LOCAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20740, 6 December 1930, Page 1 (Supplement)

LOCAL GOSSIP.

•I— 1 BY MERCUTIO.

Tliore is no doubt the new Auckland railway station looks very nice, but the 'department is mistaken if it considers that its only function. Passengers landing from overseas on a Sunday and anxious to dispose of their bulky luggage |as quickly as possible are rarely in the iinood to appreciate exterior views of even the most architecturally perfect station. Those from tho Aorangi, therefore, who felt aggrieved when, on trying to check their luggage, they found themselves checked instead, are entitled to just a little sympathy. Tho position that developed reminds one of the story of the two sailors who, homo from tho sea, with ii tidy sum of money between them—it is not stated which of them inherited it—bought a licensed house. The morning after they- took possession tho regulars assembled outside at the accustomed time, only tb find the doors closed. After .waiting in vain for a time, they began to knock, and then to pound at the door. Presently an upper window opened and a tousled head appeared, while a voice with tho tang of the sea in it asked .what 41l tho noiso was about. "When are you going to open up?" asked the most regular of tho regulars. " Open tip bo Mowed!" said tho sailor. "j\le and rne mate bought this pub for our own use." Perhaps the Railway Department built the new station for its own use, l/ut for the sake of the revenue it liad better encourago the public to uso it, too.

Speaking of tho new railway station, llie open space between the two ramps, .while a bit chaotic now, promises to look very nice some day, if the grass plots that seein to be developing there produco a good turf. It will be a green oasis in what is at present rather a drab situation. At the same time, what appeals ]bs an ideal situation for a miniature golf course will bo wasted. Something ought to bo done to attract people now the statiop is so far away from Queen Street; as miniature golf is the fad of the moment, .what better tip is needed ? No doubt a comfortable rent could be had for the asking. But why part with any share of the possible profit? In accord with

its new spirit of enterprise, the department might lay down the course and # operate it. Every little helps, and the railways sadly_ need the every little tliat helps.

The cost of living is coming down all right. With totalisator tickets fallen to live shillings, the thing is beyond question;/no need to bother the Government statistician or concern oneself with his jnd?x of prices. Why, the price is away down below pre-war! It is true thoso ,\vho profess to know say that even before this innovation appeared the bookmaker would accommodate the man who, in planning his raids on the other fellow's cash, thought in terms of five shillings. But that course had its disadvantages. It involved breaking the law for a start, and there are people whom such/a thought restrains, even if they have their doubts about tlio law. To bet jwith a bookmaker is an offence; to get caught is a mistake, and to bo fined is not an impossibility. The unlawful live-shilling bet could, therefore, bo even more expensive than to lose a pound on the machine in the most legitimate fashion. Without a doubt the cost of living is coming down when such a primo necessity as the chance to back one s fancy is made so much cheaper.

The jubilee of Te Aroha and the reconstruction of old scenes when claims wore being pegged out there recalls the fact, now seeming to "belong to the dim past, that this country had its gold fever and its rushes, all the excitement of lucky strikes and fdrtunes made over night that are associated with the opening of goldfields. Afterwards mining areas tend to settle down to such an extent that the winning of precious metals becomes about as exciting as growing cabbages; only not always so healthful. The immediate concern, however, is that the doings of these early days are so largely slighted or forgotten by New Zealanders. The romance and adventure of the Yukon trail and the' Klondike fields'' are thoroughly recognised. That was the place where men were men and life was full of thrills. That there should have /been anything comparable at Gabriel's' Gully or .Thames or Te Aroha or Hokitika is simply absurd. Why, these places arc in New Zealand, and for anything romantic, or adventurous or glamorous you have to go further afield preferably to the United States. , Every good .New Zealander has had this thoroughly impressed on him by the cinema and much of the ephemeral literature he has absorbed Even reconstruction of the past at Te Aroha will pot shake his simple faith.

It has been suggested that the Auckland manufacturing firm that had to pay a duty of 52| per cent, on its raw material suffered rather a raw (leal. There seems a lot tu be said for this yiew.

A judge on tho bench lias announced that he has not been able to discover what a reasonable man is. Perhaps he has not been given many chances, for reasonable men .don't go to law if they can help it, and therefore judges don't meet them. Yet the point is of some importance, for causes often turn upon what a reasonable man could be expected to do in circumstances identical with those being considered. If there is no ascertainable reasonable man, how can this be decided? Yet the judge's doubt is one deserving sympathy. Nobody can help him. Nobody knows what a reasonable man is. Jf all men thought on a given question as one thinks oneself, then all men would be reasonable. But they don't and they aren't. Frequently none f| f thrill are. If there is no legal authority to quote on tho point, perhaps Shakespeare will do; and he said " Its a mad .World, my masters."

Somebody waxes sarcastic and not a little wrathful because in an examination paper set to children of piimary school age a question demanded the names of New Zealand's chief rivals in <ho. British market for wool, beef and butter, the chief disadvantage this country suffered is competing with them, »nd concluded " suggest a way of removing this disadvantage." Examiners certainly do think of queer things these •lays. Jt makes one feel very old to recall the time when they made themselves obnoxious by demanding the date of the battle "of Hastings or the name of tho man who discovered America. But tho critic of this question suggests that it is evidence of the complete failure in politicians and other public men to solve Ihe great problem of the day, and of a ilesperate endeavour to find the answer by appealing to tho bright minds of school children. Perhaps this is so, but somo Ciuididato for examination might know, and there is no harm in asking. Tho critic also says it is rather hard on the children. True; it is. Suppose, for instance some wide-awake lad or lass decided that the chief disadvantage New Zealand suffered was its remoteness from the market. It is a reasonable suggestion. What then, ,vas he or she to say about the way of Teiuoying the handicap ? Faith may move but it is too much to ask that » school child should move a Dominion. SHard on the candidate indeedt