CITY GOSSIP.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 334, 2 May 1885, Page 11

CITY GOSSIP.

And all alone To-night we'll wander through the streets, and note The qualities of people. Shakespeare.

We often hear of the glories of the prizering, and what brave, gallant fellows the old English bruisers were. Men like Sayers, King, Caunt, Ward, and a hundred others are quoted to show the stuff:, of which Englishmen were made in years gone by, while John Gully, once a prize-fighter and afterwards an M.P., is still regarded as the model Englishmen by thousands of his countrymen.^ I must confess that I have for a long time cherished a profound admiration for the race of British boxers, but the exponents of the P.K. for some years back have been such unmitigated ruffians and blackguards that no decent man can feel for them anything but disgusted contempt. The genuine English boxer of fifty years ago was a man in whose presence no blackguard could dare to annoy or insult a female, but what woman of the present day would be safe in the proximity of such a drunken beast as the renowned American slogger and others of his stamp. Truly, the prize-ring has greatly deteriorated, and is now an institution that should be either altogether wiped out or conducted upon very different lines. Coming to the exhibition in the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening last, I must say it is a scandal upon the fair fame of • our city that such a thing was allowed to eventuate. It is reported in the press that the fact of this ostensible boxing-match being really a prizefight was suppressed because, forsooth, had the police been aware of the true complexion of the business they would have interfered. And why were they r.ot aware? All places of amusement (!) are under police control and this scandal should have been stopped long before the men were knocked out of time. These two men half killing one another is nothing ; if they had both succumbed to their injuries the loss to the world would not have been insurmountable. The great evil of such meetings is the tremendous impetus it gives to the rowdy lawlessness of the blackguard section of our community, deadening everything that is manly and generous in the human breast. Rowdyism in Auckland has been allowed to go quite far enough, and if not promptly and severely checked, will give us a deal of trouble. Taken well in hand at once, the evil could be stamped out — something like Waymouth did the cup ; if allowed to grow undisturbed, it will stamp us out.

It would be interesting to know what is the Key. Shirley Baker's position in relation to the Wesleyan Methodist body. Is he a paid missionary attached to any particular branch of that Church, or is he what might be termed an evangelical freebooter ? Are his emoluments and perquisites as Premier of Tonga faithfully deposited in the church coffers to increase the means of spreading the glorious gospel ; or are they quietly stowed on one side to provide for the little Bakers against a rainy day ? I don't pause for a reply, for I do not require one. The Rev. Shirley knows more about mission work than I do, and if he thinks that the assumption of political power and a keen interest in political questions will materially promote the evangelisation of the islands, I am perfectly content to accept the verdict of his matured judgment. But it is quite evident that there is not room on one island for two such men.. There may be two missionaries in Tonga, but there can be onty one chief Baker. It was so in the days of Pharoah, and it is so still. Could not Moulton leave Baker in peace, and betake himself to some other island, where he could become a Prime Minister and still be a minister of the gospel ? Meanwhile, Christianity on the island is at a discount, and the natives stand by, striving to work out the problem of brotherly love as exemplified by these model evangelists. Will they ever solve it ?

Mr Button, who presided at Mr Capper's first meeting in Auckland, informed the audience that the lecturer was a brother professional, " a limb of the law, but with his law scattered a few crumbs of the gospel." I would like to get at the gist of this announcement. Where and what is the point ? The novelty must be, 6urely, the connection between the law and the gospel ; and yet Mr Capper, as Mr Button could have told us, is not the only lawyer we know who dabbles a little in gospel. That he only scattered a few crumbs is natural enough, for a lawyer does not give bounteously, especially when there is no quid pro quo forthcoming. But, then again, we are reminded in ancient history how a poor beggar picked up a few crumbs and was really better off ultimately than those who had the benefit of a good square meal. I can't say whether or not Mr Button had this legend in his mind when he made his facetious remark to the meeting, but it is probably that it was his mental text, and that he intended the audience to be impressed with the immensity of the privilege enjoyed by them.

There can be no doubt that the members of the University Senate are men of refinement and culture, and this only makes the more astonishing their rejection of the overture of the lady students respecting the plays of Terence. I can't help thinking that these gentlemen have made a very serious mistake. They base their contention on incorrect premises; The admirable letter of Mrs Aldis

places, the question very clearly, and, after perusing it, there can be but one opinion as to what course the Senate should adopt. The book objected to so strongly by the lady students should be withdrawn at once and for ever. As a matter of courtesy, as well as in the interests of pure morality, this step should at once be taken.

At the present crisis the case recently heard in the E.M. Court (Pearce versus Lynch) is fraught with intense interest. Not that there is anything very extraordinary in a publican assaulting- a sailor, ox vice versa, but the novelty of the thing is that an Irishman should punch a Russian. Just now. we have Irishmen blowing up. our Government offices in London, and Russians (metaphorically) breaking our noses in Afghanistan ; consequently one would imagine that repre'r sentatives of those two nations would, whenever they met, greet one another as hail fellow, well met, and at once form an alliance, offensive and defensive, against all and sundry Englishman. But for an Irishman to be heard calling another man a d d Russian, is so contrary to natural expectation that the occurrence at once arrests attention. I take it as a happy omen that, should war be declared between Russia and England, that even Irishmen may safely be reckoned upon to assist in polishing of£ the great Russian Bear.

CaMBBIA.