JOTTINGS BY 'CRINGLE.'

Globe, Volume I, Issue 90, 14 September 1874, Page 2

JOTTINGS BY 'CRINGLE.'

[Written fob the Globe.] " Kagtag ! Bobtail! Larrikins ! and Cabbies ! Gentlemen, —In compliance with your numerously and iuiluentially signed requisition, I have much pleasure in nominating Tuesday night as the one on which you can draw the badger. I know VPry well that so far as explaining their views is concerned, the meeting will simply be a farce, and you too desire that this should be the case. In my capacity I will merely be present as an onlooker, and without running any risk, may have the opportunity of airing my eloquence. To increase the attraction, and lay the animals on, the irrepressible William will be there with a magnolia in his ' kist.' Verdict—Sarved him right. I hear there is perfect furore in the camp of the bagmen, caused by the happy manner in which a writer has lately hit off their peculiarities. Many pleasant wishes have been showered on him, and offers of a good liue in duckings, and leather medals, of which they have several job lots just now on hand, if he will only favor them with the address. One member of the fraternity was heard lately to exclaim that he would wager a whole sample box of dickeys that he'd beat that fellow in fair down argument in just half an hour, and that any fool can write for a paper. I say, what a fine day's shooting could have just now, you can flush a covey at nearly every corner. I have heard the expression used by disappointed speculators, of " leaving the province and going to Kaiapoi," and was led thereby to believe that that must be a very rising place, but never dreamt it was such a flourishing city, until I read the following extract in the Australasian Sketoher of Bth August : —" The city members of the Kaiapoi public library, in New Zealand, have decided by 38 to 37, to open the library and reading room every Sunday."

I am told that a reverend and most sedate gentleman was made the unwitting perpetrator of a joke at a boating club meeting the other, evening. A number of gentleman 'ad been proposed for membership, and it was decided that as many of them were strangers to the club, the proposer of each should run slightly over the pedigree of his friend, as a voucher for respectability. Among them was a Mr A. Parson, and when his name was called, the reverend gentleman immediately exclaimed " Oh ! I'll answer for A. Parson." It was not until he heard the roars of laughter which followed, that he was made aware he had said anything very funny (for him). " Here the peasant and the King, side by side, lie withering." That such must be the inevitable end of all humanity, was always nay belief, and hence that somewhat selfish yet universal feeling of respect that death

creates, through the knowledge that sooner or later it will surely come to our turn. A circumstance, however, that lately passed under my notice has led me to believe that there are members of a certain profession who, for services long rendered, believe that "Auld Clootie " will create an immunity in their favour, and take them holus bolus to his parental bosom, that assurance saving them any loss of time in this life that would result; from paying deference to usages that obtain in more civilised communities. If, after the promise given, it was found that the postponement of business engagements would result in a monetary pecuniary loss, a little memo, to their friends, somewhat after the following, would, I take it, have been more agreeable than the studied slight shown : " To attending you when you called upon me with the sad news, 6s. Bd. To conferring with you when I promised I would join the corUge, 6s. Bd. To attending afterwards, and assuming an appropriate countenance, 13s. 4d. Total ."

What is really the ' matter 1 Are the foundations sinking ? have they been found too narrow ? is there a rent in the walls, and have a portion of the latter to be pulled down before the building can be proceeded with ? I am sure that if the Board were officially informed of the true state of things, and by that means the public, it would be found that these thousand and one reports are either highly exaggerated or do not possess the least particle of truth. He ought certainly to know best, but it was rather pointed. lam told that at a cricket club meeting held on Saturday night, several members complained of gloves, bats, balls, and wickets, having been stolen during the past season. At the previous annual meeting it was stated in the report that a quantity of hose had been stolen, which was afterwards restored ; no mention, however, being made of that circumstance in the report submitted at this meeting. One gentlemen referred to this, and the secretary was instructed to insert that fact in the report, which he —no doubt from conscientious motives—did as follows :—" And that the hose mentioned in the report as stolen at the last annual meetng of members ." It was rather hard though, and one would have thought that the annual meetings at least, would have been permitted an exception, to the exercise of established proclivities. It was unkind to say the least of it ; and it was too bad to give them all the trouble of going down the Perry road for white camellias. True love never did run smooth, but what must have been the feelings of the one when he saw the other fellow waitirlg at the door, also with a white camellia; and the feelings of both when "Am I not fondly thine own," was trotted off by a chap who hadn't taken half so much trouble to please. Never no more. Oh ! no.

A word more about the " Employment of Females Act." I have heard that some employers are under the impression that they can keep their girls working on Saturdays until six o'clock, as that hour is prescribed in the Amendment Act, and no mention made in it of the working hours on Saturday. To those who have read both acts it is needless for me to say that the Amendment Act only applies to five days in the week, and that clause 4 of the Act which enacts that " every female shall have holiday on every Saturday from two o'clock," and " any other day set apart as a public holiday without loss of wages," is left untouched by the latter Act. It has been whispered that one employer, knowing the Inspector has no power to enter his premises " after working hours," has openly stated his intention of doing just as he likes in this respect. I see that convictions were obtained on the 18th ult. in two similar cases in Greymouth under this clause, and I have great hopes that if this individual persists in his determination I shall hear of him again. " City rates.—During the past week the amount of city rates collected was £2ll Bs. The overdraft at the Bank was stated to be £645 35." A further confirmation of this most important news will be found in another column.