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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1130, 27 October 1893, Page 35

Christchurch Truth, with its usual and ample capacity for wit of a particular character, says that "a large number of the members of the last Parliament never, until they became representatives, earned .£240 in any one year of their lives." This is the neat rejoinder of the Southland News : —" Quite so, and there are many people in receipt of ten times that sum who have never done a stroke of work in their lives. We pay members .£240 a year to stop this plunder of the masses by the classes."

The appointment of the Duke of Cq»naught to the Aldershot command has given some significance to a rumour Lord Roberts will be offered the Viceroyalty of India as a solatium for being overlooked. Lord Roberts, however, did not get the solatium, for the Viceroyalty was offered to Sir H. Norman. Of his appointment an Indian paper said that "if the Government was unable to find a Liberal Peer of first-class distinction to accept the office, then, perhaps, Sir H. Norman is as good a selection as could have been made." The reference to the Liberal Peer of firstclass distinction is severe on the final selection of Lord Elgin.

Last Tuesday Mr W.'W. Collins gave an interesting lecture at the Exchange Hall on "The Story of the Heavens." The hall was well filled by an audience who frequently applauded the lecturer. Mr J. W. Poynton presided. By means of views and diagrams, Mr Collins gave an easily-under-stood description of the heavenly bodies, their respective sizes, their relation to thf* earth and to one another, their orbits, &c., &c, enchaining the attention of his audience for nearly two hours. The dry facts of astronomy were rendered interesting as. well as instructive, and the lecture was jaugk enjoyed. .£; .