THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7695, 2 May 1903, Page 4

THE WEEK.

Wlio was the man who woke up on a niggerhead at the Lake, ' yesterday mornirig, and before he -could realise the true inwardness of things, blew into eternal smash three bran new decoys at 12s 6d each?

Trial by jury is the Palladium of British liberty and the corner stone of the Constitution. Any schoolboy will tell you that. There is no possible, probable shadow of doubt of it— no possible doubt whatever. That is probably why no civil litigants who have tho chance of refusing it, ever take any. They prefer the Judge alone — thank you' Not v quite so exciting, perhaps, but a good deal safer as regards justice.

The Victorian railway trouble is a- big thing. A lock-out appears inevitable. The defeat of the Commissioners ,may mean the downfall of the State Government. Should that ocour, the Federal authorities will have to choose sharply between Labour and it« opponents, or they will be in parlous case. The situation is dramatically interesting. Luckily, thanks to wiser measures, we are but spectators.

Future historian on the C^bok Islands: — The year 1903 was .a very memorable one for this group. It was visited by a large party of New Zealand law-givers, out on what" was called in the language of those days, " the razzle." Their strong domestic instincts, no doubt, kept them secure againsb all temptations. Anyhow, they were nob accompanied by either of those two greatest safeguards and blessings of civilisation, viz., clergymen or reporters, although they brought a vocalist and a pianist.

''Oranges, sweet oranges! Who'll buy my oranges?" ccmes ringing down through two centuries, sweet and fresh as those oranges themselves. We forget the -ugly realities of Charles the -Second's days in the charm of Miss Stewart's voice and presence. Like those oranges, too, the piece contains nofiiing that is not wholesome. The historical originals were probably " bad lots," bub their stage representatives at least do noil disgust us with the vulgarities and allusions of a modfern problem-play. There is no necessity for mental disinfectants immediately afterwards.