COMMONWEALTH NOTES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14014, 20 September 1909, Page 1

COMMONWEALTH NOTES.

(By F.H.)

Tho King's English.— The Chief Inspector of Public Schools in N.S.W. has come to the conclusion - that the Australian boy will grow tip wits * distinct lingo peculiar to the ccferftry. It will be devoid of brogue and character, merely English defiled attff badly tortured. His experiences *fs 4ha^ scholastic training will have no . ef f*ct "but the lad will descend to langajtag of the gutter aud speak in the vernsaalar of iiis companions. It is just as ajt atmosphere gradually vitiated without the knowledge of those breathing' it, although immediately evident to an outsider, so the teacher frequently tolerates bad enunciation, through constant lecurrence dulling his perception. Flights of Oratory.— Mr. W. Hughes, M.H.R!, is one of the readiest speakers in public life in Australia. He is also a journalist of the first water and an authority on almost every conceivable subject that floats airily across the ' path of every politician. While fte Was speaking in the House the other night the Minister for Defence turned round and engaged in conversation with an- ; other member. Mr. Hughes stared, - nodded his head and then said: "Well, I thought I had plumbed to the depths of the possibilities in this Chamber, and that nothing could surprise me or ruffle the calmness pi the demeanour which f v) easily sits upon me. But I am bound to say that I view the action of ihe Minister at this moment in very much the same way as the man who was suddenly thrown back through the ages to that time when the Ichthyosaurus nnd the Pterodactyl ploughed their cheerful ways about, and looked at the playful waltz or light and airy gavotte by these gigantic animals. It is with that same feeling that I watch the light and airy persiflage a*nd bonhomie which sits upon the Minister as lightly as mail armour would rest upon a young debutante at a Court reception." Across Australia. — Mr. F. Birtles, the overland cyclist, who has a penrhant for long distance journeys, having already made one trip across the continent, is about to take another, starting from Fremantle on his bicycle, touring right across the continent to Sydney, touching at Ooolgardie, Port Augusta and Broken Hill en route, exploring and prospecting on tho way. Skating Record. — Mr. Percy Freeman, who put up a world's roller skating record at Brisbane last week, intends to eclipse the performance in Sydney shortly. His record in Brisbane was 52 hours 10 minutes continuous roller skating and he now purposes to essay the task of continuous skating ior 60 hours. Mr. Freeman, about 12 months ago, put up a world's piano playing record in Sydney, when he fingered the ivories continuously for 51 hours 10 minutes. This record has not yet been broken.