NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12878, 23 August 1910, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

<» Lecturing at Canterbury Colloho, Mr Bathpate stated: "Tlio gypsy put I on piety like a Sunday garment, aixl wore it with such grace, and dignity that one would take it to bo his ordinary apparel. Then he would take it off and slip easily into his working j clothes. No one enjoyed being pious j for a short time more than tlio gypsy did, and he enjoyed being converted, as it gratified his sonse of self-importance and appealed to the qmotional sides of his nature. This accounted to some extent for the great attraction which the gypsy race j had always had for missionaries and philanthropists, though they had reluctantly to* confess that lapses from grace were not infrequent among their converts." Somebody once asked the- noted Spurgeon whether a man who played a cornet could bo a Christian.. "1 ■don't know," replied Spurgeo.n, "but the man who lived next door could not." .Yet another one concerning Spurgeon relates 'how he once asked all who wished to go to Heaven to stand up, but a sailor kept his seat. Spurgeo-n aakctd him if he did not wisih to go to Heaven ? ' 'Not with such a crew as this," was the reply. Some difficulty has arisen as to which the flag the Commonwealth Naval unit shall fly. It was. proposed that Australia's flag should wave over Australia's fleet, but the> Admiralty has pointed out that only the blue and white ensigns of the British Navy are recognised by foreign nations. Canada lias been confronted with a similar difficulty. Her proposal is that the blue ensiign should be embellished with a maple-leaf. The Admiralty intends to liave the question settled as regards the dominions as a whole, and possibly will endeavour to have? tlie dominions' flags included in the international code. ' It is suggested by Senator Pearce that the best method of getting over the difficulty is for the Imperial authorities to^ adopt Canada.'s suggestion for using thei British Ensign, with a distinctive mark, indicative of the particular dominion conceriiedl . To-morrow, at 2.30 p.m., Messrs Bisleyßros. and Co. will hold a stock saJe at their Richmond yards, for whicli.good entries have bee-ii-receiv-«d. Paparoa coal makes a better firo than coke. Gives a splendid heat. Lasts well. Makes no smoke, or soot. Nelson Seed and Produce Co., Limited, agents. 'Phone 91.*