NOTES BY THE WAY.

Western Star, Issue 1374, 24 July 1889, Page 2

NOTES BY THE WAY.

Rerengo is sweet! but Sir Robert Stout must be quite satisfied with the full measure obtained in the recent Invercargill action for damages against the Bank of New Zealand. It is freely asserted that the Bank of New Zealand was m unly instrumental in securing the; overthrow of Sir Robert at the last election, and although it is questionable if. from a pecuniary point of view, the big corporation ever did a greater kindness to a single individual than by thus relegating th; doughty knight to private life thereby causing him to confine his attention to his very profitable business, a defeat like the onr sustained at Dunedin Bast is likely to rankle in the unsuccessful candidate’s breast for years to come. But Sir Robert certainly had n big innings against his opponents in the action alluded to, and the Bank, and especially some servants of it, will not readily forgot the castigation then received. Ilf administered the lash with no sparing hand, and when reference was rando to a certain balance-sheet, the Bank authorities must have keenly felt the allusion, when he scornfully remarked that more than enough had lately been heard of bank balance-sheets. Unquestionably the Bank in the action was, so to apeak, “ given away ” by the branch manager, hut all the same to Sir Robert Stout was mainly due the obtaining of the swinging damages, and the Bank would show wisdom if in future they left him severely alone. This advice there is doubt less little need to give ; the touching of thpocket to the extent of between £4OOO am' 65000, besides immense loss in reputation, i. likely to be the very best of monitors

Infereutially Mr Goldie, one of the Auckland members, seems to think that constituencies having prominent Government supporters to represent them are favorer at the expense of the colony. Hr wants to know from the Minister of Works—“ If ho will inform tho House the terms upon which some seventy-three men were, through the influence of Mr Ormond, employed upon tho Woodville-Napicr Railway, thus relieving that district of a very serious unemployed difficulty ; and whether provision made in tho case ref rred to can and will be made in other districts, if so desired.” The Napier Charitable Aid Board in their annual report thanked Mr Ormond for obtaining for the district the concession, and thus the matter leaked out. ###*»# It is becoming more abundantly clear every day that, except for the slight assistance received from Messrs Richardson and Mit chelsou, Sir Harry Atkinson constitutes the whole team in tho Ministerial coach. Southland’s representative would not appear !<■ take any great part in running tho show outside his own department, to which hr devotes all his energies, and manages in such fashion as to earn tho. approbation of oven his political opponents. The estimable Minister of Works, Mr Mitchelson, if he docs not materially assiot hfs chief, does not try to hinder him, and certainly performs bis mission of conciliating the North. Of the other members of Cabinet the least said the better. Mr Fergus has repeatedly made it very apparent,—notwithstanding tho fearful amount of work which he assured his constituents that he, with the rest of his Ministerial brothers, had to undergo to bring about reforms, —that he knows nothing of his own or any other department of Government. No one would ever accuse Mr Hislop of brilliancy, but it should aji least bo ejfpe<?to4 tbst

he would muster the contents of any bill introduced by himself. When he delivered hunseif on bringing down the first Representation Bill, in which the cardinal principle was the Hare system of elections, the House were perfectly befogged to know what was meant, and it was only after Mr Saunders and Sir John Hall had spoken that the reforms the bill sought to effect were made clear. The “ Hairey” Bill, as one member facetiously styled it, was shelved, and the Colonial Secretary brought in another Representation bill, and as showing how mnoh he knew about what he was talking, he contraI dicted one member who said 25 per cent, deducted from the town was equal to 33J added to the country districts. This denial afca subsequent sitting Mr Hislop admitted was incorrect, and that it did represent 33* per cent. Of the Cabinet “ lords ” it can safely be said they are mere nonenitiea. Altogether it must bo admitted the Premier has a heavy contract. ***###

Descriptive of a marriage between two high dignatories in the Salvation Armv that took place somewhere in Southland recently a correspondent wrote.—“ The bridegroom wore a sash of yellow, pink and blue, and the bride a white sash” Nothing more, nothiag less. At least the correspondent does not vouchsafe to toll us if the-y had any further habiliments; in the name of decenov it is to be hoped they had. But the lari facts as penned certainly contain the gravest charge against the Army that has been recorded for some time.

ft would not do to place implicit reliance on the following little story as told by a Sydney sporting paper “ All Irishmen have a great love for steeplechasers—even the clergy are not free from this, and many of the priesthood dearly love a jumping hoise: at least Father Cassidy, of New Plymouth (New Zealand), does. Some time ago the steamer Hawea was wrecked, and on board was the Great Northern Steeplechase winner Allegro (owned by Father Cassidy), which, in swimming from the wreck, was drowned The rev. father, however, had the animal skinned, and with it covered a suite of furniture. She was a golden chestnut, and the skin thug makes a handsome covering.”—When the animal in question gave up this life, she was said to belong to a Mr Keith, who may be described as “ horsey of the horsey,” and it isoard to believe,the reverend father was shares in the mare with such a regular turfite, [t is, likewise, a stretch of the imagination to suppose the hide of Allegro capable of furnishing the covering for a suite of furniture.

. Justices’ justice is so often adversely criticised that it is quite refreshing to come across instances in which the. judicial wisdom of an unpaid magistrate is lauded in the lowing. the extract ; s froni Truth The other day, at Croydon, a grocer prosecuted three little boys for stealing oranges from an open box at his door. After hearing what evidence there was, Sir Thomas Edridge said that “the Bench would not make convicts of the boys if they conld help it, and the case would be dismissed on the parents paying Id each, the value of the oranges ; the prosecutor to pay the costs, 3s Gd.” Sir Thomas Edridge must henceforth be regarded as a Daniel come to petty session, J ***### What has that got to do with the great unpaid in New Zealand P it might be asked. Certainly it is a long way to go to hunt up a pattern and example. But there are lots on the "little list ” of the colony whose acumen none can gainsay, although on the other hand there are a great number on the aforesaid list who most undoubtedly “ would not be missed.” It is purely a matter, of Opinion whether or not the Justice in a country township, in this part of the colony, of whom the following little incident is recorded is one of those who would bo missed or otherwise: It was after spending an hilarious night with some companions the justice in question was called upon ths following morning to sit in judgment on his fellow revellers! He did so and admonished them soundly on the orror of their ways and imposed the fine prescribed by the act. Tbe delinquents were showing signs of indignation at one equally in fault with themselves, : thus behaving. Matters were, however, speedily made right.* The justice explained that the majesty of the law must be upheld; he would pay all fines ; and was sorry at the intenfuption to the festivities—which were to last for some days. After this there was nothing to be said or clone but for the whole party to repair to the haunt of the previous night and resume operations, j * *' * #

What is related above did not happen at Hindoo, hut it is to be feared that the last mentioned place is not the veritable Besabrook it was some years ago. The Magistrate in the days spoken of was supposed to hold a fortnightly court at Hindon, but for the business that there was to transact, he might safely have discontinued his visits altogether. Alighting from his buggy on one occasion, ha inquired of the police constable: “ Well anything to-day?” “Sorra a thing, your worship,” was the reply. The R,M. was getting tired of his weary rides for naught, and asked if the Hindonites ever misbehaved. The constable scratched his head and for a few moments gave himself over to thought; suddenly his countenance Tit up, and ho imparted to his worship the wonderful news that on getting up at daylight ho had seen a man outside the pub; by that time this fellow m ight possitily he just about fit; anyway he would go and ascertain. He went, but came back quite disconcilate; the man was as sober as a judge. ‘