NOT IN THE PAPERS.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 82, 8 April 1882, Page 51

NOT IN THE PAPERS.

— Mr Knowles, Under Secretary of the Public Works Department, is flying round. — There are, plenty of candidates out for the South Ward vacancy in the Borough Council. — Messrs Sheehan and Whitaker have dissolved partnership. No more at present. — What a ruction there will be, when Parliament meets, over compensation and pensions to Government officers. — The Attorney- G-eneral's cool request for costs in the Brogden case was refused by amiable Judge Gillies. Freddy was disappointed. — I shall be bitterly disapointed if Major Harris' friends do not uiahe him a handsome presentation over the Franklin North election petition. [ — The new champion of the Ponsonby people has been victorious. Garrard's and George Staines' occupation, like Othello's, must be gone. — I told you Ministers were not a happy family. [ Every day confirms my assertions. Hinemoa arrived. Ministers off. t — The price of votes in the Assembly is increasing. In one case it may take thirty miles of railway to accomplish the squaring process. — Home advices announce that the Auckland Eoman Catholics may expect a new Bishop in either June or July for their diocese. . — I wonder what old Gill, of the Land Purchase Department, is here for again. I have his nickname before me, but as he will be shortly leaving the sweets of office, I'll let him down gently. — I begin to think after all that Hamlin has the best claims to the Chairman of Committees. I think Ministers must be getting general debility when they move in the direction of Trimble or Kelly getting the office. — As I predicted, Ministers are sanctioning some expenditure in various ways fox* public works. Let it be borne in mind that the moneys in each case were voted last year, but not expended until the financial year expired. — The Grovernnient has refused to grant a charter to the Archill Working Men's Club, and therefore the establishment is closed. The Good Templars may rejoice for a little. Meantime Mr Barry will take steps to apply for a license at the annual meeting of the committee. — So the Native Minister has promised to reconsider the decision over Judge Symond's retiring allowance. The sooner he consults his Honor the Chief Judge the better. If the late Judge is entitled to a pension, it should be granted without any vreconsideration. — The odds are even that Bryee will not shift the Native Lands Court to Wellington. If the Native Minister won't cave in the Attorney-General resigns, and then — what next ? Why, the house of cards that Johnny Hall built will come slap dowu. Distressing — very, indeed. — Mr MacCormack, the solicitor, I regret to notice, has had a most unwelcome visitor during the week. How altered he is since I first knew him, some sixteen years a%o, when he was then beyond doubt-the leading barrister in the legal profession in the province of Auckland. — I understand that Mr Slator, the lessee of the Auckland Market, and Mr George Dunnet, of Ponsonby, are about entering into partnership as money-lenders. Fancy two such innocents going together in finance. Mother Shipton's prophecy will soon be fulfilled — the end. of the world is near at hand. — l?rom Waikato I learn that proceedings have been determined on in the case of the Waipa election, under the Corrupt Practices Act, against Mr Fredorick Alexander Whitaker. No doubt other proceedings will follow, notably in the case of Mr Eichard Hobbs, who has been declared the sitting member for a Northern seat. — Rather strange — Judge Mair presides in a Court without .a legal colleague, when he has over four hundred thousand acres of native territory to deal with. There must be weighty reasons for the Department hurrying through so many large areas of native lands just before Porlianie3it meets. Tom B. has no leases down there. — Four of the Auckland midnight larrikins who attempted to assault a nightman recently, got such an odour of sanctity over, them that they bolted with a view to taking a dip in the blue water before going home to their respective lodgings. lam half inclined to mention their several names and occupations, but will omit doing so this time. — I saw a pitiful sight on Sunday. A drunken father carrying his youngster, and every moment I thought the poor little innocent would be toppled on and crushed to death. Another similar picture will perforce drive me into the ranks of the Good Templars. If so, I hope my example will be followed by more of my friends. — The police authorities should make enquiries as to the name of the young gentleman who rode so furiously by the Water Works on Sunday afternoon at about five o'clock. His conduct was such that if he were my own brother I should give up his name; but unfortunately, owing to his swiftness, I could only get a glimpse of him. It was a miracle that the rider was not either killed himself, or killed others. — On examining the liabilities of a recent brother journalist who is going through the mill, I notice that one of our banks is a creditor ill the estate to the tune of £286. I think it snould be judicious for the head office to let newspaper proprieters get accommodation outside of the institution, especially if it is not guaranteed in the usual way. I thought the winding up of the Christchurch Sim had taught some directors a lesson, but it appears not. . ■ —Paddy Murphy wires me from Lambton Quay :— Pon my swig, Sir Arthur's Kauanet must be a mean lot of spalpeens, otherwise, the snubbing which they got would make any dacent folks retire from the political arena. Ministhers have struck it agin by 1 the Sous male. The farmer has got jaro for not bringing Mr Te Whiti up for trial. Johnny Hall is kite Eirfi over the business j and, as for the'othera; they are ordered to Port Nick at once, or else Hookey Walkor for them lam getting sick of the Empire city, and will have to sell out. Watch Rous Marten. No mpre at present '»

One of the Government officials tells me a goba thing respecting the Colonial Treasurer, Major. Atkinson. It. appears the salaries for several of the public departments were not paid until after the financial year closed. This, if true, would be one way for creating a surplus. Never mind, I'll bottom thematter when the House meets. I wonder how the Public Accounts Committee will dispose of this allegation. —Some further interference with the poor railway officials in the Auckland district has come to light. Southern control seems supreme here. It may, however, be reversed in June. It is high time some settled departmental rule for all employes was decided tipori and adhered to. Recommend the matter to the favourable attention of Mr William John Hurst. — -Does the Major purpose giving a slice of the new loan to Marsden electorate ? What portfolio is the Treasurer going under for the trip ? It may be .all O &., but it looks, politically speaking, " very bad," especially as tho Major, like . all his colleagues, has entirely ignored Rodney, Franklin, Eden, and other electorates deserving consideration and public expenditure. How is this P til. —Mr Whitaker should see what are the public ■wants of Waikato and Waipa districts, and this visit pn Government business will put a coping stone on the Ministerial " rampage " during the recess. —Great pressure is being brought to bear on Major Jackson to disuado himself and his friends from moving m the matter of the alleged Corrupt Practices re Waipa, but, so far, without avail. One gentleman has authorised me to state that he is prepared to give a subscription of ten guineas towards any fund which may be started for the purpose of the case being thoroughly gone into. . — The Ponsonby ratepayers, by then* recent election, have simply gone and done it. Joining the city means paying "about one thousand pounds each to the Herald and Star for advertising for the first year for public notifications. Ponsonby, you committed political suicide at the instance of a few designing individuals, and you will quickly regret your conduct. Taihoa, my tip is the correct one. 1 We remember seeing somewhere an advertisement running thus :— " Wanted, single and married couples for Easter Monday and during that week to go and enjoy- themselves on the large dancing rotunda that has been built at the Pair." We have since learned that this advertisement refers to the Pair to be held at the North Shore next Monday, and the dancing is free. Such a chance may never occur again. Go — never refuse a good invitation. — The Bank of New Zealand are about erecting two additional teller's boxes. The work will be done by completing additional office accommodation at the back of the 'Frisco dining rooms. The directors will then be able to give their clerks a handsome spread at the end of each half-year at a convenient and fashionable dining place, and prevent them on a busy night from wandering too far away from head quarters. I expect the general manager, when he reads this item, will send you, for presentation to me, a purse of sovereigns. — I notice that several hotelkeepers have been caught napping recently. I think it is no exaggeration to state that it is their own fault, as, under the present Superintendent of Police, fairnes3 and no fearlessness are the leading features in the administration. Sunday trading at proper times must be sanctioned, and the Government must amend the last Licensing Act in many parts, and get legislative sanction for hotels being opened for an hour on each Sunday afternoon and evening. Let our members take a hint, and anticipate public requirements. — What a curious law "The Lunatics Act, 1868," is. The Asylum has a medical superintendent of superior ability, a staif of officials, inspector, two official visitors, and any number of persons who weekly visit the institution; and yet, with all these checks, an inquest has to be held on each unfortunate inmate after death — simply, I presume, to have the name published in the papers, to the grief of friends and relatives, and to show that he or she died from natural causes. The proceedings would be tho less to be commented on if only the names of the deceased were omitted in the daily journals. Every Asylum inquest costs the Colony about five pounds, besides putting the institution in a state of confusion on each day the inquisition takes place. This is not all, as twelve good men and true must be hunted up and taken out in a break to form a jury. Verily our members should see that the law is altered with respect to the holding of inquests in the case of poor demented creatures, whose death is invariably brought about after perhaps years of daily diminishing strength, and consequent illness. I shall have another say, as I expect the matter may be medically noticed. *