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Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 160, 18 March 1874, Page 3

T’ue Banks were closed yesterday In honour of Ireland’s patron saint. A cricket match wee Instituted—Constabulary against Civilians—which resulted in a victory for the former. The scores shall appear in our next. Captain Crapp, assistant district surveyor, arrived from the Wairoaon Monday. Be reports that the dray road from Ohinomutu to Tarawera Is being rapidly formed. The next meeting of the Town Board will be held at the office of the secretary on Friday morn* ing next, at 11 o’clock. We should like to see the settlers take more interest in highway matters, and attend the meetings of the Board occasionally. Perhaps it may not be generally known that such meetings are always open to the public. We remind members of the T.B.V. that a meeting—convened by Captain Norris—re the Opotiki challenge, will be held this evening, at seven o’clock, at the Masonic Hotel. “Bohemian ” writes :—“ I think ‘Gum Jigger ’ was rather hard upon the unfortunate drunkard. He was certainly eloquent on the cruelty and selfishness of a married man sacrificing his family to gratify a depraved taste, but he forgot to record the fact—for fact it is—that very many men are driven from their homes by tbs discomfort existing there. He forgot to mention . that in very many cases a drunken wife makes her home intolerable to her husband, who is only eager to escape from altercation and upbraiding arising from that cause. If the home is filthy, it is not, at least, his fault i and, perhaps, if the truth were known, a little more cleanliness and comfort would have induced him to stay at home. Gum diggers, Pharisees, Saducees, and hypocrites, lay the saddle on the right horse, and when you visit the drunkard’s home consider if a thrifty and sober wife could not have prevented or mended the * filthy ways ’ of herself and children, and tidied the house ‘ garnished with dirt.’* The end in any case is doubtless deplorable ; in sacred words, strong drink ‘ At last biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder.’ Charles Mackay, in his song of the * Gin Fiend,’ prophecies as a termination either the gaol, the workhouse, or the lunatic asylum, in these words—- * I have built three mansions high, Three strong and goodly houses, To lodge at last each jolly soul Who all his life carouses.’ •—The idea of a gallant young hero, expected to fight the battles of his country, being asked to soil his fingers with anything less honorable than blood is too much ; but soap, flannel, and scrubbing brushes! the demand of * Nurse ’ is outrageous. No ; to parody the language of Lord John Manners, *Lefc learning, wealth, and commerce die. But save our brave constabu-la-ry.’ (You will please lay emphasis on the last syllable in order to make it rhyme.) I expect that if the suggestions of ‘ Nurse ’ were adopted, the demand for paper collars, jockey club perfume, essence de bouquets, &c., would suffer serious diminution. Then what would the ladies say, if our models of symmetry, of uniform, and Day and Martin’s blacking were doomed to the ignominy of “ soap, flannel, and scrubbing brush ?” It is to be hoped

that we have heard the last of this, and that troublesome people like ‘ Nurse * will see the impropriety of interfering with the dignified leisure of so immaculate and elite a force.” l boße * a< *i eß and gentlemen who are in of “paying iu » sums ranging from 5s to -Us and costs to the revenue of their adopted country-for « h’isting in too much pizen, may not be aware of the existence of the following clause contained in the *• Public Health Act, 1872 ’: “ Every gaoler of a prison shall cause all inmates thereof to be vaccinated immeduttelp on their entrance, unless they shall prove sufficient evidence of a previous successful vaccination within See years, and unless in the opinion a^ dU J 7 J qJft ! lfle , d man th ® operation would be attended with danger to such person.” The operation of vaccination Is not a difficult one. Sergeant Nadon would soon become an expert, hiTchdm™ qUUe * ar ° Dr Armit *S® would waive

tbe following from the Auckland Star. It ought to be charged to the Town Board as an but ’ with OUr u " u *l liberality, we publish the lines in the •* local ” column ; ” Come, ladies, register your dogs, And don’t delay like noodles ; Or you will lose your yelping pets—xour Newfoundlands and poodles. “Come register your dogs, my boys. Pay up, and don’t be nettled ; For dogs not collar'd during MarchIn April will be settled.”