EN PASSANT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 993, 13 March 1891, Page 18

EN PASSANT.

When Mr F. J. Moss held a seat in tho House of Representatives he was generally acknowleeged to bo the most doleful member of the Legislature. The gospel of hope in the future was one which he resolutely refused to subscribe to, and his mission in life appeared to be to insist, in season and out of season, that New Zealand was going to the dogs, and it was only a question of time when her destination would be reached. But since Mr Moss has been raised to a higher sphere and been appointed British Resident of Rarotonga, a change has come over the spirit of his dream. The description ha gives of his new kingdom, gives one the idea of an earthly paradise, “ where every prospect pleases and only man is vile," but the example of the late member for Parnell will of course soon put an end to the latter defect. To the ordinary individual the prospect of living in such a place would be unalloyed bliss, but I sadly fear that it will soon pall upon Mr Moss. He is constitutionally a grumbler, and if he is deprived of the wherewithal to whet his appetite in this direction he must, metaphorically speaking, die from inanition. For my part I should not be at all astonished to hear that ho had requested to be recalled before many months have passed, and ha is probably even now humming to himself the refrain of the song of King Gama in “ Princess Ida,” which runs— Oh, don’t the days seam lank and long, When all goes right and nothing goe3 wrong ? And isn’t your life extremely flat When there’s nothing whatever to grumble at?

Tho disastrous strike which occurred in this Colony last year taught the public a number of lessons, from which, no doubt, benefit will accrue in the future. It showed us that labour i 3 not sufficiently strong to coerce capital, and that unless the working man has a real and solid grievance he will pot receive

the support and sympathy necessary for him to carry on a successful battle, ihere •was one quality, however, existing m the Labour Unions (or, at least, in one of them) which was carefully kept out of sight, and it has only been allowed to manifest itself during the past few days. I refer to the sense of humour, and the power of sarcastic retort to be found in the letter of Mr D. P. Fisher the Secretary of the Wellington Trades Council, to Mr F. R. Bust, who holds a similar position in Auckland. In the first place Mr Fisher, as ho shows himselE in his new light, is a man after my own heart, for he evidently believes m the maxim that it spoils an uncivil thing to say it civilly. He hits out straight from the shoulder and tells the Auckland Council as plainly as words can tell it, that his Council doss not care a brass farfchin°- for their opinion, and then he winds °up by signing himself “yours fraternally.” It will be interesting to see how Mr Bust will reply to this epistle, and it is quite possible that he may develope an altogether different kind of humour. Mr Fisher fights with an unmistakable bludgeon ; will Ins fraternal ’’ opponent attack him in return with a rapier ? The issue of the contest is worth watching, but I know whom 1 would lay odds on.

Ifc is not difficult to understand that Sir George Grey’s speech at the Federal Convention created a profound sensation, for there can be no kind of doubt ‘hat lie was the greatest statesman present. The main reason of his having lost influence in New Zealand of late years is that his ideas were too largo, and his mind is not of that practical kind which can bend itself to details. In short, a speech that would have sounded out of place in our House of Representatives was thoroughly suitable for an assembly like the Federation Convention, which is, after all, dealing with questions that may be considered to be as yet in their abstract stages. Then, again, his hearers at Sydney, with the, exception of course, of the other Lew Zealand delegates, were listening for the first time to certain set phases which, we have ]on» since become familiar, with the proverbial result that we do not treat them with the respect they perhaps deserve. It is the fashion among the younger school of politicians in this Colony to sneer at Sir George Grey when he talks of the •‘unborn millions” and the “downtrodden serfs,” but if the best of them can show as good a record at the end of a long life as he can, they will have no reason to be ashamed of their career. -Lne chief point to be considered, however, is that he has amply justified the choice of the Government in sending him to Sydney as a delegate to the Federation Convention, and it is doubtful whether a finer speech will be heard during the meeting than was delivered by him the other day.

Of all the vices inherent in human nature that of gambling is probably the most stupid. The' difference between the Australian bushwhacker who his earnings in throwing “Yankee grab ” for “ dry bobs” in low publichouses and the Russian Prince who stakes his thousands on the gaming tables on the Continent is only one of degree, and not of kind. The same spirit animates both. The sole motive in each instance is to win somebody else’s money in the easiest possible manner. During the week intelligence has been received by cable that somebody had broke the Bank at Monte Carlo, and had won £700,000. This was undoubtedly a big haul, and it would be interesting to know how it came about. There are very few gaming hells left on the Continent, but that at Monaco has outlived its contemporaries, for the simple reason that the chief of the littla principality is independent of outside influence, and can do as he likes. He keeps up a magnificent establishment, dees not compel his visitors to play, and those who have no taste for gambling need not indulge in the vice, but can enjoy many luxuries free of charge. The question then arises, Who pays°the piper 1 The obvious answer ia, the idiots who stake their mouey at the gaming table. Now and then, peroaps once in a decade, we hear of the bank being broken, but loss is invariably recouped. In this instance I have referred to, another message received the following day states that the successful gambler had lost all he had won, and L 15,000 besides. The moral of which is that while there are pigeons there will always be rooks, and the latter birds have only to bide their time to obtain what they have been striving for. Egomet.

Mr Longfellow, the son of the po&t, arrived in Wellington on Wednesday, and is staying at the Wellington Club. An interesting discovery has been made on the Harnealli gold mine in the Mysore, Bays the Indian Engineer. While sinking the main shaft the workmen broke into on old shaft, dug perhaps a thousand years or more ago There were fouud mining implements of various kinds used by the ancient workers. It is supposed the workings were made by Chinese, of whose presence in Mysore there is unmistakable evidence. The tools found are said to be very like those used by the Chinese, and unlike anything known to be used by Hindus. At a recent sale ia Paris of chatelaines, watches and jewellery belonging to the Princess Soltykoff, a watch by Martineau, of London, and its Louis XV. chatelaine, fetched £284 ; a Louis XV. watch by Williamson, of London, of pierced gold, decorated with a peacock in transparent enamel, bouquets, and an arcade, brought £152; another £228 ; and a fourth £132. The highest priced watch in the sale realised no less than £330. Some interesting facts re’atmg to the early life of Mr W S. Gilbert are given in the new issue of “Men and Women of the Day.” Part of hia education, wa learn, was received at a private school at Ealing, where he remained till he was 16 years of age. There he not only took all the chief prizes for English, Greek, and Latin verses, but wrote plays which were represented by bis schoolfellows. Among these, we are told, was a thrilling melodrama on the subject of “Guy Fawkes,” fbv which piece he painted the scenes and arranged the accessories, besides enacting the title part. The theatrical instinct will “ out,” and so yesra afterwards Mr Gilbert began his literary career by writing an extravaganza for Miss Herbert. A couple of hours’ journey from Vienna, on the Danube, is the beautiful convent and school of Melk, as picturesque as any Rhine castle in the Eibelungenlied. The pretty little market town has just celebrated its thousandth anniversary. The beginnings of the little town are found in an old document dated S9O, in which it is men. tloned that a very fine medal was coined to commemorate its foundation. The famous abbey was founded in 10S9, but it was rebuilt in the first part of last century. It has a magnificent church, all gold and marble, a 3plendid library with a large number of manuscripts, and in its treasure room is the famous cross of Alelk, a masterpiece of the goldsmith’s art, almost a yard high, its beautifully chiselled gold encrusted with pearls and precious stones. It dates from 1363.

Queen Vlotoria street, Londcn, was on December 30th the scene of a great fire, which broke out at about noon and raged fiercely for nearly four hours, doing damage which is estimated to approach half a million sterling. Flames were first perceived proceeding from an upper floor of a warehouse occupied by Messrs C. Davidson and Sons, and they quickly spread to the adjoining premises and down Sennet’s H’ll to Upner Thames street, the tower of St.' Bennet’s Church being also set on fire, though the edifice itself was saved from destruction. All the resources of the Fire Brigade were soon brought into requisition, but the strong easterly wind which prevailed added to the difficulty of subduing the fire, which at one time sent out flames from a pile of buildings extending twenty windows in length fn Queen Victoria street. The task was, however, eventually accomplished, with no loss of life and no serious injury to anyone. The Canadian press tells of a new religious community that has recently been established in Montreal. A family having been cured of the smallpox some time ago, the daughters manifested the desire to become nans. They thereupon established themselves in a house under the rules of a religious community, and with a costume consisting of red garments and white veils. The young women keep perpetual silence, except during one hour each day. They rise at 4 a.m. and go to bed at 8 p.m. In one of the halls is a pillar four feet high, with chains, a crown of thorns, and instruments of discipline. On days of public rejoicings, the Bisters are chained in turns to this pillar, and carry a crown of ttiorns upon their heads, the penance lasting one hour for each. Two or three times a week they whip themselves on the bare Bkin. They sleep in separate cells, their bed being a coffin, with no other bedding than a pall. The community is‘not yet recognised by the Church ; but it is expected that the acts of piety attributed to ib will shortly secure for it the privilege of enrolmoat among the sisterhoods. The new nuns are apparently, to women, what the Trappists are to the male religions. They look for salvation through self-inflicted chastisement in this world. The latest feminine profession ia the “ facewasher.” According to the one professional faeewasher in London very few women know what it is to possess a clean face. This is bow you manage it. The face is washed in various waters. The first is tepid, the second is warm, the third is hot, and the fourth is boiling. At this point the face may be compared to a lace handkerchief that bas been washed and rough dried. Before it can be ironed the handkerchief most be sprinkled with water, or the wrinkles won’t oome out, and the same rule applies to the face, only cream is substituted for water. The “ facewasher ” gently anoints the Bkin with this, and then starts on the ironing. She uses the first and second fingers on both hands, nothing else. First the forehead i 3 attacked, and then the eyes, then the corners of the mouth, and lastly the throat. The lines gradually get fainter, and some of the young ones disappear altogether, but the ironing goes on for 20 minutes. But this is not the end. Tho face is washed again, and in precisely the same number of waters aa at first. This time the first water is boiling hot, and the last water cold. Then the face is gently rapped and tapped with the forefingers until a pretty pink colour fills each cheek. Then vou have done, after an hour and a ball’s wofk.

The Kaiwarra Brass Band, under Mr Cimino, will play on Thorndon Esplanade on Sunday, the 3rd April, in aid of the Arbour Day.

Owing to the break in the cable the cricket match, Government Buildings v. Post and Telegraph, which was to have taken place yesterday afternoon, has been indefinitely postponed. It is the intention of the Government to ask Admiral Lord Charles Scott to instruct a captain and two torpedo experts belonging to tho Australian Squadron to hold an enquiry into the circumstances connected with the lata explosion at Shelly Bay. Cornwall, Denser, Goldie, and McCallum, four of the men who were injured in the accident at Shelly Bay yesterday week, were prominent members of tho Athletic Football Club. Goldie’s chance of playing for the first fifteen this season being highly thought of. At the Police Court on Wednesday two first offenders, the one a man and the other a woman, were oharged with drunkenness. The former was ordered to pay 5s or go to prison for tweutyfour hours, and the latter, who did not answer to her name, was fined tho amount of her bail, 203. His Worship the Mayor and Messrs Littlejohn and Aitken, J.P.’s, woro on the Bench. “An Old Sailor,” writing to the Tlmaru Herald, suggests that the wrack discovered at the Snares is probably the ramaius of the ship Madagascar, which sailed from Melbourne in lSs3and was never heard of again. He states that he knows her gun carriages were made of teak wood. When she left Melbourne she had a number of passengers and a large quantity of gold on board. The adjourned meeting of the City Licensing Committee was held on Wednesdav morning in the Court. The Committee present were Messrs A. Young, C. E. Willeston, and J. E. Hayes. The following temporary transfers were made permanent: —Branch Hotel, Lambton quay, from James Crawford to Richard C. Bowden ; Foresters’ Arms Hotel, Abel Smith street, from Thomas Hodgins to A. Black.

The following is the result of the election i of three members of the Education Board in | the place of those who retired by rotation : , Messrs John Young, 50 votes ; A. W. Brown, 45 votes; Rev James Paterson, 45 votes. | The three retiring members were re elected. 1 The unsuccessful candidates polled as fol- ( lows:— W. W. McCardlo, 34 votes; Job Vile, 7 votes ; Frederick Von Reden, 5 votes ; Samuel Bolton, 5 votes. A special meeting of the Board was held, and tbe result of the election was adopted. There were present at the meeting—Mr J. R. Blair (Chairman), Messrs W. C. Buchanan, M.H.R., A. W. Brown, John Young and Dr Newman, M.H.R.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Seatoun Road Board was held on Wednesday. Present—Messrs Thomas Mills (in the chair), and Charles Plimmer. A circular was received from the Treasury stating that the sum of £ls 11s 3d had been paid to the credit of the Board as an advance on account of subsidy on the rates for 18D0-9L. Mr H. D. Crawford wrote, forwarding an account for work which be stated bad been done on the Signal Station road, and asking that other work be carried out on all the roads on the Peninsula. The matter was allowed to stand over till next meeting, on account if Mr Crawford not being present. Accounts amounting to £3 Is 6d were passed for payment, and tbe meeting adjourned. The latest Chinese city that has been thrown open to Europeans is Chun King Mr Murray, an English gentleman resident there, recommends this locality to the notice of English capitalists not averse to enterprise in foreign lands, but he is compelled to admit that the Chinese of that neighbourhood are not always easily persuaded of the advantage of obvious improvements. In one case at least they had good exouse for their prejudice. Mr Murray relates bow the navigation of a river being interrupted by some rapids, the party were told that they must leave their boat and take another above the place which the rapids made impassable. “We made the remark,” be observes. “ What a blessing It would be if these rocks were blown up !” but this only provoked the reply “ What, would you take the bread out of ’our mouths’” The explanation is, that nearly the whole of the population of this little town existed or made their living, by carrying goods to and from boats tranehipping cargo there.

A meeting of the Committee of the Wellington Harmonic Society was held on Wednesday. Mr C. Rous Marten, in the chair. The roll of performing members was care, fully revised, and several members who had been persistently irregular in their attendance were struck off, new members being elected in their places,, It was found that there was a few vacancies for tenor and bass chorus singers, and£the Secretary was directed to invite applications. The soprano solo parts in “ The Creation,” were then settled. The two chief solos “With Verdure Clad ” and “On Mighty Pens” were allotted to Misses Stanford and Grady respectively, it boing desired to take the opportunity of bringing oat some of the Society’s promising young singers as soloists. The remainder of the soprano solo music is divided among Mrs D. T. Stuart, Mrs W. F. Parsons, and Miss Stanford. The solo tenor part will be taken by Mr E. J. Hill, and the bass part (as previously mentioned) by Mr Millar, tho chief basso of the Christchurch Cathedral, who comes up on purpose to fill it. The oratorio will be given on tho 9th proximo. Further particulars will be advertised shortly.

As will be noticed by referring to our advertising columns R. Hannah and Co., the well, known boot manufacturers and importers, announce the arrival of a large shipment of superior goods at specially low prices. They claim for their autumn shipments both_ superiority and cheapness, and heads of families in town and country, who study economy and comfortable “ understandings,” may find it to their interest to visit R. Hannah and Co.’s, Lambton quay and Cuba street, where their requirements of every description in boots and phoes wifi receive prompt attention.

A disgraoeful scene was witnessed at Romney parish church, near Cardiff, recently, after the celebration of tbe harvest festival. Tho vicar (the Rev Morgan Morgan) until that evening (says a Home paper) had refused to allowed a collection to be made, aa the wardens demanded to take count of it. On Thursday, however, at two services offertories were made. The vicar in the morning, immediately on the close of the service, looked himself in tho vestry, refused to admit the wardens to count the collection, and taking possession of the money, hastily left the church by a back door. Iu tha evening, after delivering the blessing, the vicar took up the plate containing the collection bags, and entering the vestry hastily olosed the door, putting his back against it to prevent Mr Bulgin, the people’s warden, from entering. That gentleman, however, forced his way into the vestry. The vicar at once drooped tho plate on the table and crammed the collection into his breast pocket. The warden seized tho clergyman by the surplice, and an exciting straggle for possession took place. The choristers, how * ever, rushed to their vicar’s assistance, and in a disgraceful scrimmage which ensued he was enabled to escape into tho chaucel and thence to the vicarage with the money. It is likely that several cases of assault wil arise out of tho affair.