What Everybody Says.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2081, 4 September 1875, Page 3

What Everybody Says.

" In multitude of counsellors there is caTety." —Old Proverb.

If it were not for an election occasionally some people would never know the pleasure of a little excitement. '! hey go on in a quiet, methodical kind of a way at all times except when somebody is to be elected to something. . The very mention of an election rouses them from their accustomed dulness to something l.ke activity. They can't help it. An election of course means a contest; any other kind of election only adds to their normal lethargy. . These people are useful in their way. But for them electionswould be , but tame affairs, confined in point of interest to the candidates and their nominators. This Borough Election which is to come off soon has brought out the class referred to. Instead of the usual platitudes about the weather and dullnimes the salutation is, "■Well;! who's going to get in? " To which the best reply^ is, " Ask me on morning next." On the subject of the Borough election a new feature in the business presents itself. Female suffrage is to be allowed. There are, it would appear, a goodly num- j ber of ladies on the burgess roll, and as rote by ballot, and not vote by proxy is the system in use, these burgesses of the feminine gender will have to roll up and record their votes in propria persona. It is said that these votes have all been promised in a block to the candidate from the " Little Shop," having been wen over by r, sample of superlative tea for which that shop is famous. This is in confidence, because, if true and it were proved, some defeated candidate might institute proceedings for "bribery and "corruption-." No doubt the iady voters would be largely influenced in their choice of a candidate by a trial of " superb Congou," " Young Hyson " or a little " Gunpowder ; " and it would be hard to say that to submit such a trial was less legitimate than inviting the male burgesses whose votes are doubtful to try the merits of somebody's superior sherry or the product of the local brewers.

It is to be hoped that the female voters whose names grace, the burgess roll are blessed with Ch^sfeari names about ■which there can be no doubt as an indication of sex, or else some of these ladies may find themselves one of these days politely requested to serve on a jury. Many years ago in this colony of New Zealand, when the first Militia list was compiled, a buxom Scotch lassie who had recently arrived found her name enrolled amongst " the persons liable to serve as first-class militia." Her name was Atalanta . The compiler had

resorted to the passenger lists, which in those days gave the ages of passengers, and not having recently studied classical lore —perhaps also being in doubt—he put Atalanta down as liable for service. The Militia was not called out; Atalanta was

riot required to attend a muster; but i f she should ever be called upon she could disprove her liability by producing at least a couple of substitutes in the shape of sons, as she found a husband very soon after her arrival, and can now boast of a trio Of big boys, a young Atalanta and several other girls about whose names no doubts could arise as to the gender to which they belong. Sir George Grey has more than once complained that honors conferred upon colonial statesmen were made too cheap, But it does not appear that any great reduction has been made in the price, however liberally these honors may be bestowed. Everybody noticed some years ago the figure at which Sir Dillon Bell's Knighthood had been fixed, and if everybody's memory is not defective it was something over £100. The latest t^ew -. Zealand Knight is Sir John Larkins f* Cheese Richardson, and the Secretary of State has intimated that the patent, or some other instrument will issue as goon as the sum of £96 some odd shillings has been paid or sufficient guarantee for payment of the same has b'en given. This is not a great reduction, so that Sir George Grey must be wrong as to the matter of cheapness. It would be curious to learn what constitutes the difference. Whether it arises from a difficulty at the Herald's College as to the pedigree of the Knights, or whether the {t order " "has anything to do with it. One thing seems certain, thai the price paid for writing ILC.M.G., or K.C.B. after the name is dear at the price, and if the New Zealand Government should be driven to straits for a means of raising the wind, it wouldn't be a bad move to get an Imperial Act passed instituting a colonial order of Knighthood, charge.a good round, sum for the honor, and confer it upon all and sundry who have the means to pay for and support the dignity of the same. The suggestion is at the disposal of the' Government. It would be almost as good a source of revenue as an income and property: tax, while it would possess none of the obnoxious features of that infliction, and

the possession of the honor wpuld at least have the effect of distinguishing the I wealthy from the poor, which is all the distinction some men covet. The Speaker of the Hquse has issued &n edict that no one can obtain refreshments at Bellamy's in the strangers' room without an order from him," and it is recorded that as soon as this edict was promulgated a thirsty newspaper man sent in a polite note for an order to get a glass of brandy. It does not appear whether a stranger has to get an order for every glass, or whether the permits are to extend over the . sp§§ior>. B.u.fc even assuming ih,at the latter is the case there does not; seem to be any latitude for "shouting" fora friend; so that if two newspaper men or lobbyists meet and only one has a Speaker's order, the fortunate one must deny himself or drink by himself. This autocratic regulation of the Speaker's looks a little too iriuch like'exeroising a brief authority. We have a Parliament with a vengeance, and its Hansard and Bellamy's are not the least objectionable features. Everybody has to pay for it; and therefore it concerns everybody to express an opinion. If. Hansard and Bellamy's were to be abolished with the Provinces, and the honorarium to members also, there would k#.\m disposition to, spin ov^ eyeny session of Parliament io an interminable length. . ■ A"" friendly _ suit". took place yesterday over what is described as " a curious share transaction " and some disclosure^ were made whjeb. hapo rather opened the pyeaofsonae people who are not cm fait in the doings on'Chango. But it is not with the disclosures this 1 curious share transaction evolved that everybody has to do ; probably something more will come • out of thtem. It is the injury to the feelings of the virtuous, immaculate Jumper that•:everybody regrets.' Who, : wpu!4 §uspecii bM pf'duniwying

shares or dealing with dummies? The thing is monstrous. The case ought certainly to have gone the other way, and although a paltry £20 would have been but a poor solatium for J.D.s wounded honor, a principle would have been vindicated, and possibly—nay probably some of the local charities would have been benefited.