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Southland Times, Issue 1531, 30 January 1872, Page 3

Drain op Gold to Germany. — The " Times" of Oct. 9th, in its money-market article, has the following : — Vague ideas about the disturbances to be created by adoption of a gold currency in Germany, and also by the willingness of our capitalists to guarantee the next indemnity payment due from France, are at the bottom of the whole affair. If people would ask themselves by what means it can be possible for Germany to take from us a single sovereign that we may not be disposed to part with, all alarm would be dispelled. If Germany desires gold she must do as she would if she required corn or any other article — pay for it ; or if, as is now the case, she does not require to buy ifc owing to France being bound to send it to her, France, if she requires aid in the transaction, cannot obtain that aid except upon conditions such as commend themselves entirely to our capitalists. A legal change in the German currency can be effected without difficulty, but its practical results must be slow. So far as we may facilitate the substitution of gold for silver in that country it can only occur through our buying their silver on terms that will advantageously supply our wants for India and China. Aa to the possible effect of a locking up of 10, 15, or 20 millions of gold as a military deposit in the Castle of Magdeburg, supposing the German Parliament to sanction so thriftless a measure, it must in international relations be almost inappreciable. There would be virtually so much less gold in the world, the total thus withdrawn or extinguishedbeing about equal to a moiety of the extra sum thrown into circulation within the past 15 montha from the store held by the Bank of France, or of a twelvemonth's supply from Australia and California. Tet these things have been sufiicient not only to inspire apprehension through every branch of our financial operations and to cause our traders to rush to obtain and hoard at comparatively high interests two millions of currency, but also to revive the old mutterings by which they would throw upon the Bank Charter Act the responsibility for their own folly. Our commerce, both for extent and profit, is such as was never before attained. We are under no improvident commitments, and the whole world are our debtors. At such a time it is difficult to reason with a disquiet which pictures the possibility of a depletion only to be averted by measures ot uncompromising severity.

Queensland has concluded the twelfth year of its existence as a colony having self-government. Since Separation, the population has increased, in round numbers, from 28,000 to 120,000, and the revenue from £178,589, to an amount that has not been over-estimated at £783,800.

The place for a pic-nic — The Sandwich Islands. Ought not a hermit to call his house a man shun ? A noisy piece of crockery — The cup that cheers. To authors— lt is not wrong to write if you right wrong. "Do you know who I am ? " said a police officer to a fellow whom he seized by the throat. " Not exactly, sir ; but I reckon you are a malignant collarer." "Is molasses good for a cousrh •?" inquired Jone3, who had taken a slight cold and was barking with considerable energy. " Ifc ought to be," said Brown, " It is sold for consumption."

A Frenchman cannot pronounce "ship." The word is " sheep " in his mouth. Seeing an ironclad, he said to a boy, " I»h dis a war sheep ? " " No," answered the boy, " It's a ram." Liberal.— A modeat individual in the Nutmeg State announces that his golden wedding will come off just thirty years from now, and offers a liberal discount on any presents his friends then design to make him. A Western editor speaking of a rogue who lives in his vicinity, says : " The rascal has broken every bank and gaol and Sabbath we had in the country for the last fire years." A lady walking a few days sinfee on one of the wharves asked a sailor whom she met why a ship was called " she." The son of Neptune replied that it was " because the rigging cost more than the hull." " Mother, mother, here's Freddy teasing the baby." — " Make him cry again, Freddy, and then mother will give him Borne sugar, and I'll take it away from him, then he'll squall, and mother will give him some more, and you can take that, and we'll both have some."

Live fob Something.— Yes, for something worthy of life and ita capabilities and opportunities for noble deeds and achievements. Every man and every woman has his or her assignment in the duties and responsibilities of daily life. We are in the world to make the world better; to lift it up to higher levels of enjoyment and progress ; to make its hearts and homes brighter and happier by devoting to our fellows our best thoughts, activities, and influences. It is the motto of every true heart and the genius of every noble life, that "no man liveth to himself" — lives chiefly for hia own selfUh good.

A Bermondsey " Steeple Jack,'* we are informed, has written to the Governor of Strasbourg, proffering to take down the vexatious French flag that still flaunts defiantly from the flagstaff of the Cathedral, defying the prowess of all who have striven to haul it down. He only asks for his travelling expenses to be paid, and will do the rest for the honor of the thing. He detests the French, he aaya, because they eat frogs.