THE OXFORD NOTE BOOK.

Oxford Observer, Volume V, Issue V, 19 May 1894, Page 2

THE OXFORD NOTE BOOK.

The Sole maiia|emenF "of the' New Zealand railways is m the hands' of the Railway Commissioners. Before these gentlemen received their appointments, the appointing 'body satisfied itself that .they - would manage the; , railways m the interests of the ■ whole country ; and thai they were- :to be-. trusted :with that vast., stewardship., Oijce the appointment was made, the Commissioners became, m a sense sole proprietors df the railways to Keep and ' .conduct as they think ; he'st. v This 'is J an advantage to the country m general ; for it prevents that vote "selling and logrolling which obtained wheri the railways, were, managed by the government,^, Then, if a sleeper contract did no^^^ district, the member for th.c .district;-, might inter,view the minister m charge, k or for the threat 6f the withdrawal of a vote the minister might* make a concession, and accept a" contract from the said district, Such a case Has happened, but it cannot now;-' 1 A member of Parliament, nor a minister of the -Crown,nor. thei; whole cabinet' an&l believe, -not the whole Parliament.

could compel the ' commissioners : to. accept a contract against their wish. Hence it is that no railway sleepers are likeljr to be requirediErom; Oxford for sometime," and any 'efforts made: . tb coerce the' Commissioners 'are ' most likely to Fe futile.' J Ms" to'fte regetted ■ that, so many jneii \?ill be thttfwn tJut '' ' of employment, butt?the r Commissioners say they ; have received more adran- ' tageous : cpntracts and. there is* an end ! ! °^ % -^ h^ n ?% na^ c . fe'^^s ,from "*■;, a national pbint;of \iew) # and not irom" ' ilc^a^ therefore f |&ey ! - xjp 'fiiSi Wnioh- * will be beneficial to '"' cbunfaiiy -at Xlar^,''instead of^a* 4^a?ticulai 'dis l--•■tribtV ••: -- ■ /.?£ ..-■■■.; > . i,. r ■-,.::■ ■ Jlewlyill regre^tliflefltenise.oi,. s|Six i;f months . •imprisonment with' " hard I labou^v'*'WhTch thSt' fellow received Jaat^ for. ..ya^^ ? and 4» being a generaJL |tfuisance. People ..will say it is a^oo^'fia^nce^oriha^af at anyrate'.^ look upon iuisaaoe, T andtSfey^i^4igh4 $mk they themselves are almost entirely to blame for the existence of pedlars

and <it*vassers. The demand creates y the supply. It is remarkable the number of hawkers, pedlars &c, there are travel through the Oxford district. They are surely patronised, or they, would not find the district such a "happy hunting ground.," and yet they seldom leave satisfaction behind them. People say •"■ Plague on them, • you cannot get rid of them unless you buy something." That is where the mistake is made, they are hard to get - rid of because people show a disposition to buy, or a curiosity to know " what the fellow has m his bag." Once refuse to see anything, will soon make himself scarce. Furthermore, there are a class of people who are ever on the lookout for . something cheap. They keep the legitimate trader out of money that is owing him, and give all their spare cash to adventurers at the door ; and then they wonder why things are so " dear" at the local store. — Let a man say that ** he has " for sale" goods on which • custom duty has not been paid, aud there will be a host of people anxious to buy. They consider ifc a grand thing to defraud the government, wldcii is to defraud themselves. How can they expect to be sympathised with when they are "fleeced." If they had a little more "honour," and a little less " curiosity '*' they would be considerably advantaged. r- Pemnib.