CASUAL NOTES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 215, 23 December 1873, Page 6

CASUAL NOTES.

BY VIATOR. It is strange that the inconsistency of Tinman nature should lead ns to devote those periods of time most calculated to remind us of Time’s lapse, to rejoicing and festivity ; yet so it is, and the general practice of mankind is to hold all anniversaries merrily. Christmas is still, “ Christmas, the joyous period of the year.” Its time-honoured practices are not wholly extinct; even antipodean appetites crave for the traditional roast beef and plum-pudding of our father’s land, climate notwithstanding. But then Christmas was and always will bo a time when the heart is apt to got the better of the more sober judgment. On all sides, the notes of preparation are already heard. “Will you take your Christmas feed with me '/” &c., is a general form of invitation at this season ; and if its politeness is not all that could be desired, an excuse may be readily found in its hearty geniality. Not being dyspeptically inclined, and, as Dr Johnson said, “ Sir, I like to dine,” I hope to .avail myself of the general hospitality ; and I trust that all classes, even the poorest, who, as somebody sings, Hardly all the year, Had bread to eat or rags to wear,

may be similarly treated. And to complete the philanthropic idea, let me wish your readers one and all a Merry Christmas. I saw lately in the English news, “that the idea of a general strike haunted the minds of the people on the continent.” I wonder if our bank managers have seized on the idea with a view to strengthen the movement. The strikes of the tinkers, the tailors, the bakers or sailors, are matters of no great surprise, as we might expect that these downtrodden workers would naturally wish to share in “ the increasing prosperity” of all things colonial in these good times. But it is really a matter of wonderment that such respectable institutions as our' long-estab-lished and flourishing banks should be guilty of “going out” on the price of gold, at such a time and in such a despicable manner. Faugh! They originally fixed and maintained the rate paid for gold, —certainly not a losing one, —and now, without warning or explanation to the miners, and in the teetli of a reduced gold duty, they make a serious reduction. They seem to arrogate to themselves a higher power than belongs to mundane institutions ; “ they give and they can take away.” But I trust the miners, by a resolute and combined effort, will prove to them the fallacy of such a belief. Had they only waited until after Christmas before issuing their ukase, the blow would not have been so severe. But they know that the miner—as, indeed, most people—requires current coin of the realm at the close of the year. Thus his misfortune is their opportunity, and 1 am sorry to see it has been meanly taken advantage of by our money-changers,—who, I will believe after this, belong to the same persuasion as the devout Israelite who said that “ Monish is the true god, and shent per shent hish profit.” Cannot our Mining Associations evolve a cure for this evil ? Any action taken in the matter will be strongly supported by the mining community, and I am sure the voice of the general public will be found on our side. If the banks will persist in this barefaced robbery, there are no legal restrictions to prevent us from uniting ior mutual protection. The co-operation of

merchants and storekeepers should be sought, and with their aid, the miners ought to bo able also to “go out” in opposition to the imposition of the banks, Mr Vogel promised to negotiate with the Victorian Government for the establishment of a branch Mint in New Zealand. This would doubtless be the remedy, and the idea is excellent; but lam afraid its realisation, like that of many of this gentleman’s dreams, is yet far off. Be that as it may, something must be done, and quickly, or the mining industry will totter from this and other rude shocks lately administered. The miner, like the camel is a patient and long-suffering animal, but it is just possible the traditionary straw may produce the same sad consequences in his case. The time is drawing near for the yearly renewal of the publicans’ licenses, and an opportunity will arrive for testing the working of the new Act. I was under the impression that the prohibitory clauses had been entirely thrown out—(those dreadful newspapers again !) —but on perusing Mr Fox’s address to “ the people of New Zealand” on the subject of his hobby, I found that the permissive veto on the granting of licenses is vested in two-thirds of the adult population of any district; the modus operandi being the presentation of a petition from the aforesaid adults—male and female, with the signatures duly attested,—against the granting of a license or licenses. This will, lam afraid, render the proposed concession.practically inoperative. I am of opinion that the Quixotic age has passed, and few, if any, persons will be found sufficiently in earnest to undertake the feat of “ belling the cat.” A “ round robin” would not, I suppose, be quite en regie; and so, what is possibly everybody’s business will turn out to be nobody’s business ; and “ hotels” will continue to flourish throughout the length and breadth of the land. By some singular coincidence of thought I find that Mr Fox holds, a somewhat similar opinion upon the whole question of grog-selling to that expressed by me in a former communication. He says he is “little hopeful of any improvement, till the whole power of regulating the liquor traffic in all its branches is placed in the hands of the people.” Just so ; I opine the “ sovereign people” have a perfect right, in these democratic times, to demand thispower; and as Oap’n Cuttle remarked, “If so, wherefore, why not ?”