A FEW THOUGHTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

Evening Star, Issue 3743, 20 February 1875, Page 2

A FEW THOUGHTS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

Ko. VI. Is it not nearly time, sir, that we were supphed witn the proper allowance of prophesying on .he coming event? Time is passing. What will we do, sir, i. somebody does not tell us how to put our money on? I don’t know how you stand, but I am deluged with it, and feel itchy to do my little bit of sportive gambling; but as yet lam left m the dark. Former events •have so unerringly followed the tips of the prophets, that anyone laying out a “fiver” would l;e a “flat’’—{those are, I think, the pmper sporting words, sir)-to do it without consulting the Orange Blossoms and Cauliflower Heads and other simple and straghtforward gentlemen who, out of mere friendship, and love °r the goojl ()l*i sport, put themselves to the ..rouble ot hiding in ditches and peeping through keyholes to help people who have not such opportunities of kaowinglhe running capabilities of horses and the conditions of their stomachs. I would as soon think of not taking my lawyer’s advice—and what could be more disinterested } as to neglect the t'ps given hv our unknown friends. For have we not before us the records of the sound judgment and straightforward advice given in former times? How truly did Manuka follow the Melbmmm career cut out for him ; how unswervingly di I ’em ess answer to her prophets ; and has not Lnriine responded to a foot to the brilliant caieer carved out for her? ■'What more convincing proofs need we of the tipster’s foresight, and how cruel to be left uninformed ? Some ago our worthy R. M. assured us ue h:uJ hetm informed on trustworthy authority tnat our senators imported their own liquors' for the purpose of getting them pure and wholesome. Heading that, need I say that I was astonished to read in your telegram that a air V ‘ikelitdd, iM. 1.1. R. had made a sight of mmsclf. The precaution taken by the senators was surely intended to prevent such little accidents. Are we to take it that that was a specimen of the effects of the pure article? If so, I hardly think it can be called an improvement. Some of Mr Lnmb's friends could scarcely have turned out a better subject. Now 7 for a member of the Lower House—She did not bother about adulteration. “By the luverenc, I got Betty, a woman, who could, in thirty-six hours, stow beneath her belt eleven bottles of beer, a bottle of port, another of ginger wine, and a bottle of brandy, and yet bo nothing the worse, only a lictle sleepy and oblivious of the dinner hour.” Professor Black’s assurance that the whisky or gin anybody made was pure would scarcely be needed here. We are going to have a little treat—not exactly a convent scandal with Sir John Coleridge to take us behind the scenes, but an irascible little Pedlington affair. But let us be tmnikful for small mercies. Watch me, sir, that. I dou t commit myself—or rather you. Do I understand it that somebody said that some other body boned the collections ? I remember reading a few lines from a gentleman who I thought only complaine I that people—well, dr In’t exactly put their hands in his pocket, but looked as if they would like to,’ to see if he could not spare more—and were rather uncivil. If saying that sort of thing is the road to Judge Chapman’s on* must be careful. It doesn’t seem that the rule of giving the other cheek applies here. That is reserved for more suitable occasions. Can it be possible that at last Auckland is to be gladdened by the opening of the treasure house, Ohinetnuri? It looks so. Some of us will be lace. But perhaps Auckland will be true to her generous past, and if any of us should be left out by tarrying too long, she will kiuuly. as in former times, ask us to share her boundless treasures. How lavishly did she spare us her golden scrip. Mauy of us delightedly recall the memory of her generosity. We would think it unkiud did she not remember us on this occasion. I cannot allow Mr Allen and the Opera Company to leave without adding my mite to the gratitude we all feel for his kindness in entertaining ua. come to such an out-of-the-way place sis this modern Edinburgh to be a source of pleasure and delight to the outlandish natives, shows a feeling of philanthropy that ought not to go unacknowledged. How grateful. therefore, ought an eud-of-tbe-world place like Invercargill to be that ladies and gentlemen should put up with the inconveniences and discomforts of travel and climate to show them what delights people of more favored climes enjoy. I could not get a bouquet nice enough to be acceptab’e; but I won’t suffer them to leave without knowing my regrets. Should Mr Allen Vie troubled by the weight of his moneybags, in a spirit of reciprocity I will willingly attend to share the burden. Humility,