What Everybody Says.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2009, 12 June 1875, Page 2

What Everybody Says.

" In multitude of counsellors there is safety." —Old Proverf.

Purely local affairs have not much interest for everybody just now, and wo naturally Jook abroad for that wholesome excitement which is nocessary to all well regulated and healthy minds. Well, we forgot, in speaking of local affairs, the explanations of our Provincial Councillors —it is so long ago. These same Councillors occupied the attention of everybody for three hours on last Saturday night, and they told how they had angled for the only bit of fat likely to fall to their lot during their term of office, and how between them they managed to let the prize slip. When they, had told this, the whole interest felt in their deliverances vanished. Nobody cared a,jot whether they voted for or against the abolition of the Provinces : that is looked upon as a consummation which must come, but which cannot be forwarded or hindered by any action of the Provincial Councillors, with Sir George Grey at their back. If the speakers had been able to say they obtained a thousand or two for opening up roads at Ohinemuri, and a similar sum for a like purpose at Tairua, their utterances would have been, invested with, an interest which they undoubtedly lacked. But they were not able, simply because the money was not to be obtained; so that no blame can attach to o»r councillors for* not being in a position to take blood from a stone or the breeks from the Ktighlandman. Everybody was .in a measure disappointed over the Goldfields . Secretary busme?s,. The disclosures were to be redolent of the sensational, and they were nothing of the kind Barring a little difference of opinion as to fitness of the aspirants for office, arid the smallest spice of self-seeking apparent, there was really nothing to tell; and the audience showed their disappointment by leaving the hall in numbers as soon as they were told that'all had been said that could be said about the Goldfields Secretaryship. i From local to general affairs, and Mr Vogel'sßeported resignation, which; has f been canvassed during the past week. Everybody regrets that there should be the slightest reason for believing that the • Premier contemplates resigning... He has fought his way pjuckily through several sessions, and it was hoped that he would see us through another; especially'as his resignation would but. give a handle to his enemies to make all sorts • of charges, or to renew their croaking prognostications about his never coming back again. Vogel has been a much abused and a much lauded man and .politician, and the coming session would probably have settled -the question, whether: either was merited—the praise or the blame. If h;e does : not „-rekirn, his name will -come in for a large share of the blame, whatever his friends may do or say. . '!■..

It is not often, that men who carry on business under the sign of three balls are outwitted, but one confiding individual of widespread relationship had to admit in the Court the other day that he had been done brown. It is a misfortune peculiar to persons of his class that with all their smartness and knowledge of business they are occasionally overreached by babes and sucklings. The actual loss is not much-—a mere trifle,' but the amour propre is sadly offended when a confession has to be made that infants are too much, for the greybeards. Besides, the consequences fall heavily on the next chickens, who, less learned in the ways of /the. world, have to pay through the noso for the sins of others. Never try to get, the bettep of your uncle, as a nearer relative may have to suffer even if. you succeed. :

If the child of some' Borough Councillor should be tossed, by an infuriated bullock on the rioxt, occasion of a wild mob being dm en, through the streets of the town, uncharitable people would say it was a judgment—^visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children fornot taking the necessary; precaution.which everybody supposed they would take. It would be uncharitable to a degree to say so, because Borough Councillors act according to their lights, and everybody ought to give them credit for honesty of purpose. But if anybody else's child should be tossed and mangled by an ox —goaded by long fasting, the unusual sounds in the streets, and the long and sharp whips of drivers—the parents of that child would be inclined to say hard thing* of Councillors, and it would not be uncharitable;; because everybody thinks the r Council is to blame for not doing 'all in their power to prevent ihe possibility of such an occurrence. As to the price of beef being affected by any such .a' measure, it is all fudge; but even'if it were a fact, people would much rather pay the fraction per pound than have to run the risk of- fleeing before a formidable bullock and escaping only by vaulting into somebody's favorite garden plot, or displaying a wantof physical courage by taking shelter in,the first place of security that offered. The people don't like to be placed in an undignified -position, neither do the Councilors. Fancy, Councillor Anthony taking his, constitutional to Parawai and back meeting a mob on one of the thoroughfares, and having to take a flying leap over one of the deep ditches and four rail fences which abound in that delightful sylvan retreat. The position would be trying to the worthy councillor, and the result might be disastrous to the Borough by depriving' it of one of its shining lights for a time. So we are to have a ladies' college. The prospectus intimates that the young ladies are to be taught English and other m«dern languages ; and music, and drawing, and other .fashionable accomplishments ; but not a word about the home duties which will be required when the pupils are no more young ladies, but mothers of other young ladies. The prospectus ought to be amended so as to include a knowledge of buttons and button holes, cooking, and—well,. some other domestic accomplishments, without which happy homes cannot be had. They are terribly deficient, some of our young ladies, in the various branches of domestic knowledge, and as we.don't. want young ladies to be young ladies for ever, something of the useful as well as the ornamental might be imported into the proposed system of training at the Thames Ladies' College.' VL