PASSING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1978, 9 January 1890, Page 25

PASSING NOTES.

The three Commissioners, who by courtesy I are said to " manage " our railways, remind me somewhat of the Hindoo sacred Triad — Brahma, Vishnu, and Sceva. They are invisible, incomprehensible, irresponsible, and irremovable— for the present at any rate ; also they are totally inaccessible to the prayers, groans, and objurgations of mankind. They are all-powerful, but the exhibitions of their power are chiefly of the malignant type — as, for example, in putting a meddlesome, burdensome, and sometimes prohibitory tax on the distribution of newspapers. They are assumed to be all- wise, but their wisdom ie of the kind that is foolishness with men — witness their habit of running excursion trains advertised only a day in advance, or not advertised at all. Of some of their actions it were not an unreasonable interpretation to say that the} are designed to prevent people travelling by railway. Eead for example the following extract from a Christchurch paper : — Before the Commissioners took office, excursionists could get to Timaru from here and back for 7s 6d ; now it is 15s, and t.t the present time there is an increase in the ordinary Christmas holiday fares to Dunediu, notwithstanding that this is New Zealand's year of jubilee and its Exhibition open in the first city of the colony. School teachers who want return tickets covering the six weeks of their vacation must travel by steamer ; railway returns are good for only a month,— from which fact one might infer that the railways are managed mainly in the interest of the Union Steam Ship Company. Appeals to Wellington for an extension of the return ticket period get as answer the statement that snch extension is " contrary to the regulations " of the Sacred Three, which regulations are laws of the universe, not to be altered in response to mortal prayer. It is a wild hypothesis, I know, but in defaulf of a better I come back to it— the Hindoo Triad ruling our railways are in reality the creatures and secret agents of the U.S.S. There is a phase of the bazaar question that has been overlooked. What about the interests of the regular shopkeepers 7 Mr Fitchett says that it is a laudable thing to . sell commodities for the good of the church, and that ma bazaar commodities aregenerally sold at less than their value. This seems rather hard on tradespeople who have to get their living by selling the same commodities at a profit. As for the unco quid and their high moral arguments— well, I am afraid they only serve to amuse us. These people themselves, strange to say, either have just held a bazaar or are just going to hold one. It may be naughty, but they all do it— under one name or another. Let us sell commodities for the good of the church (and to the injury of the local shopkeeper) as much as ever — they say— only let there be no dancing, no gay dresses ; above all, let not the word " bazaar " be so much as mentioned ; call it " sale of work, with music and refreshments." Thus the unco quid— salving their consciences by a change of names and forms. Ingenious casuistry, but? just a leetle too fine. The following "nonsense verse" is commended to me as an illustration of " how it strikes a worldling ":- There was a high priest of St. Mattins, Whose sin was bazaar-silks and satins ; So he raked in the dimes, Aud then groaned in the Times, — Did this virtuous high priest of Sb. Matfcius. For the sake of contrast, however, let me note an instance in which a subordinate railway official put himself considerably out of the way in order to oblige, and had reason to regret it. The name of the line on which the incident occurred is not essential to the story. It was a go-as-you-please train, making slow time, and calling at roadside stations when there was anybody to set down or take up. The smoking carriage contained a solitary passenger, a snuffy old gentleman who more than once impressed upon the guard that he was to be told when they got to a certain station — which may be called Mike-mike. " All right," said the guard, and then, somehow, forgot all about it. He only remembered the Mike-mike passenger when the train had run a couple of miles past the station. However, it wasn't the express, and after a confabulation with the driver, the train was run back again. "Mike-mike," shouted the guard, flinging open the door of the carriage— " here's your station." "All right, thanks," said the passenger, noddiug benignly, but showing no disposition to move. "This is Mike-mike," bawled the guard, "where you have to get out." " Not at all," replied the other, calmly ; " I never said I wanted to get out." Then followed a stormy explanation. " I merely asked you to let me know when we got to Mike-mike "—said the snuffy old gentleman, producing from his waistcoat pocket and holding up between finger and thumb a small round box — " because when I left home this morning my wife told me that at Mike-mike station I was to be sure and take a pill I" Fancy the feelings of that railway guard, and the nature of his subsequent communications with the enginedriver when he explained to him that they had run the train back two miles to enable a passenger to take a pill ! I think it was the late Mr Bagehot who declared that taxation was so paiuful to a sensitive community as to make the maintenance of a big surplus exces&ively difficulty I don't pretend to know much about politics, but I have noticed that such a surplus is more than difficult to maintain— it is very dangerous to announce. A deficiency is bad a big one is sure to biing a Government to the ground— but a huge surplus is only one degree less dangerous. The reason I take to be two-fold. First, the announcement of a large surplus naturally gives a sort of smugness to a Treasurer, an appearance of self-complacency which is exasperating to enemies, and not altogether pleasant to friends. Ppople get tired of too much virtue in either Governments or individuals. John Bryce might not have lost his seat at the last election but for the soubriquet of " honest" which had somehow got attached to him. Then, again, when a Treasurer jauntily announces a large surplus, the first thought

that arises in the mind of a true Briton is not that the Government have been economical, but that they have been taking too much money out of him. That notion is invariably fatal to the Government. The G.O.M. never appealed to the British nation 60 confidently as he did after accumulating five successive surpluses, and big ones too :— Gladstone spake unto the nation : " If you'd have me keep my station, Vote your wish that I do so." To which request the British nation Answered, without hesitation, 11 Dearest William, you can go." " I never could understand," said Mr Gladstone, pathetically recounting the five surpluses, " why we lost that election." These reflections are suggested to me by the position just now of poor Mr Gillies, Premier and Treasurer, of Victoria. All unconscious of his danger, he announced some little time ago a surplus of £1,700,000. Now, another danger of a big surplus is that it sets every one inquiring how it is made up. People will take for granted £50,000, or even £100,000. But when it comes to millions they want to know more about it. I dare say that Mr Gillies could have proved its existence easily enough, but for the unfortunate fact that just after announcing the surplus he wanted money and had to borrow from the trust funds. Where then was the surplus ? Mr Gillies called a meeting, protested, explained, and indeed proved to his audience everything about the surplus except its existence. It ought to have been there, as any one could see, but it wasn't. Political surpluses seldom are, as it seems to me. The Victorian Premier had to own that the money was not there, but he hoped to get it when the next year's revenue came in and when the four million loan had been floated. He had made up his surplus after the fashion of other Victorian Treasurers. A real surplus was a vulgar thing befitting " a chandler's shop." I should say it is doubtful whether Mr Gillies will have the opportunity of making a budget speech next year. But if he has, I venture to predict the surplus will be a moderate one— if, indeed, he doesn't seek safety in a trifling deficiency. There was a time in the history of this colony when one could hardly express a decided opinion without incurring the risk of having Herbert Spencer and John Stuart Mill thrown at one's head. Sir Robert Stout, I have been told, when he first went into Parliament, used to have the latter philosopher piled 3ft high on the desk in front of him so that he could fire him off at any one who ventured to question the young, member's opinions. "Social Statics" was the book most in vogue, in which Spencer advocated the nationalisation of the land, and in consequence of which all his disciples wanted to nationalise the land forthwith. lam afraid I was one of them, so clear did the whole thing seem on paper. A little while ago a Newcastle constituent tried to force nationalisation on John Morloy, and knowing that Morley was a philosopher, got him into rather a corner with the philosophic Spencer. While Morley was wriggling to get away from Spencer, Spencer himself came upon the scene, declaring that the book was written 40 years ago, when he was quite a youth ; that he Had long abandoned the opinions expressed, and that in any case they were intended to form part of what ought to be a system of "absolute political ethics." In other words, the opinions were not intended for human beings as they are, but as they would have been had Spencer had the fashioning of them. Hence I find myself in company with Sir Robert Stout, Mr Rolleston, Mr Ballance, and some others, floating about like a cluster of ancient mariners on a sea of absolute political ethics, with wisdom, like water, in every direction, " and not a drop to drink." Never again will I trust a philosopher. About the Exhibition music once more ;— I have praised Mr Towsey already, and I am now going to praise him again, in . order that I may with better grace find fault. At his conductor's desk Mr Towsey— viewed from behind, which is the only view the public get— is a success. His " beat," firm yet sympathetic, is that of a real live conductor, not that of a mere metronome ; consequently he has his orchestra well in hand and is able to get out of each player the best that he can give. So much by way of praise, and it is less than Mr Towsey's conductorship deserves. Now for the fault finding. Why are we still shut up to the repetition of operatic arrangements, waltzes, polkas, and the lighter kind of overtures? No doubt some of these things are good; " Serairamide," for instance, is always welcome, and as for the " Trovatore" arrangement, why, it draws tears to one's eyes ; but, dear me, at many a French or German restaurant you can dine to the same sort of thing. Better than this is wanted, and most assuredly will have to be provided, if the Exhibition orchestra is to continue to draw. Last Satuiday afternoon a concert of a superior kind was provided, in consideration of the " classical " character of which we were required to pay a shilling. There were three vocalists. M c Prouse, an importation from Wellington, has a smooth and sympathetic baritone voice, youngish and imperfectly cultivated. He sang Calcott's " Last Man " much in the style of a Scotch precentor, and gave the accompanyist some trouble to keep in step with his vague notions of time and rhythm. Miss Frederica Mitchell declaimed a gloomy ditty (German composer) containing, say, three bars of melody, and one high note ; Miss Spensley followed this up with two of Schubert's most abstruse songs, containing no melody at all. Herr Wiickollruan discoursed, in excellent tone, a laduymose ' Meditation," or something of the sort, on that cheerful instrument the 'cullo, 10 which Signor Squarise responded with a "Reverie" (if that was the n.:mc of it) on the violin. The band, for its part, performed the " Ruy Bias " overture, a composition which — excepting one rcmemberable phrase in the mid' He, j/icnio, staccato, misteriosu — you might hear for an eternity and then foiget the next minute. There was one other orchestral piece — Moskoweky's "From foreign lands "—the most interesting portion of which is the imitation of a German band.

But as this piece has been performed every week since the Exhibition opened its repetition is getting to be " damnable iteration." This .Saturday concert, supposed to be purely classical, was doubtless intended to demonstrate that the public don't like classical music. They certainly didn't like that, anyhow. Come, come, Mr Towsey ; you can do better things if you try I In overtures we want to hear the " Zauberflote," " Figaro," " Tannhauser," " Leonora." We should be thankful for even "William Tell." If Beethoven's symphonies would be too much trouble, give us Mozart's "Jupiter," and Haydn's " Clock," or his " Surprise." You haven't the music, perhaps ? Then beg, borrow, or hire it from Melbourne. No excuse can be admitted. Where there's a will there's a way. Civjs.

The Council of the New Zealand Educations Institute opened its annu 1 meeting in the Y.W.O.A. Rooms, Moray place, on Wednesday morning, when representatives from all over the colony were present, including two ladies (Mrs Francis and Miss Mo .tgomery) from the North Island. After some minor matters had been dealt with, a most formidable list of subjects which it was proposed to discuss was placed iv the hands of each member ; but the president (Mr D. White, M.A.) explained that chiefly to Mr WortLiugton, the secretary, was due great credit for having goue through the subjects aud arranged them uuder their different headings, so that, iv reality, there were only eight matters which it would be necessary to appoint committees to consider and report upon. These coinniifcteus were then appointed, after which the president delivered a very interesting address. Considerable disappointment exists in the Catlins district at the delay which is taking place in completing the railway to that district, in which there has been a considerable demand for laud for some time. At present the line only runs as far as Romahapa, but has been formed about seven miles further. A large number of settlers from all parts of the district waited on Mr W. Downie Stewart, M.H.R., who a few days ago visited the district-, asking his assistance to bring under the notice of the Government the pressing necessity for having the line completed to the Owake Flat. We understand that efforts will be made to bring under the notice of the Government the great importance of this beiug done. The Wellington Post states that the present year will witness a a .mewhat now departure in regard to the distribution of agricultural produce in the colony. Hitherto the North Island has been a profitable aud large customer to the Middle island for all kinds of cereals. This year a considerable extent of laud in the Wairarapa and FLiwko's Bay has been sown in wheat, and magnificent crops hive resulted. For the first timo wheat will this year figure as a considerable item of export from both Jtfapier and Wellington. Already arraßgements have been made iv one quarter tor the shipment Home of some 1600 sacks of Wiiirarapa grown wheat of very superior quality, and there will bo a considerable surplus available for shipment from Napier. The Riverton Star states that Mr Hickson, R.M aud warden, is not seriously afflicted as at first reported. While suffering from congestion of the liver he became totally blind, but as he is recovering from the ailraeut his sight is being restored. Ifc id stated (-ays the Hotte correspondent of a contemporary) that uuder au arrangement with the debenture holders it has been decided to liquidate the British aud New Zealand Mortgage aud Agency Company (Limited). Mr J. Barclay, M.P., the chairman of the company, is proposed as liquidator by the directors, but at a meeting of local shareholders at Aberdeen on Saturday it was resolved, by a large majority, to oppose Mr Barclay's appointment and to nominate Mr Auldjo Jamieson, C.A., of Edinburgh. The Earl of Eustou, whose nnme is before the public jusfc now, used to be a boundary rider on the estate of Sir Thomas Elder in South Australia, aud whs afterwards associated ta Chief Jusfci.e Way.