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Oamaru Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 4979, 21 May 1891, Page 3

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Gentleman—"l am sorry to learn of your wife's death, Uncle Rastus." Uncle Rastus —"Sir?" Gentleman —"I say that I am very sorry to hear that your wife has recently died." Uncle Rastus (with a puzzled look) —" I guess da' am some mistake 'bout dat, Mistali Brown. 1 lef' de ole ooman in gud health dis mawnin', sail. Who said she wall dead % " Gentleman —"I've forgotten now, but I certainly heard «o several days .ago." Uncle Rastus (his face clearing up)— "Oh, yes ; now I understand, sah. Dat wuz a formah wife of mine, Mistali Brown. She died more than foali weeks ago. De present incumbent am all right." Mr Labouchere is known to be no lover of the colonies, but it is not often that he indulges in sucli a wild tirade against the connection as he has inserted in this week's Truth apropos of the Newfoundland fisheries. He declares that England is not " a single brass fathing " the better for her colonies, but on the contrary, she would be "infinitely richei - , infinitely, super-infinitely, more respectable, more respected, and beyond all comparison whatever more powerful without them." England, he declares, will never get very much credit out of them while they remain in a state of " impotent and perpetually squalling babyhood." Englishmen are always being compelled, he declares, to put their hands in their pockets on account of these bantlings, " who will never be anything but bantlings and ne'er-do-wells till they learn to set up for themselves and run on their own legs," etc,"