SIR R. STOUT'S HOBBY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7169, 13 September 1886, Page 4

SIR R. STOUT'S HOBBY.

In an article commenting upon the Premier's speech at the Dun;din University, the iollowiug, which appears in a paper in that city, is very apropos. It says: — Sir Robert baa a hobby, a tad, and he is riding it to death. In tbe House of Parliament and out of it he devotes a great deal ot his own and other people's time very uselessly to disquisitions on education in general and university education in particular ; on classification, preparation, bifurcation, etc., etc. Uh, dear, dear! how one tsigbs ttr a little common buuho and less pretence, Sir Robert •ftuuld Bpend his time to better purpose it ho w ould devote what little knowledge — and we lraukly admit it is but little he possesses — to some real effort to have all our children taught to read correctly, to spell properly, to acquire d knowledge of the table book, and keep accounts decently. When this iB done it will be time to louk for something higher. But te spend time and money in pursing an ignis fuluus ol bifurcation, as ho culls it, is biu^mariy famous. The time will come, and perhaps bood, for these elaborate eifona to provide high education. .But at prebent the energies of the country should be devoted to laying tbe foundation. Instead oi! this, however, people are now called upon to regard the capping as the great desideratum. Culture, the highest culture, is in tbe air breathed by Sir Robert. vVould it not be well if he aiu tided a little better to things aomewiiai more lowlj, bul indispensably ntc. saar^ ? But he is evidently above tuia : id ia 100 cummunplact* for him.

Samuel Laird (from Canterbury, New; Zealand), described as a contractor, who •was charged at Melbourne with bigamy, and committed for trial, is. now charged with absconding from his bail. TruilJ, a contractor, and the licensee of the Orrong Hotel, Malvern, became his sureties. He was to have surrendered to hia 1 bail ut tbe lust Criminal Court, but failed to oo so, and Detective Nixon baa found he hab absconded, und has had a wurrant itisued lor his arrest. Detective Nixon has also ascertained that, juat previous to bis disappearance, he drew Iroin tbe Treasury, Melbourne, a sum of £150, on account of a contract he bad in hand. A reward of £25 is offered for hitt arrest by Trail!. A well-knov»n New York lawyer, while addressing a country jury, got down ou bis knees to illustrate the mnnnei in whicli his client prayed. The awkwardness ot tbe effort provoked some laughter among tbe spectators, which the judge promptly rebuked, saving: "This emotion is diareepecttul to the court, and unfair to tbe counsel. It is probably bis first experience." Two burglurß hud ransacked a house in Dublin auU nt.cured every portable thing oi uu) vulue. While pastiing thruu r h Lhe jiauLry, out; oil them picked up a piece ol cold uicut, uiid was about to eat it. "\V bisi, P<it !" huiu the other, warniugl^, "'Ay' ior h oi. pbat oay it ib ?" "Bu jabere," «aid J^at, uroppmg tbe meat, " 1 had; it'e r'riduy morning."