MISCELLANEA.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 156, 15 October 1872, Page 7

MISCELLANEA.

; At the time of the ousting of the Fox Government, a story went the rounds in Wellington to the effect that the Maori members | in the General Assembly said that they wished I to vote on the winning side, but that they : were told by the Ministerialist party that the Ministers were safe, while the Oppositionists ; said that their side would win. Not being : able to tell which side was humbugging them, : they therefore split their votes. In Brittany, a very curious matrimonial custom prevails. On certain fete days, the young ladies aunear in red *jeitieoat° with | white or yellow borders around them. The ; number denotes the portion the father is wil- ! ling to give his daughter. Each white band, representing a silver border, betokens 100 I francs of rent ; and each yellow band means ! gold, and stands for 1000 francs a year. Thus | a young farmer who sees a face that pleases | him has only to glance at the trimmings of the petticoats to learn in an instant the | amount that accompanies the wearer. | Sleepless people—and there are many in New Zealand—should court the sun. The very worst soporific is laudanum, and the very best laudanum. Therefore it is very plain that poor sleepers should pass as many hours as possible in the sunshine and as few as possible in the shade. Many women are martyrs, and yet they do not know it. They shut the sunshine out of their houses and their hearts, they wear veils, they carry parasols, they do all possible to keep off the subtlest and yet most potent influence which is intended to give strength and beauty, and cheerfulness. Is it not time to change all this, and so get colour and roses on our pale cheeks, strength in our weak backs, and courage in our timid souls ( Judging from trade advertisements in the Fiji Times quoted by a Melbourne paper, it seems high time that some civilised power stepped in and annexed the islands. A large number of these advertisements, offering wares for sale, contains the notification, "No Fiji Government notes taken." One, advertising an estate for sale, gives "the suicidal policy of the Fiji Government" as the owner's reason for selling. Another person, wanting to sell a public-house, says, " The sole reason of the owner leaving Fiji is the excessive and exorbitant taxation." Then, a lot of freehold properties are to be disposed of, "on account of the unsettled state of Fiji, through the action of the present Government." Another gives as his reason for wishing to leave the island, "the maladministration of the laws and excessive taxation." Mr Waterhouse finds, in the present temper of the Legislative Council, that it is impossible to carry his resolutions for making that Chamber an elective one, and has withdrawn them. Bearing upon the question is the recent resignation by Mr John M'Lean of his seat in the Council, —an event, insignificant as it may appear, having some political importance. Referring to it, the Oamaru correspondent of the Waikouaili Herald says: —"The lion, gentleman is unmistakeably'an honest politician, and what he says lie means and may be depended upon. He has not stated publicly his reasons for resigning his seat, but, by reference to ' Hansard,' I find that towards the termination of last session he boldly stated, in a debate upon the Harbour Improvement Bill, that the Council, as constituted, was not of that independent character that should make men ambitious to have a seat there, and that he Mould take no further part in legislation which could be moulded to any shape or form by the Ministry of the day. At the time, I, with others, thought this to be only an impulsive expression of momentary indignation, but he has kept his word. But I understand the step he has taken is not without a motive, viz., to call public attention to the fact that a nominee Upper House for New Zealand is a break on legislative progress, and the position of its members such as should not be retained by honest and independ'nt men. It would be well if other members would do likewise. Writing under the head of " Gambling," the Echo says : —"A French writer once said, —lf you wish to behold incongruities and contradictions, go to England : there you will see that everything has -its opposite.— There is too much truth in this Frenchman's remark. Most of the inhabitants of British Colonies seem to strain at a gnat, yet to gulp down live camels. Take, for instance, our laws against gambling. A man who plays 'Yankee grab' is ostracised, and a licensed seller of spirituous liquors who permits ' Yankee grab' in his hotel is fined ten pounds. This is the gnat. Let us go to a church ba;a:ir, and what do we find ? Whole nights spent under the patronage of the clergy, and the wealthy and respectable (socalled) citizens of Dunedin, in gambling. Lotteries of all kinds permitted, sanctioned, nay encouraged ; and the proceeds of the gambling go to spread the Gospel. Wherein

is the difference I If it is illegal to throw dice for nobblers, and highly improper and immoral, is it legal or proper or moral to have a lottery of baby-linen, and photographs, and smoking-caps I Lot our authorities he consistent. If gambling is improper, and we say we think it is, let it be put down ; but not put down Ivcaive it occurs in a licensed hotel, and sanction it because it is at a church bazaar. If gambling is to be put down, let our detectives visit church bazaars, and all church or other concerns where gambling goes on. And, bj -liu-bye, how is it that churches are not supported as of old ? Is faith a dealmercantile commodity now-a-days ? Fancy the Puritans of England, or the Covenanters of Scotland, erecting a church out of the proceeds of a bazaar, or asking contributions from those who held a- different creed. We an get-ting to be " nothingarians."