Newspaper Notions

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 46, 18 May 1901, Page 6

Newspaper Notions

YOUNG new Zealand need not fear the physical decadence prophecy of the doleful person, for everything goes to point out that if the New Zealand youth is not right up on the top rung of the physical ladder, he is making a very good climb of it. — Auckland "Observer " • • • Altogether, it looks as though Maonland is about to fall into the paradise of State Socialism wholly. — Sydney "Bulletin." • * » If the Governor does not mend his ways he will speedily be in danger of gaining a very unenviable nick-name (Lord Ran-surly). — Blenheim "Express." • ♦ ♦ Reports are current of certain strange animals being at large in the Waiotahi districts. These have been described as "baboons," "apes," etc., etc. The latest idea promulgated is that they are kangoroos. — Opitiki "Herald." • • • The legislation of the last ten years has lifted the colony head and shoulders above the colonies of Australia, whilst it has proved a very great blessing to the colonists from the Bluff to the North Cape. — Levin "Farmer." • • • When the local draft for the first Maoriland contingent left one of the towns for Wellington, the Mayor went round the train giving a cigar to each man. When the second batch left, he gave each man a cigarette. After that he stopped away.— -Sydney "Bulletin." • * * Let our farmers vigorously make their wants known, and if they are insistent they will be attended to. The labour unions seem to get everything (reasonable or unreasonable) that they ask for ; why, then, should not the farmers get their reasonable requests attended to? Whangarei "Advocate." • * * A breach of promise case will be heard at the next Napier Supreme Court sittings. Elizabeth Clark, of Ha&tings, is suing Mr. T. C. L. Holroyd, of the same place, who recently returned from the front, for £2000 damages. Seduction is also alleged. — Pahiatua "Herald." • » * "I would willingly give my guinea towards sending the kiddies to Wellington when the Royalties are there," was the general sentiment of the members of the Education Board on Tuesday, when a letter was read from the Government declining to pay the fares of a proposed Nelson juvenile contingent. —Nelson "Mail." • * * It is to be hoped that a thorough examination will be made of imported rolling stock, for, if these allegations of its shoddy character are proved, the Government surely will not countenance further importations when we have both men and material in plenty in the colony for all the requirements of our railways. — Palmerston "Standard." • * # On the Wefet Coast those who know Mr. Seddon best respect him, and to the diggers he is still their "Dick," and if he chooses, and his health permits, there is another twenty-one years of public life in front of him, for the younger generations have the same regard for the "old man,' 1 as they term him, as their fathers have had before them. — Greymouth "Argus." • ♦ ♦ In Chnstchurch, at the piebent time, there are no less than seventeen disputes before the Arbitration Court, and we may fairly estimate that the number of such disputes now seething in the colony amounts to one hundred. Compared with the worry, expense, and loss of time involved by this enormous mass of litigation, a good healthy strike would be a boon and a blessing. — Masterton "Times." • • • It is safe to assume young Seddon will not long remain a militia captain, but will receive still further promotion until his position is such as will gratify the ambition of his father. The objection we raise is against the principle of the thing, and Mr. Seddon cannot wonder at the abuse he receives from certain quarters when he uses his influence as a Minister of the Crown to promote his son to a position we question his competency to fill. — Manaia "Gazette."

The Wairarapa "Star" states that it is rumoured that Mr. A. W. Hogg, M H.R., is to be called to the Upper House, and made the representative of the Ministry in that Chamber.— Eltham "Argus.' 1 The surest way to hand your name down to posterity is to paint it on a board, and then hide it away in some secluded spot where it will not be discovered for a couple of hundred years or so — Sydney "Freeman's Journal." * * * Someone is bound to be displeased at anything whatever that is done in the shape of paying deference and respect to their Royal Highnesses. We are not afraid of any grovelling being done. A hearty and loyal welcome is what our visitors expect and will, most assuredly, receive — Taieri "Advocate." * * * Our worthy representative, the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, P. 0., has had a record reign as Premier of the colony. Ho has shown to the rising generation what pluck and perseverance can, do. We have often seen our representative in a tight corner, but we have never seen the M.H.R. who could keep him there. — Kumara "Times." ♦ • • Our local Maoii Council will, we believe, control the Maori population from Dannevirke to the East Cape. It is not likely that much good can result from such extended districts. Indeed, we think that the less the Council do the better. For, in our opinion, the day has not yet arrived when the Maori can safely be left to manage his own affairs. — Napier "Herald." • • • Bad as it may be for the struggling settler of New Zealand to exist in the back-blocks of a roadless district, the life of such a man is infinitely preferable to that of a man taking up land in a wilderness like Rhodesia, where he would have to cat his own roads amidst wild animals and blacks, who, at any moment, might put a tragic end to his labours. — Stratford "Settler." * * * It is not at all improbable that Mr. Seddon's connection with public life is not destined to be prolonged now. When his retirement does come, the leadership of the Liberal party will be passed over to Mr. Ward. On that point, there can be no room for question. Mr. Ward is the only possible man. As an administrator he has no equal m public life. — Lawrence "Times." * * * Sydney and Melbourne each exceed in population every German city except Berlin, such great British cities as Sheffield, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, the Irish capitaJ, notable American cities like Boston, San Francisco, and St. Louis, and ever so many other famous aggregations of people. In fact, there are now only thirteen cities in Europe and America greater in population.—Sydney "Mail." ■X • * They say that there is a, "boom" on in pawnbroking circles in Auckland. All the old medals are being eagerly bought up by the citizens in view of the approaching visit of the "Dook." Almost every other man will have a tin plate tacked to his patriotic chest on that great day, and fondly imagine himself a hero. — Onehunga "Chronicle." • • • We are glad to hear of the Premier's statement that he does not contemplate resigning his present office for the purpose of accepting any Imperial appointment He is still, comparatively speaking, a young man, and, if he would but moderate a little his gluttonous appetite for hard work, there is no reason why Ins health should not permit him to do many more years' good service to the State. — Blenheim "Express." • • * About this day fortnight the tiredest man in Australia will be the Duke of York, and the most jaded woman the Duchess of that ilk. The Yorks will have to speak graciously to cheap sycophants and unblushing title-hunteis foi whom they can feel nothing but contempt. They will have to patronise the lickspittles and decorate a scoie or moie of the most shameless of the snobs and tuft-hunters. — Hobart "Clipper." * * • The New Zealandeis have vim, and succeed in securing many of the '"plums" of Australian life — all the more credit to them. But Seddon and company will sing small if the Commonwealth decides to treat New Zealand as a "foreign" country, as is quite on the cards if she does not come into the union right quick.— Adelaide "Critic." • * * The tradespeople in the big cities aie <i mean lot. They could well afford to spend a few thousands in making a big display, and thus attract the country people in to spend their money. Every fiver expended by the city publican would be returned ten-fold. At the big send-off to the Fourth and Fifth Contingents, one hotel in the city took £400 cash in a week. — Tapanui "Courier."