THE LOAFER IN THE STREET.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1735, 11 September 1879, Page 4

THE LOAFER IN THE STREET.

Amongst the many speakers whose addresses hare been recently published in New Zealand journals, Mr Owen Curran McGee, of Auckland, stands almost pre-eminent. In a spoech at Mr Buckland'a meeting, O. O. M. is thus reported : —" Mr Buckland said that he approved of the Grey administration, and admitted that when a cloud was hanging over the country he had come forth from his obscurity like a second Romulus or a second Numa f_loud laughter and applause], but yet had no confidence in him as a leader. Diverting his attention for a moment to tho applauding audience, the speeker hoped they would not flatter him, for such adulation invariably proclaimed tho presence of either a fool or a rogue in the assembly. [Renewed laughter.]" "Mr McGee's classical allusions are quite in his usual form, but in reference to the latter portion of his remarks I wonder what he would think of our public meeting adulations here. A man has to be careful how he goes electioneering in Japan. I learn from a Japan journal that the attention of tho Government having been recently drawn to the mischief done by "political lecturers," one of the stump orators got run in and sentenced to seventy days' imprisonment, " which," says the paper, " will give him time to meditate on the propriety of adopting a subject for his next speech, better calculated to meet with the approval of the local authorities." What a lot of time and trouble it would Bavo journalists and the reading public hero, were there some similar censorship over the public speaking section of our community. Talking of public speaking, have you noticed how the questions put to candidates increase in idiocy ? It may be that like the observations of the celebrated Capt. Bunsby, the point of them lies in tho or it may be that there mry bo some deep irony unintelligible to outsiders, but from meetir.es I have attended myself I could give you at least a column of questions put to candidates which give rise to grave doubts aa to the Banity of the propounders. One of the most remarkable instances of improving the occasion occurred the other day at a meeting of a County Council. The business, it is to be presumed, had been of a dreary kind, and at the termination of the gathering the chairman suggested that, as the meeting had been somewhat frame, one of the members present, who was a candidate for the district, should gi*e thom his views on political matters. The candidate said he should prefer expressing his sentiments at a public meeting, but gave them a short sketch of his ideas on political eeonomy of so original a character that the members wanted more. Bearing his suggestion in reference to the candidate in mind, the vote of thanks to tho chairman was, I hear, on this occasion aa it deserved to be, particularly effusive. The following appears in the advertising columns of a Southern contemporary : " Wanted, by a young lady, Situation as liady Help; in the cw>try pretorred. Apply, &c." What, have you any idea, is a Lady Help ? How does she differ from any other help ? Does she get higher or lower wages as a consequence of being a lady ? What in the " Help" connection constitutes a lady ? Is the advertiser a governess wanting a situation ? I ask the last question because the only other occasion on whioh I heard the expression " Lady help " was from a very wealthy gentleman here, who informed us that be paid his lady cook £6O a year, and his lady governess £35. Every accomplishment in both cases. From which it would appear that making entrees pays ever so much better than teaching music. And what a comfort it is to live in a country where you can be a lady in either case. Our girls will do well to remember this. In this town alone we could do with 400 more cooks and 1000 lees pianists. The difficulty of deciphering Press telegrams has been, I behove, referred to on more than one occasion by most New Zealand journals, and we are often amused by the extraordinary intelligence sent by wire from all parts. The " Charleston Herald " has, however, the best telegraphic item I have come across yet. The " London special "of that journal wires that "The insurrection in Hades had been suppressed." The Canterbury papers had a telegram some short time ago to the same effect in reference to Hayti, but tho Charleston editor no doubt thought that any intelligence bearing upon the other locality would possess more interest to his readers. It is reported in Maori circles, I learn from the "Taranaki Herald" that Te Whiti prophesies that he is shortly to have a conference with Sir Hercules Robinson, and if it does not result in the liberation of the prisoners, Taranaki will be visited by plagues similar or worse then those which befel Egypt when Pharoah hardened his heart and would not let Israel go. I should surmise from the above that the Premier and the Native Minister were shortly expected in Taranaki.

If one may judge from the Admiral's song in " Pinafore " the best recommendation a man can bring to become " the ruler of the Queen's navee" is to possess an entire ignorance of nautical matters. I sometimes think some educational dignitaries in this part of the world must have attained their honors on much the same grounds. A Minister of Education in a neighboring colony visited one oE his schools the other day, and elected to write a few remarks in tho inspection book. Amongst them ho says he thinks "if the attendance was more regular tho teachers would prduce better results." The kids reading the above lose confidence in a Miniator of Education who is shaky on subjunctives, and it seems a pity the Minister didn't get the master to express his views for him. We don't expect grammar in an Address from the Throne, but it would be better for a Minister of Education to show a knowledgo of the rudiments when ho goes round officially. I learn from the "Bruce Herald" that a resident in Milton, being unable to attend a certain meeting of creditors in Dunedin, telegraphed aa follows :—" Cannot join the happy throng ; take what I can get. Tell debtor to be virtuous, and he will be happy." The name of this supernatural creditor is not given, which is perhaps as well for him, but how I wish he would came and settle here. A man of this kind deserves to bo made much of, as a high class colonist and political economist.

Councillor Cass is evidently not a muscular Christian. In opposing half holidays being granted for cricket and football matches, ho described such pastimes as boyish and unprofitable, and expressed himself at a loss to understand how anyone could take any interest in such games. Tho eccentric Councillor should bear as he is borne with. The weekly discussions of the Council, of which Mr Cass is so'distinguih-'d an ornament, aro often very childish and exceedingly unprofitable, and yot tho public stand them. I have, I fancy, met with some cricketers and footballers who oould give Mr Cass about half a stone of brains eicb, and then give a long start to 100 Cass's. Mr Saunders docs not appear during the present election as Sir Geo. Grey's banker it appears, but somebody has got to part for that astute traveller's expenses. He has, I hear, announced that ho does not understand the principle of paying his own electioneering moneys. The Hinemoa being, I presume elsewhere engaged, Sir George travelled up by special train last Sunday from Dunedin. I don't know what tho cost of a special is for that distance, but I do know the officials all the way along the line blessed tbia firm friend of the working man.