After Dinner Gossip and Echoes of the Week.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIII, Issue XVII, 22 October 1904, Page 16

After Dinner Gossip and Echoes of the Week.

An Encouraging Criticism. Unstinted and unequivocal admiration of our scenic beauties, our thermal districts, and our climatic conditions .we New Zealanders have come to look on as our right. Our capacity for complacent. ami rondescrn<ling consumption of praise on these points is unlimited, it never palls on our palates, and if it comes not off the tongue ot the visitor pat, why, we have no hesitation in, not merely fishing for the usual libation of laudatory remarks, but in demanding them on the stand ami deliver principle. Yet, of course, the zest of novelty is to some extent gone nowadays. Not so. however, was this tin* case when, after ft few months’ tour of the colony Rev. Chas. Hargrove, the eminent Unitarian divine, left on his return Home, via ’Frisco, by last Saturday’s boat, ( hatting of his export ’:zs just before the steamer left, Air Hargrove, after the usual remarks as to the beauty of the climate, the sights of the hot lakes, and the grandeurs of the South, observed that all these things he had heard of beforehand, and though they transcended every expectation, yet the greatest eye-opener he had had in the colony was the higher plane of intellectuality and culture which prevails in New Zealand to that which obtains in the provincial cities of England. In Christ church, in Wellington, in Auckland, and Dunedin Mr Hargrove found, he said, a degree of bright and keen intellectual interest in affairs of the day. an understanding of literature, music, and even ait. and an appreciative study of all these things, which yon would look for in vain in cities of similar size in the provinces of England. Now. this praise, delightful in every way, certainly possesses the added zest of freshness. Approval of our disregard of obsolete social conventions, expressions of wonder at our prosperousness, and the absence of visible poverty, warm appreciation of colonial hospitality—all these have been as commonly praised as the climate; but, on the side of intellect and culture most visitors have had little to say, while some have been rather contemptuous in their remarks. Mr Hargrove's compliments are, moreover, not vague generalities. Not merely on his own lectures does he base his observations, but on what he saw ami heard at musical, literary, political and other meetings throughout the colony. The colonial appreciation of Paderewski, for instance, amazed him by it- absolute depth and genuineness. No audiences in the world could, he opines, have shown fuller appreciation or more* sympathetic understanding; while a Shakespearian reading heard in Auckland caused equal wonder. It was less the excellence of the reading that impre-srd him. though that, hr said, was, on the whole, extraordinarily good, but that such a. largo and excellent cast, and such a big audience. should be got together in a city of the size and mutually display an appreciation and study of Shakespeare which could not hr stimulated exen in a city sinh ;»-■ Leeds (where Mr Hargrove has his church). That the compliment was spontaneous and sincere cannot be doubled, ami. moreover, tin* writer thinks that we may Hatter ourselves it was deserved. Many years' residence in the colony, coming after considerable professional experience of London nud provincial audiences, have conxhired me colonial audiences cannot be excelled for intelligent appreciation and critical acumen in any part of the world. And tin* number of well-read men and women is amazing when one considers how reduced arc our opportunities. In music we certainly shim*, and when further opportunities and facilities obtain there is no doubt we shall in the eml hold our own in art. Encouragement is always useful, and in the remarks of the Rew Mr ( has. Hargrove wo can. I think, find very substantial encouragement'

Those 80,000 Casualties. If distance lends enchantment to views we think pleasant, it also undoubtedly softens down those that are forbidding. We read of the combined losses of the armies of Russia and Japan almost without a tremour, and the living hell which must exist in Port Arthur leaves our withers, unwrung. Yet just figure it to yourselves—Bo,ooo casualties. No city in New Zealand has such a population, or even nearly approaches it; and all these either dead or suffering from agonising wounds. Imagine the long trailing trains of the wounded on both sides, the sufferings added to by the difficulties of transport, and on the Russian side aggravated by bitter sense of defeat and harassing fear of further disaster. No quarter, we read, was given, and the bloodshed must therefore have been frightful to think upon. What a picture must the field of battle present to-day; for it may be taken as certain no time can bp at present spared for the interment of the dead; while it is to be feared that, on the Russian side at all events, many of those whose cases were the most desperate may have been left to their fate, to light the awful battle with death gasp by gasp, and alone. Those wlio were in London in the early days of lhe Boer war. when disaster followed disaster, describe the state of London as terrible, the scenes round the War Office being lieartrending. Yet in the whole war there were killed in action but 518 officers and 5256 men. Those who died of wounds were 183 officers and ]835 men, and the total deaths, including disease, which played havoc with our troops, was but 1072 officers and 20,009 men. And here in a single battle these losses are far over passed, for one may confidently assume that in a bloody affray such as this full a fourth of the casualties means death on the field or from wounds. As for disease, how many thousands this accounts for staggers imagination. What, then, must be the anxiety and the sorrow isi the homes of Russia and Japan? It is perhaps well we cannot realise things that are happening so many miles away, for the pictures xv<* should conjure up would assuredly disturb the rest of the majority of us and poison even our waking hours with thoughts of unutterable hor4? 4-* 4» Hotel-keejjers and Temperance. The Bi.diop of Auckland, like his brother of Christchurch, is never afraid to speak his rnhid. however unconventional may be the utterance, and this quality will always gain them admiration and affection amongst a people such as ours. It was, unless 1 am much mistaken, BiMiop Julius who created some disturbance in temperance circles years ago by declaring good beer hurts no man—or words to that effect, with-the addendum that the brewer and purveyor of adulterated or watered beer should be gibbeted or hanged, drawn, ami quartered, or some sinh punishment to lit tie crime. Now. Bishop Neligan, though an advocate of nuinicipal control, states frankly and emphatically that the temperance party are making a decided mistake in not seeing possible allies for the promotion of temperance in the majority of hotel managers and proprietors. In his journeyings about the country Bishop Neligan—and ilis Lordship's capacity for covering the ground beats even that of a country candidate on the stump -says ho has found friends of true temperance amongst the majority of managers and owners of the hotels he has stopped at* There is little doubt the utterance will be unwelcome to that section of temperance orators who delight to paint the publican as the fiend incarnate, incapable vf all good, and

with uo desire but to make as many people as possible drunk. But, nevertheless, the Bishop is right, and so many who offensively caricature and libel “Bung” well know in their hearts.

No doubt in his travels the Bishop has usually been accommodated at the better class house, where there were two or more, and no doubt also an effort would be made to make affairs go as smoothly as possible during the stay of a personage of such influence, and so impulsive in speech; but a eleansing of the outside of the cup and platter would not. I take it, deceive one versed in tte sub! lies of hyocrisy, “snrooging” and clever pretence which lie in wait at every turn in the underside of a large and none too wealthy London parish. No. it must be the honest conviction of all who have travelled and who keep dear of prejudice that the average hotel keeper in New Zealand is not the deliberate tempter lie is so often pictured by our prohibition friends. Perforce temperate himself, the average landlord abominates excess, because —if for no other reasons —it is in the long run bad. for business. A house where heavydrinking goes on will very quickly be avoided by the vast, army of moderate drinkers, who are the main source of regular profit. This is even true of such hotels where the “bar trade” forms the greater source of revenue, and how much more, therefore, where the accommodation of guests is the main consideration. < )f course there are exceptions; there are "bad eggs” in all trades, but Boniface, as a rule, is not the man temperance fanatics would have us believe, and is capable, as the Bishop has said, of helping forward the cause of true temperance. The astonishing reduction in drunkenness in Liverpool during the last few years is due solely and entirely to the combination of the temperance and trade forces. Space will not here permit of a description of their tactics —suffice it to say disreputable drinking shops were closed, heavy reductions were made in second class houses, and the results recently cabled arrived at without friction or unjust loss to individuals. One trusts note may be taken of Bishop Neligan’s suggestion, and that good may come thereof. ♦ * * Can Dogs Reason ? A true dog story sounds almost too good to be true, but I have unearthed one here in Auckland which I hope will be received with the credence and respect it deserves. Its claims to the gentle readers consideration depend not only upon its veracity, but also upon its value to psychology. A great rumpus has recently been raging at Home round a defunct dog, which belonged to Mr Rider Haggard, the famous author. Doggie had been awav froin home several days when, one night, his sorrowing master had a vivid dream. He saw a railway crossing and an approaching train. A dog tried to cross the line, but fell under the engine and was killed. Mr Haggard reccgliis'ed the crossing, and next day set off for it, and there sure enough was his long-lost canine lying stiff and stark alongside the line. Mr Haggard called it telepathy, while other people called it a coincidence, or even harder names. A great newspaper correspondence war ensued, and may be raging yet for aught 1 know. My dog story has nothing whatever to do with such stuff as dreams are made of. It is more substantial. There are two dogs in it, several people, and all the incidents took place in broad daylight. The other morning a friend of mine—of course his name was Brown—scrambled out to get the milk or his paper or something of the kind, and on opening the door was met by a couple of months of round fluffy collie puppyism, which was evidently annoyed, for it snarled and yapped, and turned itself into an animated Catherine wheel, and would not be comforted. Brown made one or two efforts to strike up an acquaintance, and then passed the matter on to other members of the household. Pup condescended to come inside, and suffered (under strong protest) his neck to be encircled with the pet collar of a small Irish terrier who was the pride of the household. When the lawful owner of the collar arrived on the scene and saw to what base uses his property had been put he threw etiquette to the winds,

and even forgetting that he was the host, sailed for the little stranger in a manner that was most pointed, not to say rude. After a while some of the members of the household succeeded in cooling his wild Irish blood. A deep quiet came over him. He sat d-jun and eyeing the interloper plainly and palpably thought. A few moment passed, and then Irish made friendly advances. These were frigidly rejected. Irish, now very much subdued indeed, did some more thinking, and then deliberately walked outside to a spot where he keeps his own particular treasures, rooted round till he found the remains of a piece of bread and jam (for which he has quite an infantile fondness), and, taking it up -gingerly, in his mouth, he trotted back into the house and laid his offering at the feet ef the unsociable eollie pup or as near as he could approach that desired spot for snarls and snaps. If this was not a deliberately-planned and carried-out attempt at conciliation may 1 never own another dog. The proper ending to this pretty little tale would, of course, be that the heart of the stranger was so touched at this mark of affection that he relented and wept on the neck of his Irish friend, but this being a true story, I regret 1 must disappoint some of my. readers of the "and lived happy ever after” kind. When 1 last heard of the pup he was still obdurate to both kindness and crusts.

A Cynic’s Opinion of the Premier. There may reasonably be two opinions as to whether Mr Richard Seddon’s twenty-five years, in Parliament fourteen of them in office and twelve in the Premiership—have brought any political advantage to New Zealand, says a caustic writer in the ’’Australasian. ’ Have the 180 bills which have been passed on his initiative really advanced the colony one step along the road of true progress? Has not Mr Seddon rather bung dexterously on t-o the skirts of advancing material prosperity than been a cause of that prosperity? These are questions which may well be asked, and to which different answers will be given from varying political standpoints. What all will concede to Mr Seddon are the marvellous gifts of leadership which he has displayed; inexhaustible tenacity, boundless fertility of resource, keen judgment of character, determination to keep on top and to suit all things to his purposes for that supreme end. Probably no political chief in the world has worked more constantly by the Frenchman’s motto, “1 am the leader of this crowd, so I must run after it.” He has a sure eye for the main currents of public opinion, estimating their flow by many small indications. He has never been troubled by rooted prejudices or strong convictions, but has always held himself ready to give the people whatever he is certain they want. An hotelkeeper himself at the time he entered Parliament, he never dreamed that it was his duty to stand by the trade as against public- sentiment, and so he has been led to sanction the strongest anti-liquor legislation in the world. At one time he was as much opposed to women’s .suffrage as he has allowed himself to be to anything, but he gave it to the people as soon as he saw they were determined to have it. No champion of lost causes, he has no gospel save that of success. Long before any cause can be hopelessly lost, he is amongst it opponents. It is as an “eleotioneerer” and a Parliamentarian that he specially excels. His whole existence may be described as one long canvass. No point in the game is ever missed by him. Nothing is too minute for his memory or his attention which may serve bis cause in Parliament. No orator, be has yet learned by constant practice to speak fluently, and on occasions forcibly. A remarkable man he well deserves the honours paid him on the completion of bis qnarter-cenlury of Parliamentary life. ■fc £> £ Trustees’ Powers. If you have vacant land which may by any reasonable chance become useful for building purposes, be careful as to the terms of your will. You might suppose that when you give all your assets to trustees, with directions to let your

wife have the ittcame fat her life far the benefit of herself and yoatr children, and .with the farther instruction that the property U to be said at the death of year widow and divided, you have aaid all that is requisite. But mere direc* tions of U>i» sort confer upon trustees only limited powers. For instance i(writes “Lex" in “Legal Decision”), suppose the estate consists partly of vacant land near a city or township, it is obvious that as time goes on it will be expedient to put that particular property to some more remunerative use than the cultivation of cereals or the depasturing of stock. In ether words, there may be great potential benefit to your estate in the existence of a power to build on the land, and to erect shops or residences for letting. Yet, under a will of the kind mentioned, the trustees would have no authority to make any such outlay, however dear the advantage, to the estate of such an expenditure might be. The appointment of trustees and the vesting in them of property on trust does not make them the absolute owners, even in the limited sense of tlie term involved in. the. notion of a trust. To enable them to spend money of the estate in improving the trust property you must give them express authority to do so. The same rule applies with regard to station properties in particular. Unless appropriate words are used, trustees, though told to carry on the business, could not effect special improvements required for carrying on the business to the best advantage. It is true that the Court has assumed in some extreme instances power to make outlays, but this is only on what is called the “salvage” principle. For example, where a station property will be greatly depreciated, unless it is wire-netted to keep out vermin, the Court will authorise such an outlay. 'But that is done, not by way of sanctioning an improvement of the property, but because without it the property would be rendered practically non-pro-ductive of income, and so the Court assumes an implied power of preservation, as if it had been actually expressed in the will. A prudent testator considers all these points, and many kindred ones, in drawing his last will and testament.