"WHAT THE PAPERS SAY"

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 925, 3 October 1896, Page 8

"WHAT THE PAPERS SAY"

Her Majesty was graciously pleased to confer on New Zealand volnnteer officers of 20 years' service a ' decoration ' consisting of a breast medal, value say 10s. A. local applicant has been informed by the Defence Department that a sum of £1 must be forwarded with the application to cover the coat of the decoration ! — Gisborne Herald. The grocery line is now so unreniunerative that it is called the ' Grow sorry ' business for anyone who embarks in it. — Sydney Bulletin. Since card-playing was prohibited there has been a marked falling off in the atten dance at the coffee rooms of the Masterton Women's Christian Temperance Crusade. — Marlborough Express. All the prominent so called ' Conservatives ' of the day — such as Major Atkinson, Captain Russell, Messrs Bowen, Bryce, Ormond, Rolleston, Stevens and Whitaker — voted in favour of the Education Bill when it w»b before the House in 1877. It was opposed by such leading ' Liberals ' as Sir George Grey and Messrs J. C. Brown, Sheehan, Bunny and Rees Mr Ballance, it is only fair to add, supported the Bill. — Christchurch Press. We want to.know what the Law Society arc going to do about Sir Walter Buller ? They are in duty bound to take some action in the face of the report of the Commission. If they don't, then the Socitty must lie open to the charge of being a corrupt thing that scorches the poor and unfortunate barrister and solicitor, and lets the rich one go unhampered. — Wellington People. The frequency of burglaries and the scarcity of convictions reminds one of what happens in America. It is a plain matter of history that for many years the perpetrators of great crimes in America have not been discovered by the professional detectives, but by amateurs — generally sharp reporters — employed by the large newspapers to unravel the mysteries of noted cases. The result ha 3 been that crimes which have puzzled the over-rated acumen of the professional detectives have been laid bare, and the criminals brought to j astice, by the sharp reporters. — Christchurch Truth. Any man who, in the course of business, paid away two or three pounds for nothing, would be regarded as a fool. And yet parents, by neglecting to take the fullest advantage of the education provided for their children, are doing a thing in every respect as foolish. — Masterton Star. The Sawmillers* Conference cost .£3BO 5s 2d. One conclusion it was very solid on. Timber-Expert Freyberg is an expensive failure. Bat as he was a very active canvasser at the '93 elections, it would never do to retrench him just now. — Wellington A* Rays. The Opposition have abandoned argument in their attacks on the Government, and have substituted therefor abuse and slander. They feel, and in this their feeling is just, that the people cannot be induced to abandon the Liberal programme, or any material portion of it, but they would fain believe that if sufficient mud be thrown some of it will stick. — Napier News. Dress and husband-hunting are the aims and objects of the modern girl, and mothers are in agreat measure rasponsible. Domestic duties are all made subordinate to these two aims. Not one girl in every five can cook a decent meal or keep house properly. This being so, is there any wonder why so many homes are a failure, and so many young men are contented to remain single ? — Pahiatua Herald. Life insurance offices exist Jargely to find billets and salaries for managers, directors, and the rest. The policy-holders can't easily move in the matter ; they are many and widely scattered, and no one of them has enough interest to make it worth while setting the matter in motion. And if it was set in motion, the managers and directors and others, who live by keeping superfluous offices afloat, would probably gather up proxies enough — from the kind of policy-holder who signs proxies when he is asked to do so without inquiring how they are to be used — to vote down any such proposal. Nevertheless, amalgamation would do a lot of good in this overinsured country by reducing workine exs. to a reasonable figure. — Sydney Bulletin.

A business man of Masterton has conceived ft novel idea. He intends stamping upon his billheads a picture of the forget-me-not. — Marton Mercury. The retirement of Hanging Judge Windeyer removes one of the most prominent, and at the same time unpopular, judges who has ever sat on the Sydneyside Bench — or for that matter any Bench in the Australian colonies. — Melbourne Free Lance. As only 29 out of between 40 and 50 members of the Legislative Council are able to attend an afternoon division on an important measuie that has several times been sent up from the House of Representatives, it is clear that what has been advanced regarding the feebleness and ill-health of many members of the Upper House is iv no way an exaggeration. — Lyttelton Times. Germany ia keen to recognise that we live in an age of steam, electricity, art, science and applied forces generally; whilst England jogs along apathetically, worshipping effete models, educational and industrial. In Germany, technical instruction is not part of the educational system -it is the 'whole system. Iv England and in these Colonies, we are only discussing technical instruction as one of the possible reforms of our educational system, and as a result the article ' Made in Germany ' is here in quantities. The misfortunes of the Mother country should prove our salvation.— Chriutcharch Critic. The Report on the Police Force this year affords one of the strongest indictments that could be presented against the success of the present Bystem It is especially confirmatory of much that has been writen and said in the past about the need for investigation into the methods and orginisation of the Force, and that the Commission for this purpose should be composed of gentlemen entirely unconnected with the administration of Justice, who have intimate relations with the Inspectors and Chief Officers of the Police. It may be — and we believe it is — that the Premier in the' real Commissioner of Police. An independent Commis sion wbuld determine that, which is snfficieet reason why it will not be appointed. Great are the gains of Seddonism.— Wellington Post.

1 From the typhoid fever in our summer sausages, deliver us ' — the daily prayer of Sydney folk.— Sydney Arrow. The interesting point for farmerß to remember is that the farmers in the House believe in the Government, and this fact ought to give farmers in the country confidence in them — Temuka Leader. If the country could only realise how many thousands of pounds are wasted every year in discussing and putting through useful measures which are. slaughtered by the Upper House, it would be astounded. — Masterton Star. Seven cases of * didn't know it was loadc d ' again points to the fact that the law is loose in more joints than one where firearms are concerned.— Sydney Truth. With all itsfanlts, our system of education is one of which its founder and the Parliament which passed it into law may justly feel proud ; while the democracy of New Zealand knows that, beside this priceless boon which it enjoys, all the so-called ' reforms' of more recent legislation are as tinsil by the side of refined gold.— Christchurch Press. A Sydney wood and coal merchant has the following on his billheads : — ' The wages of sin is death.' ' God is light.' 1 The gift of God is eternal life.' ' God is love.' These are on top ; then follow the name and addreßs of the wood and coal shed, and then — ' God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,' etc. • Every bag of coal weigh, d separately. — Melbourne Free Lance.