Newspaper Notions

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 42, 20 April 1901, Page 6

Newspaper Notions

IS the Emperor of Germany mad ? That is the insinuation con\ eyed in a recent pi ess cable message. — Napier "Telegraph " Here is rather a neat thing m addition and subtuctioii — 'The paison adds one to one and the sum is one , the divorce judge subtracts one from one and two lemam — Cartertoa "Leader." • • • As a member, the Hon W HallJones has proved thoroughly satisfactory to the people, and as a Minister of the Crown he has been as capable a chief as has ever presided o\ ci the Department of Public Works — Timaru "Post." A Universal Penny Postage Union should carry newspapeis at Ad per ■ioz. Failing this, the general adoption of the ordinary Australasian rule, Id for newspaper legardless of weight, would be an impiovement — Auckland "Herald." # * * Strange stones arc gaining currency concerning the Boer war, and some of the colonial participators theiem. Returned contingenters speak in whispeis, and say, "Wait until I get my discharge then I shall be able to talk freely." If these men aie to be relied upon, certain reputations that went up like the proverbial rocket will probably come down with a thud. — Taieri "Advocate." I never yet met a coal dealer who was not as pure as the driven snow. I believe that when a coal merchant dies he knocks at the pearly gate with the utmost confidence that his record will pass him in without the slightest cross-examination. I believe solemnly, also, that all coal-mine owners and managers are candidates for a harp on their native merits. — Dunedin "Liberal."

An immense amount of unproductive capital, estimated at some seven or eight millions sterling, is locked up in this colony, awaiting legitimate channels for investment — Hokitika Times." Queen Victoria is said to have left a fortune of nine millions Her largest investments were Continental. That should have been a powerful influence for peace. — Melbourne "Punch " Given a fair price, the rabbit trapping business should this year prove profitable to those engaged in it, for we are told they ha\e never been so plentiful as the' aie this year — Lawlence ''Times." There is consummate craft and cunning on the part of the Seddonites, in dangling Captain Russell before the public as "the leader of the Opposition." Captain Russell represents everything that is dead and gone m political opinion. It is Mr. Seddon and Mr. Seddon's supporters who have chosen Captain Russell as the leader of the Opposition.— Carterton "Observer." 4 ■/■ All journalists who know Mr. C. Earle wall be pleased to learn of his promotion to the editorship of the Chnstchurch "Referee." Although a young man, Mr. Earle has well earned his spurs, for a moie capable, scrupulously fair and conscientious journalist does not scratch a pen in the colony. — Palmerston "Standaid." * •* * It is the settlers in the country who bear the whole cost of running our lailways, with the exception of course, of that of the suburban and pleasure traffic. With the exception of those engaged in mining, whether for gold, silver, or coal, the graziers and farmers may be said to be the only creators of wealth , in consequence, they bear the whole cost of government, with the exceptions we have pointed out. — Hamilton "Argus." The Duke of York is coming, and huia feathers are all the fashion. The price of a single feather is ten shillings, and a whole tail is worth six pounds. The demand, as usual, cieates a supply, and artists are said to be busily preparing huia tints from the plumage of less noble birds. Even a hen's wing can, by skilful touches, be made to resemble the aristocratic huia, and the feathers thereof sold for more than their weight in gold. — Masterton "Times."

As showing ho\\ r Waihi is increasing in population, it may be stated that empty houses are an unknown quantity, and that tenements in couise of erection are secured before they are halffmished.— Waihi "Daily Telegraph." It is high time that the moneyed classes of New Zealand felt moved to help a little in promoting the colony's welfare, instead of merely considering how to put money into their own purse regardless of all other considerations. — Greymouth "Argus " If Easter manoeuvres are to be successful and profitable, a full attendance of volunteers ought to be insisted on. Apparently, a number of men in Wellington took a "fit of sulks" because no Easter Encampment was held, and theiy refused to turn out for a maich in the Wairarapa. — Carterton "Leader." Our political independence would no more become extinguished under the Constitution Act of the Commonwealth than it has been under the British Constitution, or would be by the giander act of Anglo-Saxon Imperial union. — Hokitika "Times." * * * Only a Minister influenced by democracy run mad could issue such a minute as is credited to the Minister for Public Works — that only trade unionists are to be employed on Government works in future, or, at all events, that no employment is to be given to non-unionists until all the unionists are employed. — Sydney "Sunday Times." * * * Go to any railway office in the country districts of New Zealand. They are lit up night after night, with men busy at makm^ up returns and furnishing information. Every month's end sees them busy till all hours of the night. The thing is a public scandal. Have the civil servants no rights that they are compelled to work seventy hours a week? — Southbridge "Guardian." * * * Unwept, unsung, unkissed by total female strangers, and unkissing everything that wore bib and tucker, the silent solitary Seventh stole hence to ratch De Wet or the family hymn book supposed to belong to his wife's halfsister. No oratorical fireworks were set off. Nobody unloosed the red, white, and blue British lion. Even Mr. Seddon was less gaseous than usual. — Gore "Ensign."

We hope that employers who want men for light work will bear in mind those who have fought for the Empire and sustained the honour of New Zealand's name in South Africa. — Blenheim "Express." * * * Now that the country districts are depleted of young men who are with our aimy in the field, the young men's sisters are taking their places at the plough pending the return of their brothers from the "front." — Auckland 'Observer.' * # * Whatever his bitter opponents may say to the contrary, Mr. Ward has been one of the most successful and moderate financiers that the country has yet seen, and if the success of a Treasurer can be gauged by his surplusses, he has given sufficient proof of this. — Waihi 'Daily Telegraph." * • • Our faith is great in the possibilities of progress — and in Mr. Ward's capabilities as Postmaster-General ; still we cannot rid ourselves of a misgiving that we shall have passed beyond the reach of cable messages before the inauguration of a sixpenny rate between New Zealand and England. — Eltham "Argus." Premier Seddon would certainly be a pow er for good in the Federal House of Representatives. He may have done many things to which the constitutional party in Victoria or New South Wales takes exception, but ho must bo regarded as a successful statesman, and one of the most powerful personalities in Australasian politics. — Melbourne "Punch." " * * Something hko a conspiracy of silence appears to have spread over Maoriland. Up to the present Messrs. Fowlds, E. M. Smith, and Hornsby are the only North Island members who have spoken since the prorogation in October ; while Mr. G. W. Russell is (so far as we are aware) the only South Island M.H.R. who has reviewed last session's work and dealt with the political position. — Chnstchurch "Spectator." Since his first accession to Ministerial honours, Mr. Ward has always manifested a keen interest in the welfare of his former comrades by doing all he well could to improve their position , and we make no doubt that every knight of the "key" in the service holds Mr. Ward's action in that respect in grateful remembrance. — Greymouth "Argus."