MISCELLANEOUS.

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 280, 26 February 1874, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

It is a great pity that men cannot live like rational beings, without the reitraint ot the law being brought to bear upon them.. Only last week the magistrate at Waimate had to fine four men ter. pounds each for a brutal assault on a policeman, but the example made does not seem to have had any effect. The rowdyism and ruffianly conduct of many of the labourers is a disgrace to the district, and will have to be put down with a strong hand. The coaches are scarcely fit to travel in now, tilled as they often are with men who hare no sense of decency or self-control to keep their coarse impulses in check ; while the roadside public houses present a picture of degradation and vice, which is a scandal to our civilisation. We do not mean to be mealymouthed about these things, or to accept at a necessary evil what can and shall be kept in check at all events, if not altogether put down and stamped out. Travellers by the coach, which arrived from the North on Tuesday evening last, were witnesses of some such behaviour as we are pointing to. Some of the passengers were fair specimens of the rowdy of the period, and though very unwilling to blame the driver, we cannot help thinking that he would only have done his duty had he summarily expelled them from the coach. Although there were two women among the passengers, one of these ruffians conducted himself in a most filthy manner, and their behaviour, while on the journey, was enough to terrify and distress anybody not accustomed to herd with blackguards. When the coach arrived at* Geraldine it was met by a party of kindred spirit*, wanting lo delay the coach in order to drink with these beauties, who, having furnished themselves with an ample supply before they got in, were already in a semi-drunken state. This eouw was very naturally objected to, and a scene ensued whioh was most discreditable ; some of the men threatened to seize the horses, and one at all events showed a familiarity with the brutal practice of stone throwing, which i» very suggestive. Had the drivr r lost his temper, or any of the passengers given way to t very natural impulse to resent such savagery, the probability is that a serious assault would have been committed. We have before drawn attention to the necessity of having a police station at Geraldine, and we are glad to see that £500 kas been appropriated for that purpose. We know the impossibility of making •' a silk parse out of a sow's ear," and that cowardly roughs cannot be expected to behave like ieipectable men, but the authorities will find means to teach them that their place in this country is a very low and insignificant one, and that they shall^never be allowed to ride roughshod over decent people. We shall have some more remarks to make on this subject shortly.— Timarv. Herald. Speaking of offers of marriage thr re vas young Dickon, a fellow always playing practical jokes, lie nab once quite attentive to a Miss— well, call her Brown ; and finally, one evening, he concluded to pop, and at a favorable moment ho said : 'My dear Miss Man , n ill tuu be my wife !' Misi Mary sighed, blushed, hesitated. ' Will you ?' he repeated. ' Yes.' she whispered 'No you won't, 1 remarked the ohivalrio Mr Diukon, and got up and left. For this highly original pruitu.il joke 3lr Dickon b.is found it necessary \r> incur bills at the dolor's, the a, ofhrcaryV, fl>c d< nH't'e. at hi& tailor's, ami lLiuLs> old Biuwii is'an unreasonably haity old patty.'

Bell's Life thui vtfpn to the doing! oi few, the oeUbraUd finger playir at bilHa«U :-Up *o the pweent tune . Ini rha. played «.«»! rt'^H matohr. m#* town the mo* noteworthy o' a k ,fc t, ,->-• re. niy pM upon go William tfd**rct-, the ) mhman «-c >ifcpli«hed the rare break of 4*7. *' -* » nti[ wbwt vt ' r *"' u *?, n * rv part of the floo.-, . • vtiit .^»nic«) «.»• tro..i i'«o table A SJolbaZt u iiv ited » I net ap"« •'«• t-.b ... up-,. t baTket two ha«^ ,i pl«* «'d »nto j .. ropmo t h«, .. ,>m a ball. Ixar th. i. ,•** a "^ IIU ' tllt ' llB .^ "^ then immediate); ■■ ball m ,k« « . •.«.«. „th f '.,- b..'l in the hat. He then p. u - Hiw« !»..! ; olo^. together, nud parallel with the oiuhum, aad jjiatv^lo-* to relate, by L. M of hu fiuger and thumb, he effect, n^n cannon, in .ucce.sion. Now, m maoy «c aware of the difficulty in accomplishing » caunoo with tvo ball?, ther will hare an idea otthe uuaccou H fablt ' knack ' of Iztr. Sixteen glams and two hat. art then placed on the table and wonderful ta •aj, the ball i» made to trayer«e round the gla.se., and a cannon i. accomplished. ..... , n j . A story u told of a poor soldier having one day called at the .hop of a hairdreMer, who was bu*y with his customer*, and asked relief, rtating that he had stayed beyond luslrayo of absence, and unless he pould get a lift on the coach, fatigue and aeyere puniihment awaited him. Ihe hairdre.»r listened to hi. .tory resprct fully, aud gave him a guinea. 'God ble.s jon, .ir! 1 exclaimed the soldier *.- ton)»hed at the amount. ' How can I repay you * I have nothing in the world but this'— pulling out a dirty piece ol paper from hi. pocket ; 'itis a receipt for making blacking ; it « the best that was eter wen. Many a half-guiuea I have had for it from the officers, and many bottlei have 1 •old ; may you be able to get something for it to repay for your kindnes. to the poor soldier.' Oddly enough that dirty piece of paper pwid worth half a million of money to the hai.dret.er. It wa. no lew than the reco.pt for the famou. Day and Martin's blacking ; the hairdresser being the late wealthy Mr Day, whose manufactory ii jet one oi the notabilities of tho metropolis.