Untitled

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1364, 4 October 1883, Page 4

Sir William Fox recently delivered a lecture at Sandon on the Blue .Ribbon Army, the originator of which he mentioned was Mr Murphy of America. The lecturer dealt with the drink traffic in his usual trenchant style. He said he had been at considerable trouble in ascertaining what was spent in drink between Foxton and Hawera. He found that there was 100 drinking shops—he could not call them hotels—hotels were splendid arrangements for the public accommodation, whilst all that the publicans wanted was the money for their drink; and stinking a low average, he believed he was within the mark in stating that the average turnover for each house was £l5OO a year. That meant an annual expenditure of £160,000 in this district, sunk, completely lost, just as if it had been placed in a maelstrom in the sea. It was no wonder, therefore, that the people were poor—as poor as rats. It had been said, and said to himself, that there were many respectable publicans. He didn’t believe it —it could not be. He knew a case where a young man who was “ down in his luck " took a public house with the idea of retrieving his fortune, saying that he would be a blackguard for two or three years, and then retire on the money he made, and live the life of a gentleman. He was still a publican and still a blackguard.

The Melbourne “ Argus ” mentions a new departure by a firm of drapers in that city, in the manner of deducting a retail business, The business, says our contemporary, like that of many other similar places in England and America, is on the cash principle, but the use of telegraphic communicators from the counters will do away with the annoying cry of “ cash” when a visitor makes a purchase. At the back of the shop proper is a large space set apart for the purposes of • jardu elysee, where customers may obtain refreshments in a cool grotto, made attractive by aviaries of birds, salt and fresh water acquaria, and the music of a band, which will be seated in a fernery situated in a pictures-quely-painted landscape. There will also be pianoforte and other recitals. The basement, which comprises a very wide area, will be converted into a gentleman’s lounging club, with lavatories and refreshment buffets, and will be accessible from the street by a private entrance not leading through the shop. Here gentlemen may read, or talk, or smoke while their lady friends are making their purchases upstairs. A cosy room, comfortably furnished and decorated, will be devoted* to the use of ladies as a private club, while another and similar apartment has been termed the “ dark room,” for the somewhat paradoxical reason that it is lighted by artificial light alone, the object being to give ladies an opportunity of duly observing the effect of certain harmonies and contrasts in colour under the influence of gaslight. The following account of a most discreditable affair is furnished by a correspondent of the Hawke’s Bay Herald “ I happened to be walking in the cemetery to-day, when a poor woman, frantic with grief, asked me what she should do ? She had come to pay her Sunday visit to the grave of her little girl, who had been buried about a year. Since the burial the authorities had inquired if the parents intended to buy the grave, and the answer was in the affirmative ; but being poor people they have hitherto been unable to do so. This morning the poor mother was horrified to find the grave of her child opened and empty, while the coffin had been taken out and lay on the grass out of the way. Is there a single excuse or reason that can justify such a proceeding in the free and humane colony of New Zealand.” The Ballarat Star says:— lt is reported that a young man of usually sober habits got a little drop too much the other evening. As he was proceeding homewards, he fancied that a young female, who was walking behind, said several times, “ Walk right• walk right ” Becoming ashamed of himself, especially at the fact of a lady noticing his slightly staggering gait, the young man went next day and signed the pledge. The penitent, when speaking of the advice given to him by the girl, was informed that the one was a newepaper vendor for the Salvation Army, and that instead of saying “ Walk right,” she was crying out, War Cry, War Cry, the name of the Salvationist newspaper. It will thus be seen that the War Cry has done some good.