Talk of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 227, 22 January 1876, Page 13

Talk of the Week.

From a paragraph in our telegraphic columns it will be seen that colonial securities are again rising in estimation in the English money market. It is evident that in this respect matters have changed a good deal. When the last Hew Zealand loan was placed in the mai’ket colonial securities "were not looked upon -with favor. Since that time, however, many investments then regarded as excellent are now quite used up. Turkish and Egyptian bonds, preference stock in the Great Trunk line of Canada, and quite a host of other securities have found the fate predicted for them in the feai’less and searching money articles of the World. The result is that colonial loans ai’e restored to their proper position and l’egarded at their proper value.

We have been requested to direct attention to certain mean and unworthy actions performed by one or more members of the Wellington Athemeum. It appears that periodicals and newspapers have frequently been missed from the tables of the reading room, and some of them have not been returned. On Monday last, the Illustrated London News disappeared, and on the evening of the same day a magazine was taken from the smoldng room table, and not returned till Tuesday night. It is to be hoped that this reference to the matter will have a salutary effect ; but in any case it is determined to ascertain, if possible, who these light-fingered gentlemen are. Accoi'ding to the regulations framed by the committee, any member discovered taking books or newspapei's fram the reading room is liable to expulsion, and it is to be hoped that someone will be made an example of in the interests of other members who have been put to considerable inconvenience by the practice alluded to. To carry works from the reading room and return them, displays a want of consideration for other subscribers which no man should be guilty of ; but to take them away and permanently retain them, is a species of contemptible robbery lower in degree than that practised by the confirmed prig.

Our contributor on rowing matters in another column makes mention of certain circumstances which, if they be true, shoxxld produce instant reprobation of the severest kind on the offenders. It seems that the Interprovincial Regatta is not to be allowed to pass off without the interference of what is known as “ the talent.” The peripatetic pickers up of fools’ money who, under the name of bookmakers, haunt racecourses, and bring honorable competition down to a mere arrangement of chicanei’y and deceit, are trying to work the Interprovincial Rowing Match to their own unscrupulous advantage. Our contributor is well aware of the plans which these gentlemen contemplate pursuing, and we have no doubt he will fulfil his proper threat, and, if necessary, expose them unmercifully. But with him we are content at present to show the evil-doers that we have found out their practices even in their inception, and to trust that this will be sufficient warning to ensure their discontinuance.

Roe a considerable time past we have occasionally heard complaints against the manner in which business is conducted at the Postoffice, and on one or two occasions we have drawn attention to the mattei’, but apparently without effect. Scarcely a week goes by but what someone has a gx’ievance to relate. Where there is smoke there must be fire, is an old saying Avith an excellent moral, and if there is such general dissatisfaction at the postal arrangements of Wellington there must of necessity be a cause for it. The latest instance brought under notice is delay in the delivery of letters by the AraAvata. It has been represented that letters brought by this boat, Avhich arrived on Thursday night, Avere not delivered till after business hours on Saturday afternoon, practically putting it beyond the poAver of recipients to reply by the mail. This, if true, to say the least of it, shoxvs culpable dilatoriness in the office, and the Secretary should see that the fault is cured. There can be no possible excuse for it. The Californian mail and the Melbourne mail certainly arrived simultaneously, but that circumstance could not create any vast pressure, and ex 7 en granting that there Avas a little extra Avork, it is not a A T ery difficult matter to obtain extra assistance.