LAMENTATIONS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2406, 21 December 1881, Page 3

LAMENTATIONS.

To the Editor of the Globe. Sib,—As lam a true-born Englishman, according to Daniel Defoe's compound (no relatijn to the lost tribes), I olaim the privilege of grumbling, The first subject of my lamentation is the railway fare (second class) between Ohristchuroh and the Port of Lyttelton. My idea is that the said port is, as it were, part and parcel of Ohristchuroh, andevery facility should be given to the inhabitants to pass to and fro. In this instance the enforoing of the charge of twopenoe for every mile or part of a mile is not reasonable. The measured distance is set down as six miles and a quarter. It would be more convenient to the inhabitants to drop the twopenoe oharged for the quarter, and make the oharge an evon shilling, as formerly. It would pay the Government better and oblige the public. No doubt there would be more trouble and wear and tear; but certainly public oonvonienoe should be studied as much as possible In London a person may be oarried a few miles for a penny or twopenoe. Why so ? Because of the immense traffic. The penny postage now produces a larger revenue than the old high oharges did. Io it reasonable to compare Christohnroh and Lyttelton with Raneiora and Baloaim ? On the first New Tear's Day after the prioo was raised, I, from motives of curios I/, watched the proceedings at the railway station. Notioe was given that persons wishing to travel must be provided with change. The notice was of little avail. The consequenoe was, that there was a oontinual cry of " I have lost my change !" Scores of females, perhaps hundreds, lost their ohange on that_ day—a rather serious matter for a young girl who has to work many hours for a small euro. The railway employes wero not to blame; in spite of the extra twopence, the crowd was great. But, sir, I say emphatically i hat the extra twopence and the change botheration have kept thousands from travelling on that line. My next causa for lamentation is the advance in the price of subscription to the public oiroulating library. There seems to be a mystery conneoted therewith. My own opinion is that there should be a slight infusion of the popular element in the governing body of the College. It would be well that the public should bo informed whether the extra oharge is to secure a certain soleotness or not. Certainly there is not the same bustle there used to be at the library. Quietness and order seem to prevail. With regard to the books, whoever has the ordering, there seem to be with every paroel which arrives, a considerable number of a very , anoient " appearance—(shelf sweepings.) The slight infusion of popular element might also be of use with regard to the reference library. The present governors are very respeotable gentlemen, but mostly rather private. Acoesß to the library should be easy to any person who could produce the recommendation or guarantee of any respeotable merohant or other well-known settled inhabitant. Another canoe of lamentation to me is the tendenoy to pervert language and use words improperly. Take for instance the word " magnificent" (splendid and grand). An auctioneer advertises magnifioent potatoes or a magnificent quarter-acre seotion; another person speaks of a magnifioent fiddler. A great number of words are improperly used. Another instance is the word "carnival." In many Roman Catholic countries it is customary to have a great feast just before Lent commences, when they must Did farewell to flesh for a season, henoe the term " carnival" (Lat. carni vale), farewell to flesh. In Dunedin they call a masque ball, at any time of the year, a carnival. Others, again, will call the selling of a lot of fancy goods a carnival; though what Buch a proceeding has to do with bidding farewell to flesh is beyond my comprehension. Want of space prevents me from giving other examples of perversion. Yours, &c, JOHN BULL.