CHRISTCHURCH ACID DROPS

Oxford Observer, Volume V, Issue V, 21 April 1894, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH ACID DROPS

BY ROBIN GOODFELLOW.

AH is " stale fiat and unprofitable ''; in Chrisfcehurch just now especially: the latter.. _Enterprise._.seems absolutely dead.. J attribute-a- great deal ->pf the business stagnation to the amount of useless energy expended over- the Probibitionjeraze: Had the- people's attention been directed rightly there is no doubt but that the Parliament in the coming session woui have had to

deal with questions of real substantial social reform. As it is a' great part of the session will be devoted to the question of Prohibition;: and really needed reforms will be lost sight of.

Judge Denniston has given his discision on the informal vote question. His ruling is singularly clear, logical, and according to common sense, a vote is not recorded until counted by the returning office ; and as informal votes are not counted by the returning officer; and in conseqcuence the Poll at Ashburton is declared void, and although a prohibition committee was elected, they cannot close a single hotel. ■ It may be remembered that Mr Isitt . with egotistical impudence, once anI nounced that "he would teaoh Judge Dennniston a little law. " In the mean time the, "devastating I element "is. assisting to carry out the wishes of the Christchurch electors, for fire has just reduced the number of 1 Hotels by one " The Railway;' That is the biggest, fire we have had for months and the Brigade worked most splendidly. Considering the firm hold the fire had and that they yere. aWay aft a small fire at the other end of the city when the alarm was given, it is extraordinary that, by sheer pluck and perseverance, they managed to save the shell of the building and to prevent the fire spreading to adjoining building. The Christchurch Cadets had a Church parade on Sunday This corps is simply a disgrace to the weatlhy people of Christchurch. The parsons and goody goody merchants complain that our boys loaf about the streets and bacome larrikens. Yet here is a fine body of boys, willing and anxious to fit themselves for citizen soldiers, thawartedand discouraged by ithe niggardly parsimony of the avaricious rich people of Christchurch. These people spend vast sums in importing luxuries for .themselves yejLare. so.. utterly „ and. dispicably mean that they begrudge a single sixpence to assist sons of their own workmen* The boys themselves point shame at our rich by trying manfully to surmount their difficulties. It is a crying shame to 'see the boys parading, in .pants reaching little below the. knee and sleeves ending about the elbow to attend churcfi and in the same church sits snug Mr Moneyspinner with hi3 much, bedecked wife, who laugh and jeer at the lads, rendered ridiculous by their own stinginess. It was not a nice sight. .'..'..' Some eighteen months or two years ago the Press newspaper started a weekly column of "Search Lights" written by "Bohemian." At first these search lights were smartly writ? ten and amusing. They had the popular taste and each weeks -instalment was eagerly read and appreciated " Bohemian," however, like most amateurs, quickly wrote himself out and for months search ligrits has' J be'en' dry and dreary. ' ' Bohemian ' ' seems to realise this himself and makes frantic efforts to again make himself smart. Unfortunately when he tries to be witty he gets vulgar but he frequently succeeds in being vulgar without . being in .the smallest degree witty. His latest vulgarity, is to attack in a. most indecent way the ladies who, advocate dress reform. . '_ . These 1 ladies may ' be in' advance of their time but at -least they are ! since ! re and although enthusiastic are'-thbrough ladies. • Perhaps that is why Bohemian cannot understand or appreciate them. Being 'a lady one of the dress 'reformers wrote to the Board of Governors, asking if she could attend -lectures attired in the reformed dress. The letter 'was marked confidental. With taste worthy of low, -caste . Chinamen the Board of Governors allowed .its contents to become public property and Bohemian seized the opporf unity of being more vulgar than usual. ' Truth' follows suit on Saturday with a hideoue cartoon. It represents Mrs— —

in reformed dress being personally inspected by a number of lacivious old men looking through magnifying glasses.. These are supposed to be the Board of Governors. It is a libel all round. For the past week or two we have had Sacred Concerts at both Tuam St. Hall and. the Theatre on Sunday evenings, I see now the " sacred " is dropped and they are just ordinary good concerts. Of course Pastor Birch and the clergy are up in arms. But I think that these concerts will be of immense benefit. It is much better for young men and women to hear good music and songs for " a silver coin " than to hang about the streets. In any case I doubt if any would attend the churches, and a theatre is a better place than a street" corner even with all the public bars closed.