PEPPER POT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8964, 15 April 1890, Page 5

PEPPER POT.

The passport system abolished in Alsace ! That is to say Frenchmen are free to Alsace and Alsatians free to France. And this is the conciliation on Kaiser William’s part, of which we heard the other day. And it is no slight concession either, con* sideriog the stringency of the embargo laid upon the intercourse of the two places by Germany. It is the first move of a new game, and the Frenchmen are, or we are mnch mis* taken, puzzled how to reply to it. One political journal lets itself but some* what unrestrainedly, The predictions of the Ganlois are worth just what they are worth. Germany may aspire to an African-India, but it strikes us she is much more concerned about her Eastern frontier. Germany will secure a section of the Dark Continent no doubt—but another India ! With France on one side, Italy on another, and Great Britain on two more! 1 The assumption is too far-fetched. And thfn we hear Germany is increasing her armaments. The Emperor is asking permission of the Czar to travel through Russia, and at the same time is acting in unison with the Pope to bring about a general European disarmament ! The Triple Alliance has been renewed. Russia still persists in massing troops on the frontier, and we are , asked to believe that the recent rising of the Russian students was a mere nothing. Evidently things are still tremendously mixed in Europe, and predic ions as to probabilities must be of the most haphazard character. There are several eides to the boycotting system. People are boycotted because they will not co-operate for the special benefit of their species. Or for doing something considered inimical to that well being. The purest patriotism, the most exalted philanthropy, is preached by the organisation that boyoots. Acd at the same time the members of that organisation will pass by their own species in the shop-keeping line and deal with a Chinaman to save a sixpence or two ! They don’t deal with him for humanity’s sake, but because he sells at a penny or two cheaper than the white man. Boycotters kill their own species without compunction, and then rub noses with an alien to cheapen the daily bread they profess to share with the former, whose right it is to supply it, but is beaten by the Chinaman ! Mr Lance’s mare Sincerity died yesterday of inflammation, caused by influenza. We want the influenza turned off, please 1 For human beings to have it is bad enough, but when it comes to' horses—well, you know, horses cost money. Dr Newman is what printers would call a good standing ad. for this Colony. He’s always finding out something beautifully fresh, and insisting that yon shall know all about it. Ha is trying now, for instance, to make Aucklanders recognise the Vast benefits of the Main Trunk Line.

A man with a hopeful system like the doctor is worth more than a hundred cubic feet of theoretical political economists. The cabmen want to have a say in the rearrangement of the scale of fairs. Quite right, too. None but the brave deserve the “ fare ” ! Did anybody [smile when that loan for roads was suggested the other day ? Let us go to the VVairarapa for illustration. Ten years ago the people there were railway mad. The iron horse came through, and left every town high and dry in depression as it passed on. They talk a good deal about roads up there now, and wonder how it is that the country isn’t opened up. The country can’t live by railways alone. That indispensable institution, the Patent Slip Company, is about to hold another annual meeting, as related in an adver* tisement elsewhere. The Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral Association reminds the public that it is a real live thing, and means to continue. An advertisement tells of its first annual meeting. It would have been strangeindeed if a specific for “ La Grippe ” had not been compounded. We are asked to swallow Maxwell’s Australasian Syrup ! The veteran cricketers and sportive publicans are rubbing noses, and we are to have a cricketing field day on Thursday next. We are very sorry indeed to see that the Rangitikei Fibre Company is to be wound up if sufficient opposition is not forthcoming in time.