WHAT THE “WORLD” SAYS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5457, 23 September 1878, Page 3

WHAT THE “WORLD” SAYS.

(From tho World, July 1.) I do nofc complain of the money voted for tho Duke of Connaught, but would venture to suggest that the principle upon which these grants aro made should vary .with the varying circumstances of the Royal Family. For instance, the succession to the Crown being abundantly secured in the Royal line, one need not be a Malthusian to feel that the indefinite increase in the number of needy Princes is conducive neither to the public welfare nor to the dignity of the Throne, I would therefore suggest that with respect to tho next generation the practice should be abandoned of ini creasing a Prince’s allowance on the occasion of hia entering into the holy state of matrimony, Ry the bye, can it be true that the country in to pay all tho expenses of the late King of Hanover’s funeral, including the railway and steamboat fares of the present Duke of Cumberland and his sisters from Calais to London i Is there any one thirty years old who has not taken a colocynth pill 1 Hardly, I suppose. Well, as Cyprus is on the tapis , it may interest my readers to know that the colocynth apple is an indigenous Cyprian plant, and largely exported from our new island to this country at a shilling a pound. one pays for a pills containing a few grains ! No wonder chemists make fortunes. The other day X saw at a well known photographers tho portrait of a lady in her bathingdress. She was not an actress nor a professional beauty ; but there she was in short tunic and trousers, with a background of sea-shore. I wonder where tho eccentricities of ladies with regard to portraits will stop. . ■ # ■ Lord Reacousfleld comes of a long-lived race ; and in case seven years hence should still find him in tho “ Elyeian Fields ” of the Upper House, it is rather curious to note a passage in hia controversy with tho Globe in 1835. Tho pink sheet had charged Disraeli with political inconsistency, and ho had

1 replied “My letter, just published, contains the opinions with which I entered political life four years ago ; opinions which, I hope, half a century hence I may still profess.” On this the Globe thus made,comment:'“Wo echo very cordially the hope of Hr. Disraeli that fifty years hence he may * still profess * opinions of any sort. , May we be there to see ! . . . • Fifty years hence, Mr. Disraeli, and we shall, we trust, be better friends ; though, by the way, his sanguine prospect of attaining that period convinces us that he is, as we supposed, not [only the * younger/ but the * youngest/ of the Disraelis.” " Better friends” Lord and tho organ of Mr. Marvin certainly arc to-day; but then, ere seven years are gone, tbo fulfilment of the wish may be brought to naught by its again changing, politically, its color. We shall see, I am too unfoignedly glad to see an impolitic war averted to speak in a hostile spirit of the Treaty of Berlin ; but there are oue or two minor provisions -which show bad workmanship. Why, for instance, Servia and Routnauia having conquered their independence, should they be compelled, to capitalise their annual tribute to the Porto, and hand it over in a lump sum ? Virtually, if not in name, both these principalities have long been emancipated from tho control of tho Porte, the only emblem of subjection being the tribute in question. Now Europe has not given them their independence, and therefore I cannot see why Europe should affix this condition to its recognition. If all that the principalities have gained is the right to capitaflse an annual' charge, they have fought for very little, inasmuch as at any time the spendthrift Porto would have been only too - eager to have received a sura down, ia anticipation of tho revenue of future years. A great deal too much is said in the Protocols about the rights of Turkish bondholders. It is not to the advantgc of the State that subjects who lend money at the rate of from 10 to 15 per cent, to foreign Governments should be secured against risk. The public interest is that that State should borrow as cheaply as possible ; and if you bolster up foreign investments you are only assisting your competitors in your own money-market. X wish that Mr., Fawcett would show how much this question concerns the welfare of the working classes. M. Waddingfcon’s zeal for this very rotten' cause recalls some of the worst traditions of the Empire. . : Is it a sign of the good tipie coming for Ireland, as it certainly proves a solid comfort for tho visitors to its capital, that the low-backed cars are being slowly elbowed-outin Dublin by open carriages like the French voitnres de remise, which really, but for the numbers, compare rather favorably with tho private equipages of “ the quality ?” • The Berlin authorities have had railings placed round the tree “ under tho limes” which was struck by Nobiling’s slugs. Tho said authorities arc evidently well posted up, and awaro that the “ Gookists are coming, boho, ho-ho 1” and there would be “ littlo left when to-raorrow’s sun be set” of that historic lime-tree, if the British tourist were allowed to put his knife into it. No public man should shrink from anything in tho execution of bis duty. The Metropolitan Board of Works propose to make a street, which would involve tho demolition of the Loudon Pavilion Music Hall. Mr. Loibl, the proprietor, claims £127,000 as compensation. The law is involved, and Sir John Holker is counsel for Mr. Loibl. The counsel ought to know all about his case; consequently Sir John Holker visited the London Pavilion. And much gratified ho must have been. Wby dues the Eggspress serve up anecdotes at least fifteen years old as events that happened “at the dance given at an unoccupied house in Groavenor-place the other night”? Why does it call the well-known breeder of St. Bernard dogs “ Mr, de Landre Macdona,” instead of the Rev. J. Camming Macdonna ? And 'why does it insinuate that Mr. W. S. Gilbert is not the author of Engaged 1 I fancy the editor will before long hear from Mr. Gilbert with regard to the latter paragraph.