GENERAL NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1162, 15 July 1885, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

It is a good thing to have unlimited credit, but still better to have ready money at hand for emergencies. Baron Rothschild learned this lesson one day when he chanced to ride in a public conveyance abroad, and found out that he had not a farthing in his pocket. The driver was furious and demanded his pay. Rothschild told him his name, and likewise gave him his card. " I never heard of you before, and never want to again ; but I want my pay, and must have it." And he looked down threateningly. Tho money king was in haste. He had an order for a million, and offered the driver a coupon for 50,000 francs "to change" The driver started, the passengers laughed, and just then an' acquaintance came up, from whom he borrowed six sous and paid the angry Jehu.

In speaking of consols, most people think they include the entire national debt of England. This is a mistake, for there is only a little more than half of the debt, strictly speaking, included under that head. The name consols is, as nearly every one is aware, merely a contraction or term that has got into use in the brief way of speaking used on the Stock Exchange. The full official title of the portion of the public debt called consols is " The consolidated three per cent, reduced annuities," and they have grown to their present enormous proportions, some L 330,000,000 sterling, as indeed tho whole debt has, from comparatively small beginnings, by fits and starts, and though gradual processes of incurring floating debts to meet emergencies and the subsequent funding of the same permanent shape at low rates of interest.

At one of the meetings of the Blue Ribbon Army in Wellington, Mr Booth appointed Mr Wakefield, M.H.R , «' Stan-dard-bearer " in the House of Representatives, and speaking to the subject, said : — The indictment had been read againstthe liquor traffic just as it had been against human slavery. They had a law in New Zealand which was in advance of the public sentiment. What was wanted was a leader of the sentiment in tho Legislature, and he would that night appoint their Chairman (Mr Wakefield) a3 their "Standard-bearer." He demanded for this Colony a prohibition law which would stop the manufacture, the importation, and the sale of liquor. He asked them to write their indictment against it, and to vote — when the time came — for a beautiful home, a purer Christianity, and a more ennobled life. — (Applause.)

One thing corrects another. The remarkable series of earthquakes and volcanic outbursts of late years have caused scientific attention to bo turned to them as it never was before ; and it is not too much to anticipate that the day will como when earthquake shocks and volcanic eruptions will be prognosticated as certainly as cyclones now are. Since Mallctt and Scrope elevated seismology into a practical science, and rescued it from ideal speculation, it is astonishing what new facts and new relationships have turned up, and continue to turn up nearly every day. Mr Jail, a German geologist, has noticed in the well-known coalfield at Saarbrucken, that colliery explosions coincide with or follow closely upon earthquakes. He even ventures to prognosticate (upon what data he does not say) that June 12, July 12, and September 9, will be dangerous all over Europe. Perhaps Mr Jail means that the as yet unknown causes which produce periodical colliery explosions also tend to assist in developing earthquakes. It seems to be too early'yet to commence prophesying. It will be much better to observe with the microphone, &c, for a few years yet.

Referring to local industries, the "Wangaiiui Herald " has the following pertinent remarks : — The problem of forcing local industries ahead of their natural growth has hitherto proved too tough for most of our Australasian statesmen and financers, for the simple reason that the people themselves will not take the slightest trouble to help on the good work. Nay, they too often look upon the establishment of a nsw source of industry and employment as a foolish and wicked waste of money, prophecying its early downfall, and contributing to that end by never purchasing an article of local manufacture while they can purchase even an inferior one at a higher price that has the inestimable merit in their eyes of having been made outside the Colony. Year after year, New Zealand is bled of her very heart's blood to pay for goods she should bp manufacturing herself. Money is borrowed and hardly has it come into tho country before it is sent back to whence it came in exchange for things we ought to make on the spot, and is then relent to us, only to ba as speedily returned. Is it any wonder under such circumstances that the Colony is in a chronic state of impeenniosity, and its producers and traders struggling to make both ends meet ]

'•'A woman cannot do a man's work. No amount of argument can alter that fact. Some women there are who are physically equal, and mentally far superior to the average man ; but these are exceptions, and the rule is otherwise. Women who are obliged to work for their living arc not to be blamed for endeavoring to find new avenues of employment. Domestic service is for many too menial ; the nursery governess business is overdone and miserably paid ; and as a mean between these two, the Civil Servicw seemed to afford a favorable opening. But it would appear that after all this line of work will only afford partial relief. Ladies cannot bear the worry and constant strain of responsible positions, and must, therefore, be satisfied with places involving only a moderate amount of work. Such, at all events, seems to be the conclusion of Mr Todd, the superintendent of telegraphs in Adelaide. This gentleman has recently issued a report iv which he states that, while ladies do very well as post and telegraph mistresses in small country offices, where the work is light, they are unable to stand the anxiety aud actual labor of a busy office, and their value in the service is. therefore discounted. Happily we in Australia are not so hardly pressed, as older countries, in the matter of finding employment for women. There is not in these colonies an overplus of female population such as there is in England ; and Mr Todd'a report will, therefore, give no cause for alarm, but the losson which it teaches is worth nothing."

It would be an unbusiness-like proceeding. — Mr Co wen spoke of the direct and indirect benefits that would be gained by the ratepayers of Lawrence through the establishment of a flour-mill in the Borough, and requested the Council to treat the Company in as liberal a spirit as possible. — After some discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Cr Fraer, seconded by Or Mitchinson : " That the andtnat the Council agree to give a title to the land on .condition ; that the, Company give a biUmfefc^Lve mentn^for the * balance— viz., LIDO." Carried unanimously. — It was pointed out by several of the Councillors that the Company could apply at ",the expiry of the twelve , months for a renewal of the bill if then unable to pay the amount. — The deputa- { lion shanked the Council" for/ theT liberal dcew. r . v . v , «■•-»»• -. v »■■ After the rough mijij^tesjiid weii reajl the Council adjourned.