A FEW THOUGHTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

Evening Star, Issue 3729, 4 February 1875, Page 2

A FEW THOUGHTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

No. 111. Whene’er I take my walks abroad,. How many bales I see. N 1 liitice with pride the efforts of the City Council, Inspector of hj Trs.anccs, Felice, and other clficials to mate 1 unedin a mode! city. The well-watched trotting round the corners, the excellent watering of the streets, and particularly the rule of the road and tho f otpath are admirably carried ont. It is only once in a while that jou meet with tome stupid individual who'will persist in taking the wrong' side. When I extend my walk towards the Oval, it is with delight that on a nice muddy day, such as is very rare here, I, on coming to the front of a certain wool store, leave the path and take to the road. It proves my hoot?, and I a:n always anxious to be certain that they are watertight, for they are protected with a , preparation of my own, Some sefish and disobliging people object to taking to the road— l am sure I don't. The storekeepers, so far as I am concerned, may pile the footpath house huh with bales, it shows tho industry of our sheep people. But I will add that should any impudent little chit wheel its little cart on any footpath oa which 1 travel, I will unhesitatingly and without remorse put the law in for e. In one case I step into the mud with pleasure, ia tho other x cry likely I should be put to the inconvenience of stepping over the obstruction. Our new Governor is ooming. The Auckland people approve of him. The Empire City says ho is a right one. Canterbury (English) above *ll, will endorse the verdict. How will Otago take him ? Wo have had a variety. Bluff old Governor Browne was liked; Sir George Grey we tried to understand; windy Sir George wo thought to chaff, but he is ironclad; and cur o ? vn Sir James, from Ayrshire itself-well, we hardly appreciated him. We approve of Scotchmen and Scotch canniness, but Sir James was a notch above it. You could not banter him ; it was useless to humbug him; and he would not bo bunded. The Marquis is 'described as a bluff old English gentleman, and the Marchioness as a nice, kindly lady. That ought to suit. But we will find a chink in the c iat of mail. There must and shall be a failing somewhere. By the way, do you know the origin of the Phipps-I' ormanby family ? Have you read the story of the Spanish galleon, with millions of dollars, fanned for years at the bottom of the deep sea, and the perseverance of P hipps, the ship carpenter, through hardships and disappointments, until he succeeded in finding the tieasnre, and shared tho wealth with royalty and was knighted? Head tho history ot the early days of Massrchusotts. There are aho somo interesting items on witch burning. * Exhiuit my genius for hi r Buslrrbout’s delectation!” I humbly and sincerely beg Mr Ru&habout’s pardon. I little thought, whusfc penning those few innocent words, tuai Mr 11. s feelings would have been so hurt, I, for one, do not doubt tho immense sacrifices that he has made, ihe drapers are ennll potatoes beside him. He ought to got out posters. Fever and death would be as nothing to a hero that winces at a mosquito b.te. The Palmer will be in dismay should ho delay much longer. I am sorry that I overstated the case. Mr Brown’s telegram i?, no doubt, specially intended to injure Mr ft- That delightful description of the graves by the roadside must be an invention, and, worst of all, it is mostly New Zealand arrivals who die. That ia fired directly at Mr i*. But the doctor bolting from L2 a visit bangs all. The doctor in the caricature prayed Heaven to send a pestilence, “That Thy servant may not die of want.” This one would rather die of want than of pestilence. I hope this apology will be ample. Some people have an inventive way of enjoying them solves. It is no common mind that would think of the original notion of destroying the trees and shrubs in an ornamental ground, open to the pub ic and for ds benefit. It is something to be admired and must be very pleasant to reflect ou at erwarde—the more so, as you cau com--mane with your friends on the subject, and share _ the pleasure with them. The City Council wishes to share this original and brilliant idea, and tries to bribe an accomplice for the purpose. It will be a source of regret to us all should he take the money. “ total number of emigrants during the year, 37,000.” Writers may blame Dr’Featherstoae and not approve of his method of seech vi; but there the fact stands that he hai shipped 37,000 people to New Zealand in one year. Admitting that out of the number a percentage are not the real M ackay, although some people may not see the necessity for it, they must live and pay duties; and the more people taxation is spread over the better for tho rest, I should sav. But, deary me, perhaps I’m a'l abroad and very selfish. borne studious political economist or disinterested working-man’s friend cou’d prove it’s the other wav Yours truly, F UM'ILITY.