AT THE CORNER.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3804, 8 March 1881, Page 3

AT THE CORNER.

''Satan finds some mischief still, : For idle hands to do."

What's his name.

It is thought at the Corner that Mr Alley's attack on the Chairman of the County Council is most unwarranted. Mr Brodie's friends would like to see him wire into Alley in the Supreme Court, but he very wisely says that he takes it as the boy did the kick from the donkey—that everybody knows Alley and everybody knows Brodie, and therefore it is unnecessary for him to take any notice. So far our worthy Chairman is right, and far be it from'me to advise litigation, which it is well known causes anxiety, trouble, and expense, yet, even though Mr Alley may be likened to a nasty insect, it behoves us in some way or other to put a stop to the annoyance. Unfortunately, the z'wsee/wanting brains, common sense, and right feeling, cannot be put down as any man of ordinary sensitiveness can be.

And this reminds me that last week it was also mentioned at the Corner that others in our community are very much inclined to cut and stab, insect like, with-

out consideration, and .that as it is impos- < Sibie to meet sach insignificant opponents ■i mg r fair field it places ail others of """Superior intelligence at a disadvantage. So it has been from the commencement of time, and so it will be untii the end.

At St. George's Churcli on Sunday evening it- was publicly announced that without the assistance of the congregation in the way of increased, contributions the ordinary expenses of the Church could not be defrayed. It is to be,, hoped that the request of the officers will be complied with. At the same time it struck many people as very strange that the minister should especially; refer to the arrears of his stipend, Sfc, §*c. I trust that he read Jhe communication verbatim et literatim.

There is an undefined feeling that something good is going to turn up, that the present dead calm is the precursor of a very favourable wind, which will waft us round the Cape of G-ood Hope. As I said, it is undefined. There is a something which can be felt only, but not explained. Let us hope that the present dullness will be followed by a time of prosperity. We have our Thames mines, Owharoa, Waihi, and Te Aroha to look forward to in the'mining industry. We have the advent of the Lincolnshire farmers to look forward to, and we have the settlement of our other lands to look forward 'to. With all these and other industries we may well say,- "Let the Government treat us as fairly as other more favoured districts, and we shall yet become a power in the State."

A "power in the state" aye, but we must carefully watch over our own interests and send men to the Assembly who will.represent us—not men who only come to us for or men who make politics a profession, but representatives really—men whose interests are so wrapped up in our own that any injury done to us, any hanky panky tricks, must fall uppn tkeir^>.wn^heads as wellas oura. —men who,'should tfiey ~be leoto sen their birthrights for a mess of pottage, would find that they have assisted in digging their own graves. It is difficult to find men of this stamp. Yet they are to be found if it is not left until the last moment, y

"So some people think, so some people gay," that the. Government desires that the volunteers should make one last feeble effort to. awe the King natives, and then —and then—and then —disband; die of inanition; melt down their buttons; convert their uniforms into paper, and resolve-into ordinary citizens, and yet, and yet, and yet, what do we read and hear that' the Government is about to expend large sum's of money in defending our harbours. Out on such folly. What means have we of so protecting our harboursI 1, as to meet on equal terms any enemy that might be sent against us. la the meantime what little check we may have on our Maori friends is done away with for the sake of economy. Penny wise and pound foolish I say. . Unemployed.