What Everybody Says.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2497, 6 January 1877, Page 2

What Everybody Says.

" In multitude of counsellors there is safety." , 'i— OliD PKOVERB

The Christmas holidays are now over and everybody is" settling, or has settled down to their ordinary routine of daily life. The holidays have not been marked by many incidents worthy of note. Many the|e were who went to Auckland^ and some who came from Auckland to the Thames. The races, sports and other gatherings which mark the season passed off without accidents of a serious kind, and those who visited them and those who took part in them are doubtless all the better Tor their outings.

If not everybody, at least some people have been talking a good deal about cricket and the Kngland .Eleven, who are at present in Australia. The Eleven it was said expected to win all their matches. This they certainly have not done, as they have been defeated both by Sydney and Melbourne, each city playing fifteen against the Eleven. The extra four men in the field naturally give great advantage to the bowlers, as they can afford to pitch well up and force the batsmen to play back to balls he is afraid to hit for fear of being caught by the long-fields. The time seems, however, to have gone by when England can play 22 of either New South Wales or Victoria; and though the present All England Eleven is certainly not the best that could be brought out here; and though the Sydney player, Evans, is by report, as good as any of them—he certainly must have played, fielded and bowled splendidly—yet they are a very good lot, and those who go to see them ia Auckland will see one of the best bowlers in the world. Everybody would like to see them come to the Thames. Perhaps such event may occur. •

lasia at Melbourne, is the most strange. It seems from the statement made that he was presented " with 500 soys in token of respect for. his action for seduction laid _ against a well-known Melbourne miller, in which damages were laid at £5000." It would appear to everybody that it was rather an odd thing to give a presentation to a man because he jvas a party to an action for seduction, even though the damages were estimated at ten times the amount given, and not a few must have wondered why Mr Mac Arthur .was so honored. The paragraph certainly was bewildering* as everybody must acknowledge who read it, and appears at first sight inexplicable. Everybody, however, now knows that the two Auckland morning papers have become amalgamated, and their combined wisdom has set the matter in a clearer light. Truly •* In the multitude of Counsellers (not councillors) there is safety." It appears from the statement contained in that paper, that Mr Mac Arthur was presented with £500, not because he had anything to do with seduction, but merely "as a token of respect." Further* also, that an action for seduction has been laid against a well-known Melbourne 'nr'ller, damages laid at £5000. The jumble of the two statements is worth while the consideration of those who shuffle tickets for raffles at Christmas tide.

Comprising the same number of letters, the words " cant" and " can't" are not synonymous, though they may be made to follow each other in the same way as the words " can " " can " are made to follow each the other, and when joined together express a dance which, for the credit of humanity, be it said, everybody does not care to see very frequently. There are not very many who can "cancan," but as everybody knows there are some who can cant, and it is often,apparent that the worst actions are hidden under the most specious words. Amongst these may be ranked the letter sent by an embezzler to his former employers, in which, though lamenting his former actions, he affirms that he has done all for the best, and avers that God will bring him back again to the paths of virtue. His retura to the paths'of virtue may be indefinite, but there is not much doubt but that he will return to England, as he has been arrested in Dunedin, where he will probably find that cant can't prevent punishment for wrong doings.