BROUGHT INTO FOCUS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 436, 24 September 1880, Page 2

BROUGHT INTO FOCUS.

(Contributed to the Akaroa Mail.)

The correspondence that has been occupying your columns with regard to local self-government exhibits an unusually healthy sign, and augurs well for the future of your district. It is absolutely refreshing to see public questions extracting some show of interest from those most directly affected by them. The parties concerned are generally tho most indifferent, hence the present condition of this unhappy country. The old couplet— " For forms of Government let fools contest What's best administered is best ".— has been too long accepted as a truism without regard to its general'application.' Your correspondents must be complimented on the fairness of their different views; but when all is said for both County "Council and Roai Boards, the simple solution of the question itself lies in the social economy, of.tire various districts comprised, and the* rjatural cbpfiguration of the whole, in this* 4 way, "government by" County Council would be. preferab'e on the Plains, and where road districts were, so to speak, equal in extent and population with almost similar wants ; but on the other hand it might be most impracticable and undesirable in a mountainous district, where by natural circiimetancea the sub-districts were of varying size and importance! communication difficult, local requirements a-3 opposite as the poles, ;|and**iti the j management of which a large and expen- j

five staff would be necessary. This latter is peculiarly the en.so in your county, and Road Boards in such a case would seem to

more thoroughly meet tho requirements of each locality, and at a less cost in tho end, than would the machinery of a County Council. It is well, too—as " Bramble" put it—to think twice before giving up the present system, without duo regard to the pros and cons of what is proposed to bo substituted.

Experience has shewn that The Akaroa Mail will have its joke, but it out-heroded itself when alluding to Cr McGregor as a " new broom," and one that would sweep " clean 1" The idea of that old stager '"Mac" being " new " in any sense, or of "sweeping clean," is absolutely immense. His going in strong for economy where tho. public are concerned is no "new" thing, either. Some fifty years ago, more or less, " Mac" was attached to the Borough Council, and his paternal care pi the pockets of the ratepayers was such that he would not hear of such a thing as bye-laws being put into force. No, Sir, if you'll believe me, while .the Mayor and Councillors,' thirsting for some means of lightening the burgesses' pockets, and of ■adding to their revenue, were waiting over a year for tho sanction of the Government to thoso bye-laws by which they hoped to achieve their end, "Mac" had them stowed away in one of his pocketsj and would hot suffer the public, to be; thus tempted to any extravagance. It was a noble trait in his"character that lie' riever let any light shine on that charitable and unselfish :act. ( , There ;is probably some equally good and christian motive in his action agaihstany light r\o\V.i Who shall say? No doubt he has, it in his'mind to make it up to the Coroner for the 10 per cent, reduction by a few fatal accidents over the stone walls, or some other disinterested and humane pioject; such "a wee modest crimson iippcil flower" ha ,is, doomed to "waste his bweetness on the desert air." Alas, poor " Mas," we knew him well!, .

In lamenting over the troubles and worries caused by the Vagaries of female domestic servants, mistresses have not unfrequently alluded to a habit they have of, during their (the mistresses') absence, indulging in practice on the piano. -<' ; The following advertisement from a local paper shows how this pernicious -habit has doubtless been fostered:—"Wanted, immediately; a respectable, active young person, accustomed to general housework) for small family ; 5s per week and lessons in music, etc." One is naturally anxious to know/too, what tho "etcetera" comprised. " Lessons in music, etc." That must mean education generally/French, drawing, singing, painting, and what not? No wonder that the female Colonial help deems she is conferring a favor in accept ing her employer's wage for her services. Just fancy such a finished piece of goods coming into the ordinary house old ! Could one ..possibly expect her to clean one's boots ? ,She might even make it a sine qua non that you kept a piano in the kitchen and addressed her always in French ! Your dinner, too, doubtless would bo kept waiting while she mastered some." little thing of SpohrV," or finished a caricature of yourself and family in the home circle! It is a horrible thought !

ASBESTOS.