Minor Matters

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue XXII, 3 June 1899, Page 767

Minor Matters

The tenacity with which the old Home customs, brought out here by the early settlers, are adhered to in the country districts and towns of Otago has often been the subjept of comment, observes the Dunedin ’Star,’ and some of these customs still being observed must excite wonder and astonishment in the minds of many to whom they were quite familiar in the days of their youth, but who have now lost regard for them through years of residence in larger and more Cosmopolitan communities. One of these old-time Scottish customs has just been brought under notice, and it shows the survival of the old Presbyterian spirit. We refer to the observance of the sacramental fast in the Waikouaiti and Palmerston districts yesterday. This fast has been regularly observed twice a year from the commencement of the settlement, or, at least, since the establishment of the Tresbyterian Church in that part of the province, and it is one of the few places where it is still continued. It was dropped in Dunedin many years ago, and fast days, so far as Presbyterians are concerned, both here and in Scotland, are almost things of the past. The Scotch fast day was instituted as a day for ‘fasting, 'humilia■tion. and prayer,’ and always fell upon some day of the week preceding the yearly or half yearly Communion Sunday, and was observed exactly as a Sunday, with sermons in the churches and the complete cessation of business.

A visitor from ‘the other side’ has been much struck by the meanness of New Zealand women in certain particulars. She is more especially scornful of the theatre-goers for not tipping the cloak room attendants, and observes: It is always my habit, and the habit of ladies generally in the Sydney and Melbourne theatres, to give something to the caretaker of the cloak

loom for her trouble in looking after the things. It involves a great deal of trouble and care, and the caretaker gets absolutely nothing from the management. It is the very height of meanness for large numbers of socalled ladies to sneak out of the room and never give a cent to the woman in charge. I believe that is the almost universal practice in New Zealand. It is very different with the men. They rarely or never leave without giving the cloak room keeper something to recompense him for his trouble and time.

’Diogenes,’ writing from a modest township, not a hundred miles away from Gore, indulges in a growl thus: — ’Sam Slick confessed in friendly confidence that it was solely due to his artful play on what he called “human natur’,” that he had managed to sell 15.000 of his clocks in Nova Scotia, chiefly in households where they were not wanted. Now. although other people besides Mr Slick plume themselves upon their knowledge of the weaknesses of “human natur’,” no class or individual ean manipulate so skilfully or profitably upon it as travelling showmen—not even the Right Honourable Richard Seddon, P.C., D.C.L., etc., whom slanderous tongues will insist upon classing in the same category. But the Right Honourable gentleman is not a patch to them. A caravan of young bears, well up in the art of boxing, monkeys with refined manners, and a pig or two past the First Standard, will invariably draw greater houses than either Mr Seddon or Demosthenes himself in the flush of victory could do. An exhibition here of that kind on Tuesday night, at 2/ per head, drew a crowd of admiring spectators from fourteen miles round! What other magnetic power could do the half of it? Yet unkind critics from abroad maintain that colonials are profoundly trifling in their tastes and amusements! Come and disprove it by a lecture on Poli+i<”d Economy.’ ♦ ♦ ♦ An old Invercargill boy, Mr Harry Sproule, treasurer of the Melbourne Theatre Royal, had a startling experience the other night in the heart of the city, at the entrance of the Bank of Victoria, in Collins-st. It is Mr Sproule’s nightly custom to take Mr Bland Holt’s receipts to t'he bank, and, as usual, he stepped into a cab driven by a man named Vining. The vehicle was brought to a standstill alongside the kerbing, opposite the bank, and Mr Sproule, stepping out, hurried to the door and rang the bell. He still had his hand on the knob when a man, whose presence 'he had not previously noticed, suddenly appeared, and. closing with him. attempted to wrench the bag from his hand. Mr Sproule held firmly to the treasure, and a fierce struggle ensued, which continued till the cabman came forward and struck the robber a heavy blow on t’he face with his whip. This caused him to desist, and he ran off. but was pursued and captured. He gave his name as Michael Brennan, and his age as 34 years. Accused admitted that he had been out of gaol only a week, after serving a long sentence.