What Everybody Says.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1723, 11 July 1874, Page 2

What Everybody Says.

" In multitude of counsellors there is safety —Oid Provjsbb. „ : ■ . \

I Once upon a time accidents were so I frequent on the Moanatairi tramway that scarcely, a day passed without a record in the papers of a casualty more or less serious. The line was n.ew—the appliances were new, and the workmen were new to their business, and. amongst the instructions to the pickers up of unconsidered trifles for the newspapers was a general order to look out for particulars of any accidents that might occur on the said tramway —at that time the only line in existence on the Thames. If an accident did not occur it was strange—passing strange, and a "local" one day appeared in a morning paper to the effect that " there was no accident on tte Moanatairi tramway yesterday." In respect of fires Auckland is in a similar condition, and it will not surprise anyone'to see one of these days a paragraph informing readers that " th^re was no fire in Auckland yesterday," for fires seem to be the order of the day, exception* occurring to prove the rule. Some time ago when the city came to be first noted for the alarming frequency of its fires, it was . insinuated tbat trade was bad, and. that a good blaze was a convenient way of wiping off old scores by some of the firms whose solvency was doubtful. 'Twas " a bage calumny" as Sairey Gamp might have said. Then, more recently, a further reason was sought for and obtained. The Auckland people were represented sis being imbued with a desire to remove those eyesores the tumble-down wooden erections which f-rmed a connecting link between Auckland's past and present. This was as unjust as it was proved incorrect, for the newest and the handsomest buildings in the city were con* sumed by fire in rapid succession, A short respite followed the conviction of a noted incendiary, but the fires,hare broken out in several places, and conjecture is rife as to the cause, Auckland is merely unfortunate, some say; while others aver that insurance is too cheap, which begets a c.-rtain amount of carelessness. Whatever the cause, however, the devouring element rages and consumes, and the city people go on in their old way; water and appliances for utilising it being still wanting, to a degree not equalled in any town in the colony of the size and importance of Auckland. If a calculation, were made of the losses. during the lasj; few years, the sun 1 wquld he found to, cover over and over again tho cost of a water supply and other requisites for putting but fires equal to anything in the southern hemisphere. At t'ais early stage in the business of Parliament " a special reporter " has been the cause of raising a question of privilege. Mr. T. L. Shepherd, who has been spoken of as the " Smiler "—a nick name facetiously given during last session— resents tho marked attention paid to his arrival ■ at the Krapire City, but apparently to so practical end. It may be very annoying to Mr. Shepherd fo be so assiduously . watched by this v " special" Paul Fry, but v.

was it judicious for a privileged lawmaker to speak so plainly of law-breaking by the reference to " heavy liorso whips " as a necessary provision,for members ? Scarcely. Hon. members, may find, before the '■ session is over that there are some things which, being incurable, must be accepted as endurable. It may be very trying to sensitive minds like Mr. Shepherd's to be constantly referred to in a bantering mood, and their little peculiarities rendered prominent by impertinent special correspondents, but the hon. members should not have peculiarities, or, having them, exhibit them as little as possible. A curious piece of business was transacted in the Auckland City Council the other day. The Mayor resigned his position and accepted ,tlie office of Town Clerk, the gentleman who has hitherto /filled the latter office accepted a subor"^nate- post; another official was appcinted; the salaries of the whole were re-adjusted and the Council was left without a Mayor —an office whichisto.be filled the nest meeting. This seems about the most curious.piece of municipal business ever heard of. The Colonial Ministry have been accused of making permanent billets for themselves, and perhaps some of them have been so accommodated, but to carry the principle to local institutions, savors of self-interest. Here was a rising public man —thrice Mayor of tho city, a colonial Whittington—member of the Provincial Council and numerous Boards—with a fair chance of some day .getting* a seat in the colonial legislature; a promising business of his own and everything apparently running as smoothly as a lightning streak on a greased cloud, and he goes and sacrifices his position and political prospects for the billet of Town Clerk and £400 a year. No doubt he is a decided * bargain to the city, for he ought to know as much as all the other councillors put together. But the whole basiness is none the less unaccountable, though doubtless the ex-Mayor and now Town Clerk has good and sufficient reasons for what he j has done. At "the corner " to-day was exhibited ft cartoon roughly done in water color. It represent a central group of three figures standing over a strong, ironbound chest. The chest was marked " not wanted on a voyage." - The centre figure was headed " baking powder." In each corner was a smaller design in a circle, one representing rudely enough the workings of a mine, and another a ship at sea. The drawing attracted some attention, and aa a great deal is left to the imagination it excited a variety of comments. Not being at all imaginative a " key " would be acceptable. Will the artist kindly supply it?