Newspaper Notions

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 45, 11 May 1901, Page 6

Newspaper Notions

WHEN Cuba-street was definitely struck out of the reception progiamme, there was an insurrection there which even the Holmes' oii-can could not quell. — Masterton Times." * » • Mr. Hutchison's retention of his seat in Parliament is an injustice to this constituency, without a single compensating advantage. — Hunterville "Express." * ♦ • There is so much doubt in Feilding as to the accuracy of the census returns that a proposal is on foot to have a private "numbering of the people." — Opunake "Times." # ♦ • The Colonial Treasurer may well feel proud and satisfied at the result of his first appeal to colonists for funds for the prosecution of Public Works. — Coromandel "News.." ♦ • • We would be near the mark if we predicted that Mr. Ward will shortly succeed Mr Seddon m the Premiership, the latter gentleman proceeding to England to accept a position in the Imperial Council now in course of incubation. — Reefton "Times'." • • • A slip of the pen occurred in the leading article yesterday morning on the subject of the proclamation of the Hokitika river. Instead of "No one can gainsay there is no gold in the Hokitika," it should read, "that there is gold in the Hokitika. — Hokitika "Times." • • • Edward of England wants to be called both emperor and king. He has drawn a full hand of titles, although he waited a long time for the lucky cards. Now he desires to be addressed as "Your imperial majesty." How would "Your royal flush" do as a substitute 9—Kansas "Times." The Minister of Railways should be allowed no peace until he takes ih hand the work of the deviation of the Rimutaka line, and the whole puopulation of the Wairarapa might join in an united effort to make his life as miserable at- possible until he accedes to its most todsonable request in this respect. — Ma&terton 'Star.'" # • • There is a rumour current in Wellington that Mr. Seddon does not intend to stand for re-election in New Zealand, as he has been asked to go to England and contest a seat in the Butish House of Commons for his native place, St. Helens, Lancashire. Very like a whale. — Greymouth "Argus." • • ♦ We arc inclined to think that our coming visitors will not thank Lord Ranfurlj' for his fussy and altogether unwarrantable interference with the desire of the colonists to see the royal pair and to have them present at various public functions. — Blenheim "Express." • • ♦ And so, it appeals, ex-Judge Martin could thieve Simms of his wife, and, in doing so, make his children motherless, despoil his home of what should be its brightest treasure, and after doing all this the punishment is — costs on the highest scale. All which goes to show that the theft of thy neighbour's wife does not stand in the same category as the theft of his ox, or his ass, or anything else that is his. — Chri&tchurch "Spectator." * * * The colonial troops have made thenown reputation, and are always the first hurried to the front, as witness Lord Kitchener's cable of last week to the effect that the Sixth New Zealand Contingent, in Sydney only the other day, had assisted to take Pietersburg — the very forefront of the present British advance. They must have been rushed by specials right to the front immediately on landing. — Sydney "Mail." ♦ • * Tlieie bhould be no question of crowding in this large isle, with so small a population. There is plenty of el-bow-room if we are permitted to use it. Let it be unnecessary for the people to climb stairs to their numbered flats, and make it possible to retain in imagination, at least, the fact that an Englishman's, home is his castle, and that a flat can never he either a man's castleor "home, sweet home." — Auckland "Observer."

Athletics and gymnastics are not sufficiently indulged in by the people of tho colony. — Manaia "Witness." * * » The burning desire to obtain land for settlement was never more apparent than at the present time. — Dannevirke "Advocate." * * • It looks as if the other Powers will have to give Russia a thrasliing before the Eastern trouble is over. — Sydney "Sunday Times." * * * The insurance companies themselves are to blame for a large per centage of the fires which cut into their profits so greatly, as they accept risks they ought not to touch, and for amounts in many cases far beyond the proper ratio of value. — Wanganui "Yeoman." * * * No lady that has visited Wellington at any time has lectured with so much ability, drawn such audiences, and made such an impression upon her hearers as Mrs. Ada Foye, the gifted Spiritualistic medium. — Levin "Farmer." * * * A trooper of the Sixth Now Zealand Contingent (we will not mention the company), on being asked by a noncommissioned officer what was the use of his ears if he could not hear an order, responded by saying that "they were there to keep his field service cap from falling off his head!" — Foxton "Herald." * • • It is a curious fact that ■while the various non-conforming churches are in various ways seeking for closer union, the Church of England is exhibiting a very marked tendency in the opposite direction. The plain man will not submit much longer to the ridiculous pretensions made by a small section of that Church. — Napier "Herald." But the Boer has always been inflated with a vast idea of his own importance, and can scarcely be made to realise that his position is no longer what it was in the days when every Boer felt that every Britisher he met should doff his hat to him if he wanted to be recognised. — Greymouth "Argus." * * * The legislation desired by the Trades and Labour Council is all on one side, and it does not seem to strike the promoters that industries and the industrial population must eventually suffer if no consideration is given to economic principles, or to the interests of those who have to find the brains and the money for commercial and trade undertakings. — Invercargill "Times." * « * Extending the "clemency of the Crown" to a select number of convicted evil-doers on great occasions of State, is an old bad custom inherited from barbarous times, which we should be sorry to see perpetrated here. It is a curious way of expressing the general joy, to let loose undesirable characters on the public. — Westport "Miner." * • * The newly-formed Retailers' Association intend to charge 8 per cent, (bank rate) on all accounts after three months. This, with the setting up of a "black list," containing the names of those whose credit is exhausted, will, it is thought, tend to make money less "tight" within the borough. — Balclutha "Free Press." * * * Nearly all the Education Boards of the colony have agreed to allow their inspectors to examine the Catholic schools applying for examination, and we fail to see how any reasonable man, looking at the question from all sides, can take objection to the practice. — Dargavillo "Bell." X * * The Right Hon. Mr. Seddon proposes to pay Judge Cooper £2 2s a day during the time he is sitting as President of the Arbitration Court, in addition to his salary of £1500 a year as Judge of the Supreme Court. It is well to be a Judge — especially under a Liberal Administration. — Opunake "Times." ■» • • The unseemly haste with which dredging claims were being foisted upon a too eager public — who seem to have been carried away in the heat of gold fever, and who put their money into anything and everything cracked up by misleading reports and glowing accounts of prospective richness — was bound to lead to disaster sooner or later. — Dunedin '"Times." * * * The idea of Mr. Seddon being offered the governorship of a constitutionallygoverned colony, in return for his services to Imperialism, is too absurd to require any serious consideration. We trust that it will be many years before Mr. Seddon's services are lost to the country, either by retirement or by promotion, but we hope that when the inevitable comes he will be succeeded by a man of the same calibre as the present Minister of Railways. — Christchurch "Times."