OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

Patea Mail, Volume XII, Issue 56, 7 June 1899, Page 2

OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

(From Our Correspondent.) Women* an*d the Customs. An amusing complaint has been registered by a woman here that the Customs examination of their luggage is conducted with unnecessary publicity. It is objected that frills and furbelows' and—well other things are exposed to the unauthorised male gaze, while the Customs officials are searching for jewellery, laces, tobacco and other dutiable articles. Naturally one’s sympathy goes out to the ladies, but really the whole incident is a veritable storm in a tea-pot. Those who have travelled know that the fair sex—and small blame to them—are the most pronounced smugglers, and the French Donnne, the ablest Customs service in the ■world, makes no distinction between their methods of search between ladies’ and gentlemen’s luggage, except that they pay more exclusive attention to the former The well-balanced mind fails to see anything outrageous in the mere turning over by a mere Customs man, of female apparel, whereas the appointment of a woman searcher, as lias been suggested, is somewhat redolent with a police watch-house. The truth is that some Customs officials perform their duty with less brutality than others, but on the whole it would be as well if these gentlemen would remember that, after all, they are the servants of the public and civility and thoughtfulness cost nothing. At our owx Doors.

A unique entertainment is just now

being conducted hero by a Maori evangelist named Eawei, and consists of magic lantern views of New Zealand’s wonderland, interspersed by descriptions in excellent English by the Maori Missioner, for such ho is. His theme, though not a new one, is, of course, most interesting, assisted as it is, by very excellent pictures; but the point to be noted is the clever way in which Eawei uses his opportunity to shove home a truth, which the churches, over seeking after affect, would do well to recognise. It is, that iu tho desire to do good with tho accompaniment of fame, more or less, makes the religiously inclined pass oWcr the evil, or the ignorant, at their own' doors. While vast sums are expended in good works abroad. Why missioners are sent from here to India and China, while there are none such living among the Maoris, and officiating, under kindred conditions. Missionary work, like charity, should begin at home, and if there is anything to spare from a big contract of that kind, then it is time enough to think of, say, India and China. Eawei is right, of course, but he fails to see that the much needed advertisement is not forthcoming from, mere local efforts.