What The Papers Say"

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 952, 27 March 1897, Page 4

What The Papers Say"

The report of the interview the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board had with Admiral Bridge shows that the Aucklanders are determined that their city shall be the headquarters of the squadron. Therefore, it behoves our. citizens "" to bestir themselves in the ■ matter, and that without delay. Wellington with a dock could have no rival as thecentre of the Colony, commercial or naval; but, wanting that, is placed at a serious disadvantage.—Wellington Times. -

The women's conferences of the presen day talk as if all wives were angels, and all husbands demons, but such is not the case. There are faults on both sides, and the angel wife is just as often in the wrong as the brute of a husband. — Temuha Leader.

When mining experts foregather, Ananias gathers up his skirts and flees. The competition is unequal. The man who tried to take a fall out of St. Paul in respect of aland transaction and was prevented from further tergiversation by a lightning flash from above has to take a back seat when the modern mining man is performing on the trombone. — Adelaide Quiz.

If Mr Seddon were to go to England, in connection with the Record Reign' celebrations, he would 'hold his own' there; and in the numerous conferences that must inevitably take place he would, we make no doubts be able to do a good deal, directly or indirectly, for the advancement of Brighter Britain. — Christchurch Star.

Railway officials assure us that there are more inebriated travellers on the railway than prior to 'no license.' Carrying bottles of grog, especially on holiday occasions, is a regular thing, and men who hitherto were content with an occasional ' nip ' at ah hotel now drink to excess out of a bottle. Our own observations confirm the report of the railway people. — Tapanui Courier.

The whole force of our educational system is at present concentrated on turning out clerks, and in our opinion, as may be gathered from remarks on a previous occasion, clerks of by no means a superior kind. The strength of this tendency is shown by the overcrowded state of the clerical market, in spite of the undis puted fact that a clerk's earnings for many long years of the prime of his life are below those of most labourers. Our system of education, however, throws a halo of false gentility over the pen, or even the cloth yard, as compared with the pick orshovel, the carpenter's plane or the blacksmith's hammer.— Waihi Miner.

A well-selected Maori contingent.clothed in their national garb, would indeed be a - sight for the Londoners and visitors, and would hold their own in physique and picturesqueness even if placed in juxtaposition with a Highland regiment resplendent in tartan and kilts and eagle plumed bonnets ! Seriously, we feel confident it would be a good advertisement for the colony, as many people at Home still labour under the delusion that Maoris are savages with whom the settlers of New Zealand are constantly at war.— Wanganui Yeoman.

It would be an uncommonly good thing if all the elder girls in every one of the State schools were well instructed in the preparation of food, and in the art of keeping an orderly home. — Christchurch Sta?-

There are now natives who would compare very favourably with Englishmen in many ways, and if it is decided that a number of natives should visit England, it is probable that some of those who are the best educated and otherwise suitable will be the ones chosen. Hone Heke, M.H.R., a true representative of the Maori race, is generally spoken of as one who should be honoured by appearing before Her Majesty, and it is the wish of a large number of natives that he should represent them at the celebration. — Wairarapa Standard.

Some while back, in Auckland, a pound of tea stolen sent two men to gaol for a month. Ten pounds embezzled down Hawke's Bay way brought two yeara in its train. Fifty thousand pounds of trust money embezzled sees a celebrity going scot free. All this is very reassuring, and it only remains to add that reasonable conclusion in cases is oft as far removed as the poles. A school should be established where the Judges might be taught, so that there would at least be preserved a semblance of uniformity. The contrasts are so decidedly unpleasant to the faith.— Goromandel Sun.

Politics is the art of. living at the expense of the public— Marlborough£?»prm,

Let a Maori contingent go to London by all means, and, if possible, let the Hon. James Carroll accompany it as a visible sign of, the fusion of races, and the attention paid by the Government of the day to the wishes of the natives. — Lyttelton Times.

It is a significant fact that the majority of Australians wholiave accepted Imperial titles have been so-called Democrats. — Melbourne Punch.

Although the present agitation for a large refund of money, and for an alteration in the mode of assessing Ireland for taxation purposes, does not promise to be very successful, no one can be sorry that it has arisen. It is indeed positively cheering to find a united Irish public opinion ; and it may. be that • the present -unanimity will gradually lead the Irish people to forget all their past foolish and fatal dissensions — Wellington Post.

A gentleman who has recently returned from Auckland informs us that it is computed that £15,000 per month is now being paid by the mining investors in this colony in calls on shares, and in the course of a couple of months or so that amount will be greatly increased —Mawke's Bay Herald.

We may be sure that in the century to come even more than in the one that is passing, brains will outrival muscle in industrial importance; and that if the English are to maintain and increase their superiority to aliens as the world's producers, they muat be prepared to set an even higher value on intelligence, and look to the progress, of technical education rather than to the chimeras of law makers to advance the highest and best interests of labour. — Christchurch Press.

Proportionately speaking, seldom is there seen in Auckland such an amount of open betting and gambling as was to be seen on the Mangawhare racecourse last Saturday. By all means let us have sports, but let the field of athletics be kept free from any practices which are questionable, aiid which would unfit the course for the attendance of even the youngest amongst us. — Wairoa Bell.

Any quack — religious, Bocial or medical — who visits Maorilaud, can generally reckon on sacksfnl of shekels to take away with him. ' The Golden Chariot ' rolled triumphantly through the streets of oar cities and towns a few years ago, picking up gold and silver like Tom Tiddler as it went, and it was only after it was gone that people realised how they had been h ad, and tore their hair. Then came ' the mighty healer,' and his brilliant career was only checked when a former patient sued for and recovered the fee paid for the treatment which the magistrate declared was ' worthless.' — Christchurch Spectator.

Last year New Zealand mines and mining ventures met with a good reception in the London market, and it will surprise many to learn that no less than 90 companies were registered in London last year, as against 35 in 1895, while the nominal capital amounted to £10,159,450, as compared with £3,798,600 in 1895. The figures are a striking commentary on the oftexploded statement of Opposition politicians that the British investors shunned New Zealand ventures. — Wellington Times.