THEY SAY

Observer, Volume XXIII, Issue 2, 27 September 1902, Page 7

THEY SAY

— That there is joy in Te Aroha over the impending change. — That the long skirt controversy is approaching the tv quoque stage. — That things are getting just a " leetle " sultry in the arena of Labour politics. — That the newly- imported doctor cut a dash at the big installation the other night. — That Dr Bakewell is plotting to •onvert William Richardson into a "horrid example." — That people are beginning to study the map in order to keep track of the earthquakes. — That what the drapers have lost on Spring dresses they have made up on umbrellas and goloshes. — That the Organising Secretary was recognised in Auckland on Sunday. His get-up was simply gorgeous. — That the Coroner is to appear at the Opera House next month in a new rdle. N.B. — Not in the " Burglar and the Judge." — That the Cape Government have removed the embargo on undesirables. What they are anxious to keep out is "desirables." — That a well - known Wellington business man, now on a visit to Auckland, is shrewdly suspected of being a confederate of the wizard Howard. — That if " Fro Bono Publicos" and "Constant Readers" can do it, the Bible is to be read In schools. Country papers are mostly filled with this topic just now. — That a woman in a Southern court was asked the other day to produce her marriage certificate. She reitred, and brought them all — fonr girls and three boys. — That queer stories are being told about a certain doctor old enough to know better and the wife of an exGovernment official not a thousand miles from Auckland. — That a local factory owner was brought severely up to the mark by the secretary of the operatives union this week. No lees than £75 paid over to the hands to square matters. — That there will be booming times in the country for the next twelve months if the Government can only borrow the money necessary to carry out the public works proposals. —That the clergyman who refereed in the North and South Island football match believes " that nothing requires greater moral, intellectual, or physical powers than refereeing a football match." — That "Tommy Atkins" is to be allowed to smoke oft' duty in future, and to get other marvellous concessions. The authorities will yet allow Tommy to think far himself if they go on in this reckless fashion. — That the Prohibition people are working up parbizan feeling at Grey ' Lynn by the statement that the brewers intend to establish a hotel in that borough, and that the brewers ' have absolutely not the slightest intention of the Kind. — That the Southern police have been busy raiding restaurants for hidden beer. They have found several bottles, and, of course, it is a case of " sly grog." Now, it is proposed that they should raid the hotels, and prevent them from injuring the .restaurant trade by serving free counter luncheons.

— That John Endean ia known now as the Hauraki Freeholder. —That the post-election audit will be funnier than a post-mortem audit. — That it is time we had a Minister of Lands more m sympathy with the farmers. — That Dr Mason had a tough passage at arms with the amateur sanitation experts ia the Council. — That the burglars are as great smokers as Sherlock Holmes, but more Catholic in their tastes. — That the Britishers will have no time for a New Zealand brass band after having heard King Dick. — That there is a likelihood of a large ironworks in the provincial district being moved to Devouport. — That George Fowlds' face, when Hall-Jones said he had never promised to finish the Main Trunk line in 1904, was a study. And no wonder. — That times have surely changed with the City Council when only nine members turn up on the occasion of a champagne shivoo. Perhaps the others were ashamed. — That Dick Seddon is gradually nearing Auckland, and yet no public reception is being arranged. Where are the Liberal and Labour Federation and its Organiser ? — That it is a thousand pities that the City Council has spent all it» money before Councillor Parr's return with the new ideas he has picked up on his foreign travel. — That the bankrupt brothers Spitz, whose discharge is being opposed by the creditors on the ground that they did not keep sufficient books, could neither read nor write. — That the net result of Mr D. Lundon's first meeting at Waihi was a vote of confidence in the Government, passed by some twenty or thirty people. Not a very brilliant start. — That the people who are so eager that Mr Witheford should stand for Waitemata are evidently very anxious to get him out of the City contest. But Joseph Howard knows a game worth two of that. — That some interesting developments may be expected in connection with a recent fire up North. The police ar« likely to lose their sight looking for certain goods for which they are enquiring. —That there are troubles ahead in connection with the selection of labour candidates for the City seats. More than one of those in the running will refuse to retire no matter who is chosen. Let 'em all come. — That, at a Kaniera social to returned troopers the other day, a reporter wrote that the men were "alive with interest." The compositor did not, though. He made it read: " They were alive with insects." — That the offer of the Neuchatel Asphalt Company to form the Queenstreet footpaths for £6000 was appro priately accompanied by champagne and gifts to the Mayor. But what is wrong with our own asphalt for footpaths ? — That, when Councillor Hannan asserted and reiterated on Thursday night that there had never been any plague in Auckland, another councillor laconically remarked that there was always a plague in the Council while Hannan was there. — That an absent-minded suburban Mayor, who is also a lay preacher, put this motion at a council meeting the other day. "That all cattle found straying in this borough, winter or summer, day or night, be impounded from this day forward, for ever and ever — Amen.

Miss Nance O'Neil is the fourth " Magda " who has appeared in London. Signora Duse was the first to present the piece, and she was followed by Fraulien Wanrich, Mdme. Sarah Bernhardt, and, finally, Mrs Patrick Campbell. It was, to say the least, a little bit risky for Miss O'Neil to run the gauntlet of criticism against such a trio.