LOCAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13722, 11 April 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

LOCAL GOSSIP.

! «< v*t use haye audience for a word or two." *** -Shakesporc. >- 0 that it ha* been finally decided that the American Fleet shall visit New Zealand, and that Auckland is the only port it ! can'call at, I hope all parts of the Do- • . iion will cordially join in making the ' welcome given to our visiting cousins a truly national affair. The Government may be safely trusted to do its part in ft maimer befitting the occasion, but I should like to iC e all "the chief towns worthily represent- '■■ ed not only by the presence of their leading public "men, but of large numbers- of their citizens. In order to enable all and sundry to be in Auckland when the fleet strives the Railway Department and the various shipping companies will, 1 trust, - issue special excursion rates. If they do we are likely to see the biggest crowd that has ever been drawn into the citjv While there is yet, ample time, it is to be hoped that the preparations lor -the reception and entertainment, of the Dominion's visitors will be carefully thought out and arranged so that when put to the test everything will go like clockwork, and without confusion or hitch of any kind. It is an occasion that calls for organising genius of the- highest kind, and if it exists "in How Zealand now is the time for it to " :> come to the front. The Government, on wbom the chief responsibility rests, have "" many resources at, their command, and fortunately our chief magistrate, who will be called upon to take- the lead in the local ar- -' rangement*, has a wonderful capacity for managing things. On the whole then I fancy we shall be found equal to the occa'V;;- sion. t

Bishop Neligan's sermon on the paganism of New Zealand, as a result of its godless . system of education, has given rise to an ' ' interesting correspondence in the columns of the Herald. It also comes in the nick ■ . of time to help the Church party at Home :: in their fight against Mr. MScKenna's Education Bill. "Here- you have, they will say, quoting the Bishop's sermon, a '■'-.•' frightful example of the evils of secular edu- ""-, cation in a- colony founded by deeply religious men and women, a colony that was once described as the .brighter Britain of ■ T the South, and gave promise of becoming ■ •' a great Christian State. What is its con- " dition to-day? Religious life is dead,, and "one of its most distinguished divines, who .--' is fortunately, in our midst at this moment, tells us" that the people are relapsing '"into paganism.' The mothers in that faron" land no longer teach their little ones to ■- pray. It is too awful to contemplate; it <is too awful for words. Even the good Bishop from that heathenish country can find no language for its appalling condition, but a, soul-piercing exclamation. But, oh, '"• -my friends, what a world of meaning is in ' the crv that escapes his lips. Do the people of England want that state of things to ■: • grow up here? Do they want to be swallowed up in the ocean of paganism? Do thev"—but I need not pursue the matter further. The Bishop, as I have said before, no doubt, meant well; his mistake was in laying on the paint too thick. In the happily selected mottojs which ■ head the selections in the programmes of the Auckland Liedertafel's concerts 1 notice this week Byron's "lines beginning Mont Blanc i« 'the monarch of mountains. Brevet see 1 - that line without being reminded of the little tiff that took place between Albert Smith-alas! who remembers Albert now:'—end Thackeray, "the *V"-'^^^ttcl®ay;"- : Alb.-it Smith, asked for an autograph had written in an album: — Mont Blanc is the monarch of mountains. ; Thev crowned him long ago, ... _ But who thej got to put it on v '_ I don't exactly know. The book was sent the next day, with a : similar request, to Thackeray, and he wrote, immediately under the foregoing: - . Albert,'-of. course, wrote in. a hurry. To criticise,, I . scarce presume: ■■•"••,■ And ret llthink that Lindley Murray. Instead <#*' who" had written "whom." From Thaekerav to P. A. Vaile is a bit o: -.: a drop, but I notice that our pushful fellow citizen in his eager pursuit of fame and for -•■- v tune has published another book, under th< au.:ring title of "Woman, the Adorer." Tin • titles of the chapters range from "Mater nity" and "Mother-in-Law" to "Widows ■"■'"■ and the "Selfishness of Love," while a '-' ' special chapter is devoted to " General Rule: Suitable for Men who Desire the Favour o: f. *' Loving Woman." I have not yet seen tin book, but its author modestly describes H us "a nonsense book of worldly -wisdom . mainly about love, and worth its weight n gold to most women." 1 have received several correct answer! ■''"■■ to the problem which was published las! -:. week. Without the aid of a diagram, whicl 'cannot very well be produced here, it v. a little difficult to explain how the thin. is done, but the key to the whole matte; ■ lies in passing one of the pipes through oik of the tanks. •The following letter was received from <' Maori youth in reply to an advertisement: -—"Seeing your advertisement for ottiw work, I will offer myself the position it ii '> : is unemployed. If wages suits me I tak< the place." A lady who lost her purse containing £14 the "other day in the vicinity of Graf ton Road was generously moved to rewarc ■ the finder of the same with two sixpences The tinder, confused by this unexpectec -munificence, absent-mindedly put the twt ' ■■:■:'-' coins in her pocket (she was also of tin • . gentler sex), but since then her conscience has troubled her, being doubtful whcthci the.ladv of the £11 purse could really al : ford to" give so liberal a reward. In hei '' perplexity she asks for my advice. Well let her stick to the reward. Two sixpence; V are not to be sneered at. Let her ban! ■"• '■ them, and in a thousand years she will b< the richest woman in the world. '■-■ Ou the principle that prevention is belle; -" than cure I would like to call the attentioi - of the tramway authorities to a suggestioi that reaches "mc from a correspondent y namely, that it should be made .a stringen ■ : : - rule that when a car is ascending Panic! : rise the conductor should be stationed ol ; the rear platform in order to be in readi : ness to act in case of emergency. At pre - rent he is usually inside the car collectinj " fares. - The ayor of Napier is evidently no afraid of ridicule. He has sent an invita tion to the American fleet to pop in ther ■ if it should happen to be on the East Coast : : I now hear lhat the leading storekeeper a Tologa Bay, not to be outdone by Mayo Brown, has wired to Admiral Evans not £ miss visiting the bay with his fleet if th weather is fine. '-'■- According to the union secretaries ther is "a sufficiency of labour for purposes in New Zealand to-day. _ ilia . settles the immigration question. Avon over the immigrant " doesn't do well here, and "cannot compete with the colonial, »nd, in short, is not wanted. " Dear brotr. ■ '- - er worker," say the secretaries to the «r tish emigrant, " we sympathise very muc with you in your desire to improve you l§;M= condition. But d>n't come to New 6ei ■ ■■ 'and. Much better stay where you are, an '- - istew in your own. juice. If you came her you would only go to the wall, xou as no match for us. We have all done vet . well out here, but then you see we.cam first. We have get all the billets. We ai . really very sorry for you, but take our ax \ v,ce and stick to the Mother Country. Aiw ' *'J, there's no place like Home, lours ,vi i'i.s .Heraally."'. " ~- - j ■ „ ;