Current Comment

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 13, 24 June 1893, Page 9

Current Comment

4~ (By Touchstone.)

It was stated that coincident with the Rev. Mr Isitt’s visit to Napier in the interests of Prohibition there was an increase in the beer duty. Invercargill, it appears, has determined, to “ go one better,” for since Mr Isitt arrived here it has been reported that another brewery is to be established, making- the third. Mi- Thomas Buxton was among the speakers at Mr Isitt’s meeting on 'Thursday night, and he happened to mention that he believed he was regarded as somewhat of a nuisance by the newspaper people. Mr Isitt, following him, said he could sympathise with Mr Buxton. Some members of one of his congregations had complained to him that he gave them too much temperance in his sermons. They declared they were sick, very sick, of it, and he told them they would be sicker- of it before he was done with them. He looked out for a suitable verse, and his next sermon was based on the following text : —■ “ For I deem it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up.” He did his best to stir them up, and he might tell Mr- Buxton that that was the only remedy for newspaper men. Prohibition is in the air just now, and that must be my excuse for another reference to it—this time to relate a fact in favour of the Invercargill licensed victuallers. In introducing Mr Isitt the other evening his chairman, Mr W. Todd, mentioned that he was not aware that any, brewer or wine and spirit merchant in town had a mox-tgage on any of the local hotels. Several licensees were, however, indebted to financial institutions for advances, and if any radical change in the law took place their shareholders would suffer loss. Mr James Mackintosh, the member for Wallace, addressed his constituents at Riverton last week, and obtained a vote of thanks and confidence. There was nothing remarkable about the address or the meeting, but there certainly is about the way in which the gathering has been treated by the Press. For example, the Riverton paper stated that there were nearly 300 electors present, and that the vote was carried nem. con. The same morning the correspondent of the Southland Times informed its readers that about 100 persons were present, that some 15 or 16 voted when the motion was put, and that it was carried by a majority of, about a dozen. The Southland News reported that the motion was carried by an overwhelming majority. Who is telling the truth P The New Zealand Times states: — “ A sharp retort is a good thing sometimes, because it punishes ill-advised asperity in the most effectual manner, as the Hon. G. F. Richardson found to his cost the other day when addressing his constituents at Mataura. While discussing Government insurance, Mr Richardson thought proper to remark that when that great department was established Mr Ward was playing- marbles. Quick as thought came the retort from the body of the hall—‘And winning them, too, you bet! ’ The Hon. G. F. Richardson no doubt appreciated the full significance of the retort, and will be careful in future to avoid the consequence of ill-advised asperity.” This is all veiy fine, but as a matter of fact no such retort was uttered.

What happened was this —After the meeting a sharp-witted telegraphist to whom the marbles incident was told, said—“ Well, if J.G. was playing marbles he was winning them, too, you bet! ” The remark was repeated to Mr Richardson, and he admitted that it would have made a capital interjection. One of the reporters present must have thoug-ht so too, and he served it up accordingly. And this is how history is made. A travelling company which gives Sunday concerts has a happy way of avoiding, on the one hand the penalties inflicted for a breach of the law relating to admission fees for Sunday entertainments, and on the other of trusting 1 to the results of a collection. One of their patrons who tendered his shilling at the ticket office was asked to step outside the door, and there his money was taken in return for a pass. tSTo money was taken at the door, but nevertheless the treasurer looked thoroughly satisfied at the close of the concert.