Random Notes.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 6, 12 May 1894, Page 9

Random Notes.

“ What’s new ?” is a question not infrequently asked at our street corners, and during the past week it has been hard indeed to find a ready reply. Equally hard foi me is it to find local material to fill my usual column. Time was when our “ Toon Cooncil ” furnished an occasional interesting note, but under the regimen of His Worship Andrew “ things is quiet.” The weather-glass of the Council Chamber shows the temperature as “ cool,” and the, atmosphere at “ set fair.” Council disturbances seem to be confined to the northern extremity of the colony, where our unique LadyMayor keeps things pretty lively ! “What think you of the weather ?” is a question also which has been on the lips of the lieges at frequent intervals during the last ten days. The opinions expressed in response thereto, if we may judge from the tone of the replies, were decided. Between the two colonial weather-prophets we are having a sorry time of it. Ho sooner does Captain ’Ed-win’ intimate the prospective arrival of a sou’-westerly

buster, which, by the way, arrives triie to date or even in advance of the prophecy, than Mr Clement W ragge over the way, not to be ohtdone in generosity, promises another squall on the heels of the “ head wind ” sent by our own “ weather clerk.” It’s too bad of these gentlemen ! Occupying, as they do, rosy Government billets, they ought to furnish weather accordin’. Their proceedings in respect to this matter reminds me just now very strongly of a somewhat forcible, though perhaps irreverent, remark made by a canny old Scot when the Yankees first indulged in prosphesying to the benighted Britishers the approach of a gale across the Altautic. “ The weather,” sayshe, “ when it was in the Lord’s ain haun’s was bad eneuch, in a’ conscience, but since thae Yankees took it in haun’, it has been just deplorable.”

“ History repeats itself ” is a saying trite but true, which is apparently at the present moment being evidenced in the paradisaical colony of New Australia. Reports from the settlement are not a little contradictory. Such is always the case. The colour of one’s spectacles does ever affect one’s report of events. The Laneites consider their leader the nearest possible human approach perfection, while his opponents well, it seems that those who do not like his rule can pack up their swags and go, minus , of course, the shekel* contributed to the common fund. Sooner, much sooner than was expected, this, the latost Socialistic bubble, seems to be pricked, and on the point of bursting. Where the canny Scot and the volatile Frenchman have alike failed it is highly improbable that even the ingenious Australian will succeed. Last century, and this century, too, have witnessed attempts to establish Socialistic Edens, on the lines of “ share all, and share alike.” But human nature is not built on that plan, and to secure success the promoters of such schemes must catch men more perfect than average mortals are, whose ruling: passion, though unknown to themselves, is selfishness, and as Burns truly says — Where self the wavering balance shako ’Tis rarely richt adjusted.” Vox.