Wellington Notes.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2099, 1 August 1887, Page 2

Wellington Notes.

The principal political event of the week baa been a glore fight which came off in the Opera House on Tuesday night. The Opera House was crowded from floor to ceiling. Tis thus we improve the tone of the youthful New Zealander, and 'lie thus wo fit him to become a member of the House of Representatives of the future. I did not go to the shew myself. bat I was told that even as an exhibition of science it wes e very poor affair, a gate-money Hale only. It is, however, somewhat surprising that prize-fighting (for it is nothing elee) which is looked upon m utterly played out in England should have anrvived, or the taste for it should have survived, in enlightened New Zealand. Prise fighting died in England immediately after the fight between Heenaa and Sayers, and was buried when the leet mentioned game bull-dog finally handed in bis cheeks -done to death by over -training and bad rum. Spar* ring, as a means of self defence, or ae a private exhibition in a gymnasium may be all right enough, but I most say these " professional ” affairs seem to me demoralizing and useless, e • •

There has been a meeting here of old eoldiera and volunteer* with reference to their claim* for land, and pitiful tale* some of them told regarding the method* in which those claim* had been barked. It appear* that men who, to earn their living, moved out of the districts in which they had claims to land, forfeited their right*, and every advantage has bees taken of the moet trilling breach of the regulation*—many of which regulations the men were unacquainted with. These old loldiers now talk of returning their medal* to the Govern* ment, but it would take a lot of that kind of thing to shame the present Government. They wonW only mett the medal* down to pay interest on loan*. They have no farther a*e for the soldiers, and gratitude, a* we all know, is simply a lively sense of favors to oome. • on

Hie New Zealand Times of Hiur*day (July 28) has an evidently inspired article on the aubjoct of the late attack by armed police open the Hau Han religionists at Okihaa. The paper in question dunk* the Native Minister has been very unfairly at* tacked and proceadato state that it (The Timm) haa * full partioabM from an independent source/' and then proceeds to give precisely similar details to those with which w» are acquainted, winding np withe declaration that there haa bean no ondne severity. Ido not know what tho New Zealand Timas may consider 1m uvsrity, bnt lam certain that had a number of armed police been soot by ! a Minister to arrest any body of white 1 religionists against whom no offense . had been proved, a bowl of indignation I would have gone through the land in which the Times would certainly have taken its share. Hie anger of the Natives was aroused by iaterfcrenee with their religions ceremonies or theories, and in a land of universal religious tolerance the polios had no more right to wound the religions susceptibilities of the Natives than they would have had to wound the religions susceptibilities of the Bishop of Wellington. Mr Ballanoe’s One Polioeman Policy has been a good deal laughed at Had ha aeat hia one policeman in this ease and an interpreter there wonld have been no fracas. Unfortunately on tho ona occasion on which bis One Policeman Policy would hare been sensible and dignified, he sends a soon armed to the teeth and pining for a free fight • • •

Oar burglar scare baa died away, bnt the scoundrel has never been caught. A lot of people however believe in him—a lot don’t. • • • The fellow that jerks the Colonial telegrams on the English side is a wonder. He is always thrilling os with something we never knew and did net want to know. Lately he made our hair rise by informing os that Lord Charles, The Lordkoowewho had resigned his position ae Junior Naval Lord of something, because he had committed a breech of etiquette at a recent naval review. This of course was very terrible, end we pictured the noble Lord knocking down poor old George, Doha of Oem» bridge and bis umbrella, or thumping the Senior Naval something, or perform* ing some similar mutiny. By waMag however, we eventually discover that the noble junior "imply telegraphed to his wile (Her Msjmty being om board at the time): “ Deer Ml, mem me after the Review. We'll have oysters for dinner!" And tins is the kind of slosh they cables few Bile* for mt edidsatwn i