THE Wumt plmtlni FRIDAY, APML2O,im,

Thames Advertiser, Volume X, Issue 2602, 20 April 1877, Page 2

THE Wumt plmtlni FRIDAY, APML2O,im,

We havo opened our columns to the discussion of the subject of Father Nivard's appeal for help for Chinamen because we reverenced the writer, and felt full confidence hi the sincerity and earnestness of his appeal, but when the discussion merges into one of a personal character we consider ourselves called upon to apply a check to the facile pens of our correspondents. Some people are delighted to take up the cudgels against a foe, real or imaginary, so long as they can do so under the safeguard of anonymity, and they are not a little chagrined if the newspaper favoured with their brilliant productions sees lit to curtail some of the most objectionable parts. It may bo that this is done as muoh in the interest of tho writer as the

' The Naval Oazeltc of Febmary 10th states that another of the fleet of powerful ironclad ships, built for the Turkish Government by private shipbuilding firms in England, from the designs furnished by English naval arohiteds, has been completed. Her name is the 'Memdonizi,' and sho is one of the most powerful vessels, both for offensive and defensive purposes, possessed by any of the great Haval Powers of the world. "Fine account that of the coal-mine in Friday's Argus ; —valuable property, no doubt; and the benevolent-looking secretary of a public company smiled as he addressed a shareholder. "I didn't like to see it," giowled Gunnybags. "How's that?" "Oh, I know there's another call coming—there always is when there's a flattering account in the newspaper." Exit secretary, scratching his nose.—toy Rnw Argus.

How some Government officials manage to 'eke out their small incomes' was, says an Invercargill paper, pretty well illustrated in the hearing of a case before the Resident ifagis- ' trate. The defendant in the action is a 'storekeeper' in Government employ, but this did not prevent him acving as a contractor for supplying materials to the Government, the transactions being carried on in the name of a 'dummy.' A dispute between the two brought out a few facts of interest to the public. Defendant having admitted in cross-examination that he had received payment of certain amounts which were made out in the name of the plaintiff, he' was asked by the counsel—How much of those moneys have you pocketed ? Defendant; None at all. Counsel: You are aGorernment storekeeper ? Defendant: Yes. Counsel: Are you at liberty, then, to take contracts under the Government? Defendant: It seems I am not, but it seems that I have. Counsel: Do your duties as storekeeper occupy your whole time? Defendant: From half-past nine to half-past four. After that I take contracts to keep books. Counsel: Have you any other contracts? Defendant : Trotter gave me a contract under him, and I gave it to the plaintiff, Counsel: Did he take the contract over ? Defendant: He took it under me at a less price. I was bound to make something ont of it. Counsel: Had you any other transactions of that kind ? Defendant: After that contract was finished, he had any amount of other things to do with me. Counsel: And you were all the time a Government storekeeper? Defendant: Yes. Counsel: Had you any control over letting works-say to Topham? Defendant: They are let in Wellington. I have not the supervision of them. Counsel: Had the plaintiff any contracts under you after Topham's? Defendant: He had the adzing of sleepers for the Waipahi contract. Counsel: That is to say, you, a Government servant, get hold of .contracts and sub-let, them, making a good profit out of the transactios ? Defendant: Yes. If you had only £ 3 a week; to support yourself would you not like to have something else that would give you a return ? Counsel: Could you claim for theae Bub-contracts? Defendant: 1 could if I liked. Counsel: Had you aDy written instructions from plaintiff to cash his cheques cr sign his Government vouchers? Defendant: It is the rule in the office to sign the vouchers before payment is made-I did not always get plaintiff to receipt them first. Counsel: How then were they paid? Defendant: I have been long enough in the employment of Government to receive a cheque' before the voucher is fully signed. Counsel: And you mean to say that you nave had a lot of contracts carried on in plaintiffs name, and you take the profits? Defendant: Certainly. I have only three notes a week, and I am bound to do something. After a few more questions of the same pleasant nature, the learned counsel allowed the witness to go, and he left the box evidently feeling rather "warm."

Poverty Bay, like other districts in New Zealand, sppears not to be exempt from the evils, .social and commercial, attending the system of locseand indiscriminate credit given by its traders. During the months of January and February of the present year, we learn from the Standard, there were no fewer than ninety-one summonses issued from the Resident Magistrate's Court at Gisborne for the recovery of unsatisfied claims. This is, certainly, a lively state of things for a small trading community, in which, as our contemporary says, ' trade operations are well defined, and where there is little or no field for speculation.' The injustice of the system to those who do pay, and its demoralising effect on those who do not, are both ably dealt with by our contemporary. The latter are tempted to become extravagant beyond their means, the former are made to pay for the extravagances of the latter. ' The giving of indiscriminate, or, a long extended credit, says the Standard, causes an injustice to ramify through all grades of the community. The tradesman, in order to coyer losses incurred by those who do not pay him, charge them to the account of those who do. The cash purchaser, or he who pays his accounts punctually is held practically responsible forthe "bad marks." "I lose twenty-five per cent, by defaulting debtors," says a tradesmen. "1 cannot afford to do this. Some one must make good my losses. Those who can pay must answer in increased charges for those who cannot or will not. Our traders scarcely affect to conceal this, ■ We have in more than one instance heard it openly admitted. The rule is a bad one. It is not right, nor is it honest." He then pro' ceeds tc- point out the remedy, at least so far as affects the interest of the solvent portion of the community;—" What we demand on behalf of those who desire to 'pay as they go,' is that there shall be a marked distinction made in their favour, as against those who take long credit, or do not pay at all. let those who have heretofore done what is known as a ' booking business' make it clearly and emphatically l understood that the cash price for goods is bo ouch and credit price so much more. Traders will very soon learn how much the principle •will be appreciated, and how many will only be too ready to avail themselves of such an'arrangement, There should be no excuse for departure from the rules laid down to those who buy. 'So much for cash payments jso much for credit,'" The article, which extends to some length, winds up with the following shot:—" A feeling has of late been growing up among those who are able and willing to pay their way that they will no longer allow them, selves to be the victims of those of the opposite classes, Unless tradesmen draw a lino, and a very well defined one, it is quite probable that in a short time they will find the ready money paying portion of tbe community adopting among themselves the co-operative principle, leaving the tradesman with a list of bad customers only on his hands." This has apparently not been fired without effect, for in a eubseqaent issue of the same journal just received, we find the editor congratulating his readers on the fact that a change was to be at once adopted by which 'cashor short credit buyers were to be placed on one footing, while those who continued to avail themselves of almost unlimited credit were to be placed on another,— Wuikato Times.

is an illustration of Turkish enthusiasm, fiery passages occur in an address to the soldiers of the Turkish array, published first in the Itihad, a journal of Constantinople, and re-printed in the whole press of the empire :— "Go to the cemeteries, read the tombstones; and you will notice that hardly one of our ancestors whose yataghans shook the world but fell on the battlefield. They went to Paradise, leaving courage and resolve as a precious inheritance to their children; and when they died, when their lips grew pale as life ebbed away, the last words they uttered with their last breath were "Country" aud "Faith!" We greet you, 0 lions; you have trodden in the footsteps of your heroio ancestors, and imitated their splendid achievements. On Doomsday every drop of blood that has flowed from your wounds will be converted into glittering pearls, and you will appear adorned with diamonds, and crowned with flowers, . . Oh, brothers, we are warriors, the sons of warriors, Qol has made us such, and we shall remain what wo have ever been. Girt with the sword, and bearing the ride on our shoulder, we shall always be ready to spring forward at the summons of tho padishab, willing to sacrifice our life or a thousand lives." When is a cat like a tea-pot ? When you're twain' it,