AT THE CORNER.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5179, 22 August 1885, Page 2

AT THE CORNER.

[by nemo.]

Somo sum, liumani mlril a me atienum puto.

Verily this is an age of imitation, and tho colonies as a rule aro not very slow to follow the example of older countries. A few years ago the term " boycott" was unknown, but so frequent bare become its use and illustration that I rather imagine in even the most remote corner of the globe, where the English language is spoken, the word is understood. The most recent application of it occurred on the Thames this week, and speaks volumes for the unanimity with which some trades work. Not>long since a ready-money grocery was started in Grahamstown, and the establishment sold bread for 3d the 21b loaf, or a half penny less than bakers retail it. This did not last long before the baker supplying the grocery at usual trade rates told the ready-money people that unless they charged 3|d he must decline to continue doing so;: this necessitated the store people obtaining their bread from a well known grocer, and as soon as the bakers learnt that they were doing so, they (the breadmen) held a meeting, and resolved to "boycott" the well known*' grocer who supplied the roady-money store, which sold the bread for three pence. Now this nice little house-that-Jack-built story provides a fact well worth pondering over; if the ready-money people can buy bread from the bakers and retail it for three pence, why do the bakers charge 3|d where there there is no middle profit to come in, and why should these worthy men combine together to refuse to sell bread to an establishment which it is more than probable is able to make a profit on its goods, or it could not keep open? I further heard a whisper that one baker offered to grant exceptionally good terms to the grocer and to the ready-money store, if they would only consent to raise their bread price to 3|d, but the grocer replied that he wanted to sell cheaply, and he re» fused the terms. Some change must take place in this arrangement or perhaps the public may interfere, or a section of it, and re-open with some effect that old cooperation movement. XX X The Fire Brigade concert on Thursday evening was a financial success I believe, and it speaks well for the community who recognise tho value of the Brigade. I hear, however, that some of the wealthiest among us could not afford a three shilling ticket! Perhaps they are well insured, and don't hanker much after such firequenchers, XX X "Oh I to think of it; oh! to dream of it." Silver will soon be as plentiful at the Thames as it was at Jerusalem in King Solomon's day. As you cannot clear a furnace without a tap, LaMonte and Tapp should run well together. X XX It was nearly a big " boom" on the share market when last I wrote, but a lull has taken place, aud now although a fair amount of business is done, there is no excitement. The " wild cats " are taking the place they deserve, and stone collectors are gradually awakening to the fact that there is nothing, much in trying to " run off" a company with only a pocketful of broken stone as a stock in trade. I fear that even the Auckland public have been too often " nipped" by company's floating in the past, to rush madly at anything offered to them. That this state of things should exist is as well for the place, as it gives bona fide ventures a fair chance. XXX It is always with pleasure that I receive communications addressed to me for this column, and although rubs may oft be ' deserved and necessary, the truth may be told in a laughing manner. An admirer of Massey writes thusly :—" Re Gerald Massey's 'Light Brigade ' the funny contributer of the Advertiser seems to have found a mares nest. The devil—printer's devil—of the morning luminary—makes a mistake in a copy of verses; this! misprint Motley tries to father on the author of the poem, and makes merry accordingly, not seeing that he is only betraying his own ignorance, and showing up the blunders of his office. Motley then dives off into some exquisite fooling about Quietus (the italics are mine, I hare heard of Quintus, but of Quietus—never) Curtius, and displays a sad non«apprecia« tion of metaphor."

XXX The enlargement of the Oddfellows Hall offers an excellent opportunity to the Choral Society for . giving an opening concert. Can this be done? Who will take the matter in hand ? If the society will not step aside out pi the regular lines of classical and sacred music, the members might do as in the case of the recent Fire Brigade Concert, and assist the Oddfellows. XXX Although some Thames people in their narrow-mindedness and jealously caused an unnecessary expenditure of a large sum of public money in constructing the railway from Grahams town to Kopu, and there let it stop, it is satisfactory to notice that they are at least of one mind as to the desirability of carrying the railway through toTe Aroha. The meetings held in the Borough and County during the week were clear demonstrations of this fact.