They Say.

Observer, Volume XXII, Issue 51, 6 September 1902, Page 7

They Say.

— That Mayor Alfred is a perfect walking - encyclopaedia on Fire Brigades. — That the "Spartan mothers" of New Zealand are " waiting " for the Premier. — That, in Cambridge, the only Show that Ngaruawahia is ever likely to get is Buckley's. — That Napier has no morgue. A body lay in a hotel in that town for three days. The publican wants compensation. — That the recent shipments of American Hour have proved to be a drug on the local market. The balance cannot be worked off anyhow. — That it was not by reason of his good looks that Revivalist Lyell made converts. Perhaps, as Bland Holt used to .say, it was his " vinning vays." — That the proposed purchase of the old Shakespeare Hotel in Wyndhamstreet by Tattersalls is all off. The club will probably build its own rooms. — That one enthusiastic advocate of the " unimproved value" rating in: Wellington has given up his advocacy. This year he pays £22. Last year he paid £8. — That one lucky Aucklander, who was prepared to pay the liquidation call on his worthless Bunker's Hill shares, sold out £600 to the good on the rise. — That Coroner Gresham opened the Savage Club chorus last Saturday night with the right key — from grave to gay. Plenty of dead marines for a wind-up. —That it was Mr J. M. Brigham's son who, by private cable, settled that doubtful point of "decided" or "declined," and thus brought peace to the Harbour Board. — That Harry Hayr had his first cruise of the season on his oil yacht last Saturday up the river. The Tattersalls committee were conspicuous by their absence. Why? — That the Conciliation Board, in the person of Mr Fawcus, dropped in the other day just in time to prevent bloodshed in a Bunker's Hill dispute. Blessed are the peace- makers. — That though a man is entitled to protection at law from the venom of his wife's tongue, yet if that envenomed tongue is employed against somebody else, the unfortunate husband is responsible. — That the Liberal and Labour federation in Auckland is going to have a smoke concert. Wakened up after three years. The members are like the troopers. The Government have use for them occasionally. — That a pretty little house in a suburb was decorated in honour of the Coronation, the dweller therein expressing his loyalty thus : " God save the King ! God bless the Queen ! God help the Ratepayers ! Amen." — That some youths have recently been run-in for " riotous conduct, inasmuch as they did openly and wilfully indulge in the pernicious pastime of ping-pong publicly, to wit, on the King's highway. Seven years, at least ! — That Sir Maurice O'Rorke is the "father of the House," having been first elected in 1861. He has sat in 11 Parliaments. The Hon. W. J. Steward and Mr J. W. Thompson come next in seniority, having I»e.en elected to eight Parliaments. ,

—That the feud between certain neighbours at Birkenhead grows dead* Her day by day. — That Pieroe Lanigan's businesslike stride, as he crosses from the Penrose train, shakes the Queen -street asphalt. —That a woman dentist down South is suing her husband, also a dentist, for divorce. They can " pull " together no longer. — That there is a brisk demand for pumpkins since the price of butter went up. Jam must be the substitute in many poor households. — That the Boers were sent back to their farms in railway carriages. Their victors were sent to ports of departure in coal and produce trucks. — That, apropos of the Balmain, the owners of another steamer recently discharged a hand for using the chipping hammer when painting the hull. — That there were some fond farewells when Banker Woodward left for Christchurch. " Parting is such sweet sorrow." But perhaps it is only for six months. That a young clerk, who made a hasty departure from Auckland a few weeks ago, was accompanied on his expedition to fresh fields and pastures new by a charming widow. — That Prohibitionist French has a son who bids fair to " out-prohibition " his father both in speaking and strength of opinions. He promises to be a tower of strength to the cause. ' — That a certain bookmaking publil can got a queer turn when his brother pencillers fiom Tattersalls reversed orders and threatened him with the terrors of a " report on bookeying " to the Bench. — That a Waimate man cheerfully admitted the other day that he had been married three times, and that his first wife went mad, the second went into an asylum, and that the third was qualifying. — That there was much amusement in a certain suburb because a returned trooper and his best girl were afflicted with measles at the same time. And, embarrassing though it was, this was not a solitary case. — That we are beginning to reap the fruits of the cession of Samoa to Germany. Between 300 and 400 Chinese labourers are being imported by the German plantations. Sir George Grey was right after all. — That progressive euchre and pingpong have much to answer for. There has been less dancing in Auckland than for many seasons past, and our " tired youth don't seem inclined to return to the giddy pastime. — That it would be interesting to know what particular form Albert Sanford's vote of confidence in the Government took when he found they were intent upon confiscating his trawler, the Minnie Casey. — That an Australian woman of society is suing for divorce on the ancient ground, and names as corespondent her own mother. The man who canoodles with his mother-in-law is somewhat of a rarity. — That a young woman who recently made a serious charge against a stranger, which charge was not proved, is sister to another female who once made an audacious accusation against an Auckland professional man. — That a well - known commercial traveller and warehouseman, whose vocal powers have won him a good amateur reputation, has joined Dixs for a season at Dunedin. He will not perform in Auckland, however. [ — That a Devonport family, whose domestic treasure didn't stay long enough the other morning to make the breakfast, is bemoaning the loss of several wardrobes and sundry other valuable possessions that disappeared at the same time. — That Mr Jackson Palmer will stand for his present electorate of Ohinemuri at the coming elections. Significant that the Waihi deputation on the gold duty question were " assisted by Mr Hemes." Straws show how the current flows.