THE WAYS OF THE WORLD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1521, 4 December 1886, Page 2

THE WAYS OF THE WORLD.

« The wretch condemned with life to part To slightest hope will cling.” So the poet says, and the truth of it is verified as regards the convict Thomas Hall, if we jre to believe the most recently circulated story about bim, It ie said on very good authority that since his conviction he has written a letter to his wife, asking her to remain faithful to him, and not to seek for a divorce as he expects to bo released from gaol in two or three years. He says that bis uncle is bound to get into power very shortly, and that when he does he will set him free again. When free be will have no means of subsistence, unless bis wife will remain faithful to him and support him out of her income. On these grounds he asks her not to seeks divorce but to remain faithful until he reiurns to her. There is another story going which is also very peculiar. It is travelling in company with the one just told, and both ate supposed to have escaped over the walls of the gaol. It is said that when the gaol anthoritits were returning to Mrs Hall some rings and jewellery belonging to Hall, and for which he had no use in his new abode, she noticed that a certain valuable ring was conspicuous by its absence. She inquired what hid become of this ring, and was told that Hall had ordered it to be given to Miss Houston. Of course these stories may not be true, but they are travelling the rounds. The people of Tuapeka made a tremendous effort to be complimentory to Sir Julius Vogol when he recent y gave a special addiess to them oo the t .pios of the day. They thought that to .pplaud every thing was the moi>t approved way of paying him a compliment. Coat* qnent ly, they were most lavish in their applause, and when Sir Julius in very pathetic language, and with a depth of feeling ««d

solemnity suitable to the occasion, told them that he had now “ only a few more years to live” they applauded tremendously. No doubt they did not intend it, but had Sir Julius been ot a nervous, or irritable disposition be would have felt hurt at the applause eoming at that time, it was as much as to aay thay would be glad to get rid of him. There is an amusing story going round i —A sportsman, after a fruitless tramp, met a boy with tears In hi- eyes, and. said ; “ I say, youngater, is there anything to about around here I’’ The boy answered: “Nothin’ just ’bout here, but lher«’s the schoolmaster over t’other side of the hill. I wish you’d shoot him.” Freetrade is a beautiful thing, but its inconsistencies are sometimes very glaring. For instance, here is scarcely a Free'rader who would not at once vote against Chinese cheap labor, and what is that but Protection ? If we are to have Freetrade why should we shut out Chinamen ! The laboring man wants to be protected from Chinamen, but be will not give Protection from European Chinamen to the artisans of tbe country. If a Chinaman were to come into this colony nnd start bootmnking a cry against Chinese cheap labor would be raised ; but if the Chinaman made the boots over in China, and sent them over here and sold them cheaper than they could be locally made, Freetraders .wouM go down oe their marrow-bones to thank their stars that Freetrade gave them i such cheap boots. Freetrade is beautiful I and consistent ; very, Cori O’Lands.