VAGRANS VIATOR.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4970, 26 February 1877, Page 3

VAGRANS VIATOR.

" Hie et übique" l -Any Author you choose.

It rains once a day in Hawera, and twice a day in Normanby. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule, as for instance when it rains all day long in both places. The exception mentioned began to occur the evening I arrived in Hawera, and continued for a week with so apparent an intention of never leaving off that I put myself in a coach and Piscator in a paddock and returned to town. Piscator I left placid and happy, up to his knees in clover and with his shoes taken off. In reference to the procural of a new set for him when he shall deem it fit to return to town, lie asked me not to follow the example of a namesake, who, when he wants a set, purchases a trunkful at a time, and, by retailing all except one pair amongst his acquaintances, gets his own for nothing. The farmers of Hawera are a hard-working hardy set of fellows. They are furnished with constant occupation in watching their cattle grow fat; and their toil is varied every now and again by having to mend a broken panel in a post and rail fence. Hawera is not without its literature. It has a correspondent to a pleasant paper published in Patea. The correspondent is above reliance oa his own abilities. But lately he localised the latest joke from the London Puntfi of a gentleman professing belief in the devil to another, and at the same time introducing his mother-in-law. He omitted mention of Punch, and described the matter as having occurred, at Hawera. A Wanganui and?. Wellington paper copied the paragraph with f averable comment. Gray's ode to Eton College contains a line applicable to these circumstances. Having returned to Wellington "T have become aware of disagreeable circumstances. In the first place my friend the Mayor, I am Borry to see, was anxious to tax baths in houses. Washing oneself is altogether a matter of taste,' and one about which I should not presume: to dictate ; but though I am personally like: the coalheaver who washed himself at least once a week, I should be sorry to deter anyone from doing it oftener. Next, a good deal of proper sentiment has been aroused about a case of corporal punishment at the College. At a meeting of the Board of Governors, one gentleman stated that he had been caned at school and another intimated that he had not. For the first fact, no one will express regret, but I believe that popular opinion will deeply grieve over the Utter.:

Next week I shall cease writing as a traveller, having already indeed ceased to travel. In the meantime, permit me on my return, to compliment the New Zealand Times on having its position as the journal that most,lnfluences public opinion in Wellington fairly admitted by those who have hitherto Most strenuously denied it. For I notice that the anxiety of a certain journalist to find out what the ; New Zealand Times thinks of the candidatures of Messrs. Travers and Hutchison lespectively, borders on the frenzied. Now, if, aa this graceful creature has alwayß asserted, the opinion of the New Zealand Times be not worth having, why should he be so anxious to obtain it at present? Further, if other people choose to be premature, and discuss the candidature of certain gentlemen before the proper time, that is no reason why the opinion that is worth havingshould be given until the fit period for giving it shall have arrived. But personally I may be permitted, perhaps, to ask one of the candidates who have already declared themselves a question. " Mr. Travers, sir, you are a lawyer. Have you heard how a lawyer got the better of the crew at the Pilot Station in re that whale which was stranded some time ago, and was since purchased for the Colonial Museum? If you have, what is your opinion of the transaction ? I pause (a week) for a reply. I am informed that at the recent race meeting of; the Wellington Jockey Club a certain journalist was much exercised because he did not get a free pass to lunch with his Excellency the Governor. It was explained to him that no resident in Wellington had received an invitation to the lunch ; but he snaffled out fearful threats *w to what he would write about the stewards. Nothing has, however, as yet been written. Mixing religious with secular instruction, though highly proper, is occasionally coafusing. At a school conducted on denominational principles an interesting girl pupil was this week asked, " Who was the first king of England?" Her answer was prompt. " Please ma'am, St. Matthew." The mistress making a gentle remonstrance by saying, "Oh, Susie !" the pupil quiekly corrected herself, and Baid, " I have it, ma'am, St. Mark ;" and had the questions continued I have no doubt but that the list of the Evangelists would have been exhausted.

Although I had not the honor of being preaentedl to Titokowaru, I am able to furnish wme gratifying intelligence respecting him. He is most peaceably disposed towards the Europeans), and his health, which was some time ago indifferent, has greatly improved. His crops are yielding very fine returns, and his mana is more acknowledged than ever. All these circumstances are attributed to his having taken to drinking Knickerbocker schnapps. A sad affair occurred on board the mission-

' ary schooner Dayspring a few days ago. A number of, tbe clergy had been asked to lunch on board, and the reverse of hermit's fare was prepared for them. But no sooner did they arrive and tread the deck, than one of the number gave decided signs at being seasick, and a committee being hastily assembled, it was reselved that he be put ashore with a shilling from the mission funds, and requested to lunch by himself at the Central Hotel. In an advertisement of a sale of furniture by auction, I aoticed as the concluding item in tM catalogue: " and the odds and ends usually

found in a gentleman's house when he moves. This is indefinite. I know one gentleman who, when he moved from a house, left no odds and ends behind him except a varied collection of empty bottles. I am aware of another who took everything with him, including three months' rent. I have an acquaintance who invariably departs from a house, leaving on the mantel-shelf of the dining-room unpaid bills for gas, water, and general rates. Now, I want to know, under these circumstances, what is meant by " the odds and ends," &e.