LOCAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13497, 25 May 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

LOCAL GOSSIP.

I LOCAL GOSSIP. - '; • ■ • 1 »i*t me have audience for a word or two.. I . «nt »■ B»™ a —Sbakespere. j We have' been told lately that -Auckland '■ behind the times. lam not going to 1 ' JLnite the criticism, though I hold it to J be too general in its terms. Wo lag m the rear in some things, not so much because we are unconscious of / it, as be- ' ' cause we lack the energy or interest to ' 6 ,.t about, improving matters. This is particularly noticeable in what I may call the region of culture. I don't know that %o are very much worse m this respect - than other New Zealand towns, but we ought to endeavour to . be very much superior. I remember the glowing speeches that were delivered at the openj,g of the Public Library twenty years ago, and the bright hopes that were indulged in of the ineffable blessings that new to spring from it. Auckland was to become a great intellectual centre— Athens of the South-wind her people were jo become distinguished for their love of learning. It may. be that they read her destiny aright, but I cannot conscientiously declare that she is giving many outward and visible signs of a leaning -that way. She has entered upon a commercial epoch, and the prophets of to day predict that she will become a great emporium. Indeed, we are' already prouder of our but-1 ter than of our books. ■■■ ■ ■ ■ :~ ■ A visit to the- Public Library is not calculated to impress one with the conviction that there is a large section of the public given up to the pursuit of knowledge. It is about as exhilarating a sight as a museum on a, cold day. I have come to some definite opinions regarding the causes of this. It arises from the absence of all attempts to popularise —in the modern sense—the Library. We have a wonderful collection of books, many 0 them of extreme rarity, but, cui bono? We want someone to tell us all about them, to inform our minds and whet our juriosity. My idea is that a short lecture should be delivered every day in the Library by some competent person. On stated days science might be dealt with, and at other times history, biography, poetry, and everv branch of belles lettres. I may "be mistaken, but I have a aotion that such brief expositions would not only become exceedingly popular, but prove of immense service in making us all better acquainted with the 'best things in . the Library. I am a strong believer in the power of ' the lecture. Get the suitable man, and , there .is no form of entertainment more enjoyable or profitable. It used to be in great, vogue. There are probably thousands to-day whose only ideas regarding ' astronomy are what they learned from Proctor's lectures, just as there are thousands to whom Dickens was only a name, until they heard Clark. Why should there not be a course of winter lectures • - arranged for by the Library Committee of ■ the City Council? "• The intellectual welfare' of the citizens should be as dear to : the Council as their material well-being. , Might I venture, therefore, to suggest to the; Council that it should look into this .' matter. ■ And in this connection let me ..say that we will shortly have in our 'midst a distinguished : American scholar, ' whose services, I believe, might be secured for a lecture or two. ~sl allude to. Dr. David Starr Jordan, President of the Leland Stanford University in California. Dr. Jordan is acknowledged to; be the most eminent > biologist ;in the:, United States, as well as the greatest educational-j • M-iffl. that 'country.,. • T^ : • 2%' has engaged himi for a course of • lectures, and I am told that" the Wellington . AJity Council and the Canterbury 'College have followed . suit. •; As he will -probably pass through Auckland, -1 hope' that in . •.■ this' particular \ instance...we will not.be found lagging behind. '•;'.-':'. :':_•; \-'',.;,>-. ; ',. r '.,-' -. '.: ..,: ■ - The" other.day I took a stroll through the One-tree Hill Domain. In some respects it is one of the finest public reserves in the world. \ On that account it is important that its management should be in the most- competent hands. ' But I am 1 afraid that the members of the Domain board, however, competent they may be, ire too much disposed to allow its.management to fall into the hands of one or two ' who' practically do pretty much as they please. The result is doubtful where it is not deplorable. For instance, the belt of native trees and , shrubs, which was , . planted' some years ago ; along the strip facing the main road; has been allowed to jet into a pitiful state of -neglect. The iVenue of oak trees sadly wants attending to, while an ugly scar is being made in the face of the mountain in the attempt • to construct a carriage road to the summit. I call attention to this . matter. because I believe it is wrong that a ma nificent domain of this kind should be ;. marred by the individual idiosyncrasies of anyone, however well intentioned. What the ■ Board should do is to get from some capable landscape gardener a comprehensive plan of improvements, and to endeavour to carry it out as their means enabled them. ■ A correspondent writes to say that on going to the Post Office the other day in order to consult the Post-Office Directory ~a very bulky volume—he failed to find it .in its place, and on making inquiries at the counter was informed that it had been stolen. As "an explanation of its disappearance this may be right enough, but, • Mhe asks, why on earth has, it not been replaced by another copy? Are they so >.v.,-:. scarce or expensive that the Government . cannot afford to buy another? or, is "it ? ;,:■;.ibecause it is only the Auckland Post , Office that is concerned? .'' Always the South Island! Thus I find - Hie following paragraph in a . Nelson - paper:—"Passengers travelling by rail on .i, the Nelson-Tadmor section during the win- " ter months will appreciate the comfort of footwarmers, which, it is' learnt, will be ■ installed in the carriages next week. The footwarmers arrived yesterday by the Pen- • -gum.'' On ..the Auckland railways passengers have to warm their cold feet by getting out at wayside stations and stamping about on the platform. Footwarmers up this way are only put in carriages reeved for Ministers. ' Caution is the characteristic of the Scotch but if the following story, which ,comes j all the way from Dunedin, can be .trusted, there are some of the clan bold .enough to take sonic terrible risks. Two Scotchmen, it is said, suffering from a great thirst, counted up their joint possessions and . found .that they could just a y for one glass of whisky. They went IV° a public-house and ordered a drink, We first Sandy putting down the money ■or.the same. Then arose a discussion as ■«> how the drink could be best divided. ■•iL- mom€ stranger entered, and w "h-a wink to his companion, Sandv MJrncd. to the newcomer and said: "Wuil ■ » e -,^ ve a drink wi' us?" The stranger 2 heartily, "I will," and emptied ■ the db? * There was a. certain and awful saM . ? ? moment > an then the stranger »! •■ " V£ me on ' bos ' and navo one with of", -fhey had it. As they, went out ' -oaMy.w-med his mouth, and said, " Mon, ~J worked a" richt." "Yes," was the reP'y. . but, oh, what a terrible risk." •1,;, 1r ' M^ ab is a lon time getting over , . J" astonishment at finding that Auckland ... province , has many advantages and very I 'jwy proawrts. If ie conies up to Auck- • .„# "IT 11 more he will be dying things w » down South that will get him sen- ,. ously disliked by those who, as himself , hi recently, have thought that there was fining good in the North. ", Mercutio. l?i'V ; : :v ■ - .. "■ ■ ■ • -'■." 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