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11872, 25 January 1902, Page 1 (Supplement)

LOCAL GOSSIP.

•■'Let me Lave audience for a word or two." Shakespere.

There is something refreshingly new in this Imperial spirit and the determination to see that we do not live merely to further the commerce and business of foreigners v<ho

would cut all our throats with the utmost of

pleasure. We have been altogether too cosmopolitan and philanthropic for a generation or two. Those brutal German caricatures

have been the last straw. The feeling as-

same's some comical forms, but the world will have to take account of it for all that.

1 see that ouo man proposes that we should . abjure' the name New Zealand for this colony as commemorating a Dutchman and an insignificant place somewhere in Holland,

where tho forefathers of some of the Boers

. came from. The proposal to change the , name of New Zealand has frequently been made on other grounds, and now is the time to do it if it is to be done at all. We have not much, however, to remind us here of the . fact that a Dutchman discovered this colonv. Cape Maria van Diemen is about the only * place named by Tasman, and as the Maria in V question was the daughter of the Governor of the Dutch East Indies, and as Tasman was in love with her, I feel averse to propose the change of that name. Love stories always appeal to one's tender feelings. However, if my fellow-colonists determine I am . willing even to give up Maria van Diemen, _ and to recognise no name in these islands . prior to that practical mariner, Captain James Cook.

An Auckland citizen the other day inspected the package of cocoa which he was to have his breakfast from, and was shocked to find that the name on it was " Van Houten." "Why," ho said, "that must bo a blooming German, or, what is worse, a Dutchman!" "Yes," said the good wife, " and we have been using that for years." " Send it back at once!" said the patriotic head of the house. " Tell them not to send any more Dutch stuff. Cadbury seems to be a good Englishman ; tell them to send his ; cocoa in the future. I won't have any proBoer cocoa here." Our noble patriotism is carried to what one might call an extreme at 'Gisborne. The Gisborne Times states that a few nights ago band practice was being held as usual at Gisborne band-shed, and the conductor said, "We will play ' Lohengrin' next. Are you readyone, two," beat, the conductor. Not a sound in re-

spouse. The conductor could not make the strange action of tho bandsmen out, and impatiently cried, " Come, boys, are you ready? One, two." Again no sound. "It ,was a piece of German music, and the bandsmen positively refused to strike a note. I must say I wince a little at this, because I cannot help recollecting the intense plea-sure I lately received from hearing " Lohengrin" i.t our Opera House. But never mind. Even Lohengrin" must go. Every patriot must. • make up his mind to give up something, and I am ready to sacrifice German music and German literature to pay off those people who gloated over the caricatures, some of which I have beside me.

Is there any sphere in which our Premier . is not calculated to shine? . I observe that the other day he inspected the horses that had been selected for the men of the South Island section of the Eighth Contingent, and ' without any hesitation he condemned a number of them as unsound, and ordered their '. instant removal. Well, the Government * have lately imported several veterinary surgeons, the colonial article not being up to • the mark, and they selected these horses as being all right for the work.. / But, of course, v there was no appeal from the Premier, who can teach every man his 'business. I underl stand that a number of horses are to be shipped at Auckland, and I suppose the Premier will have to come up to weed out the weeds. .

The Premier was somewhat prominent at the conference of the Primitive Methodist Church in Wellington, and laid the founda-tion-stone of a new place of worship in connection .with that denomination. In the re-

, port of his speech on that occasion he was , made to say that " he was born a Primitive Methodist." The phrase reminded one of the sage remark, made by one of the characters • in "The Pirates of Penzance," that "every child that's born alive is either a little liberal or else a little Conserva-tive." The remark, however, was satisfactory,' and was held by many to explain some things. But , the Premier came to the conclusion afterwards that he had gone too far, and explained, of course, that he had been misreported, and that what he did say was that his , mother had belonged to that sect." Well, it must be admitted that that is coming pretty . close. The Premier was at least • half a Primitive Methodist. What he is 'now I don't profess to know, but at all events he has only half apostatised. All . we want to be informed of now is what his father was, and then we shall be able to see how far he has modified his religious position.

But he is still, wo find, in the odour of sanctity, for in the course of the same speech he "expressed the hope that our young generation would grow up a God-fearing people." He then went on to drag Auckland into the business. He said: —The other day he was pained a.nd astonished to -read of a decision given by a magistrate in : the city of Auckland where, when people were at their devotions in church, rotten eggs were thrown, and there was no punishment to the delinquents. "I do hope," added Mr. Seddon, " that this is the first time and last time it will happen in the colony." * The Premier is really " coming it strong" on the religious ticket. The affair he speaks of was very trifling, and was not at all a demonstration against religion. There was also some -doubt about the identity of the • boys charged. However, it is delightful to think we are in the hands of one who has an - eagle eye on our morality and on our religious "up-bringing, who scrutinises every case in our Police Court. We cannot, after this, question the morality of any political act of the Government. We are apt, however, under this teaching to become somewhat confused in our moral estimates. Is . the sin of throwing things by boys in a crowd worse than bringing in bogus sur--1 pluses? . .

v Every attention lias been devoted by the Government to the Thermal Springs at Rotorua—and very properly ho, towards making the place attractive and popular amongst the health-seeking people of the > community "who desire to avail themselves of their resources. The same may be said of Tc Aroha, although on a lower scale. But I would like to see some attention also bestowed on the Thermal Spring' that exists in the vicinity of Helensville. This spring has been proved by experts to possess equally as good healing properties as are possessed at our existing saaatoriums. That being so, if facilities could be afforded to erect a sanatorium on a small scale it should be of great advantage to sufferers who from their position are unable to afford the expense of visiting such places at Eotorua or even Te . Aroha. Helensville is within easy access r from Auckland, being only about 36 miles, and if accommodation could be afforded at the Helensville Springs, which are situated only about a mile from the township, it '■*„ would be the means of attracting many who ~ through the expense are debarred from benefiting by the other existing springs. I make the suggestion that if the Government does not see its way clear to utilise this spring to advantage some inducement should be offered by leasing on favourable ' terms to any enterprising person, with a little capital, able to take the. matter in . hand.

hand in -with the old age pensioners, -who are a docile lot of people, and who bless Mr. King as a .bounteous angel who dispenses the blessings ordained by Mr. Seddon. We notice that just as the Rangiora Stipendiary Magistrate's Court sitting was coming to an end the other day an old lady, a native of the Emerald Isle, wandered into the public room from the magistrate's room, evidently in search of someone. Catching sight of the Clerk of the Court, who is also DeputyRegistrar of Old Age Pensions, she made for him with the pleased exclamation, " It's the ould age pinsioner Oi'im afther lookin' for, and here he is!"

Most persons who have not ceased to bo surprised at anything must have felt- that new ground had been broken in the matter of the arrangements for the late patriotic meeting at Wellington. It was . arranged that Mr. Atkinson, M.H.R., should take a prominent part in the meeting, but the Premier objected, and became himself the figurehead. Tho Premier now makes a statement of his reasons. Mr. Atkinson, he writes, is to be suspected of the taint of pro-Boerism. When consulted about the sending of" the Ninth Contingent, he gave only a " qualified" approval. - Now, what Mr. Atkinson said was that if the British Government wanted them that they should be sent. But the next reason is what may be called an artistic one. The Premier's eagle eye had noticed that when he led the House of Representatives in "God Save the King" Mr. Atkinson "had remained mute.". 1 don't think that quite proves disloyalty. It may simply be evidence of a want of musical capacity. 1 myself would hesitate to join with the House of Representatives when, under the leadership of the Premier, the members sung " God Save the King," in case I spoiled the concourse of sweet sounds. It is not given to everybody to be endowed like the Premier. By the way, if anybody wanted to prove disloyalty against him they might cite the hearty way in which he sings, " The Wearing of the Green" at an Irish gathering. That is a better proof of disloyalty than his charge against Mr. Atkinson of not joining in in the House of Representatives.

No wonder the Imperial Government prefers the colonial to the Yeoman! Look at the difference in education and raising, and the colonial capacity for adaptation displayed from the cradle up ! Our colonial lads are alleged to have instituted a birdnesting law for the preservation of the eggs of birds which being a nuisauco possess scalp-money value. ; From the scalp-hunter's point of view this is as natural as the rabbiter's rever- . ence for does big with young. That it is rough on the country is another matter, not taken into account. Bub it displays a keen sense of proportion in our colonial youth, tho perpetual cultivation of which establishes a marked difference in adaptability between our contingents arid the Home regiments.

We are apparently going to have some more trouble over the public use of the Domain— most people will look upon the Ninth Contingent as a public body. It has never been explained why municipal bodies are pound-free and penny-mean, but that is their general reputation, and our own City Fathers are in no way an exception. There are various ways by which the revenue derived from selling the grass of our public park might be recouped if affected by allowing the "Ninth Contingent to go into camp in our midst. We might sell the flowers of the Albert Park in sixpenny nosegays. Or we might charge a penny admission, into the Council meetings. : It would not be right to go the length suggested by an indignant volunteer, who proposes to have a cock-shy alongside the encampment, with our Councillors as Old Aunt Sallies in rotation: " Three sticks a penny f' / MSBOTTK!,