What Everybody Says.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2075, 28 August 1875, Page 2

What Everybody Says.

" In multitude of counsellors there is safety."

—Old Proverb,

.The Bagnall-Plant controversy has raised a very storm in a teapot. Two causes of misunderstanding appear to have arisen. Mr Bagnall assumes that the Friendly Society delegates, not content with censuring his conduct, caused the publication of a paragraph to the effect thai he had been censured. This he has not proved, but the delegates have not denied it; The delegates, or some of them, appear to think that Mr Bagnall was wrong in putting himself in communication with a member of Parliament regarding the laws affecting friendly societies. In this everybody agrees that the delegates are wrong. Mr Bagnall, as a member of a society whose interests are likely to be affected by • contemplated legislature, had a perfect right-to 'send' letters to a member: if he assumed to represent the delegates or societies they belong to, then he was wrong and guilty of all that he has been accused. Let them all start fair and state their respective cases plainly, when everybody will be able to understand the discussion—perhaps take an interest in it; which they do not at present as the arguments have partaken too much of the "you're another" character.

The Thames Advertiser is very anxious to pass judgment on the delinquents concerned in the Ohinemuri Miners' Right business, and is apparently .disappointed that some one else is not implicated—that some one else referred to is well understood, for, in spite of the high moral principles affected. by the paper" above referred to, it has on more than one occasion indicated pretty plainly its belief as to whom it thought guilty. Even supposing that the information of what has transpired in "committee" be correct (How did it leak out P) everybody thinks that in fairness to the accused parties further comment should have been withheld, until at least an opportunity had been given to the Government or the House to take action on the Committee's report. But that course would not suit the virtuous indignation of the high-toned journal. On the strength of a telegram certain persons are stigmatised as thieves. Some one remarked on reading it, " What a splendid action for libel if the telegram should be. incorrect ? " If a theft has been committed,, before the condign, punishment which the Advertiser thinks the offender deserves can be inflicted there. must be a trial, and before the trial the less said about" the case the better. Men don't usually go to the scaffold on their own confession. It was bad taste, if nothing else, to come out so strong. It shows a spiteful feeling which is not creditable; and it certainly displayed a want of caution—a reckless disregard of consequences—if the business should not be exactly as detailed by that occasional .correspondent who can penetrate' the sanctum of Select Committees.

If ever a man wished himself small enough to be able to sink into his boots it mast hare been that absconding husband when he was confronted by his loving spouse on board the John Eennie yesterday morning. To be suddenly awakened from a sense of security~to be able to picture the, future when divided from a scolding by some sixteen thousand miles; to bexchuckling perbaps over his smartness, and then to be suddenly surprised by. the appearance in the flesh of her from whom he fled—well, nobody can imagine the situation. Few would care to make one of a party in snch a scene. Then fancy the man's feelings on coming ashore to find that all the town was ablaze with his story—with the history of. his wife's wrongs, and the means she had taken to remedy those, wrongs and assert her rights. Three hundred people oh the wharf to witness his landing—to laugh at his discomfiture, perhaps deride his position. If the couple now that they are once more united don't profit by their experience, they have little sense. Auckland will surely be too, warm to be comfortable for a long stay. The Good Templars justly pride themselves on having achieved.one great piece of work. They have erected on the ruins of a whisky shop a temple to be devoted to the cause of total abstinence. " Where drunkards wwe-made," as one speaker expressed it, they now meet to preach a crusade against strong drink. This is carrying the war into the enemy's camp with a vengeance. If they want a few more public houses 'to transform into ornamental Good Templar halls no doubt they can be accommodated, but if the practice, were often followed it might come to be said that when a house was no longer fit for a pub, it could be turned into a temperance hall. By-the-bye, has the opening of the. hall anything to do with tne absence of.drunkenness in the townships thiß week ? Five days and not a single case! The community is becoming eminently sober. More power to the Good Templars if they remove or lessen the evil as exhibited too painfully in the courts at times.

Several individuals are at the present time "doing" short terms at Mount Eden for refusing to pay the Education rate, and nearly everybody will say it serves them right, on the ground that they who can pay and wont must be made, either in coin or kind. These sticklers for principle prefer to give it in kind—sevendays'- service to the state in the shape of stone breaking or some other light and ornamental employment. A few laws like that which-.■-.. is in existence to provide for education and raise the means; a few more prosecutions and convictions, and there would soon be a much more healthy state of public feeling—a greater interest ia politics. ■ People would talk less about what the Government does, and more of what ■they would do themselves. When people come';to recognise fully that they are the Government" there wjU, be fewer laws containing provisions obnoxious tq their feelings and inclinations.. '.'