AT THE CORNER.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4733, 8 March 1884, Page 2

AT THE CORNER.

[by nemo,]

Somo sum, liumani niMl a me alienum puto.

A communication has reached me relative to the Sunday parades of the valiant warriors who are sworn to protect our homes and interests—l drop the old "hearths and homes" advisedly. The "growl"is to this effect: A number of the members of the local Volunteer companies appear-in uniform for a Sunday Parade, and they certainly go in for the " parade," but seem to ignore the cause of their " turn out." They fall in, and all is serene and beautiful; they march to a certain point of dismissal for the purpose of allowing all in the ranks to attend their respective places of worship; but—what is the result ?—many who " don " their uniform for Church Parade, " doff" their Church Parade for uniform, that is, if you can judge so by their neglecting to go to any place of worship, and those members of companies, I would suggest, might lend more lustre to their respective com« panics by avoiding a display of their "war-paint" on Sunday, unless it is carried into a place of worship. Such is the object for which the parade is called.

I have heard several complaints relative to the non«recognition of street etiquette in Pollen street every Sunday night after church hours. Between seven and half past nine o'clock, it is a moral impossiblity for anyone to pursue a straightforward course in the main street of the town ; to travel from one end of the chief thoroughfare to the other entails the pursuance of a tortuous course, and in the majority of cases the use of imprecatory—at times profane—language. It is, or should be, well known in all towns that the rule of the pavement is " Keep to the right," and those proceeding in any one direction should not occupy more than half the width of the footway. Not only Sunday evening parades require that such a rule should be observed, but Saturday night promenading demands similar attention.

Our marksmen have been allowed to return without any demonstration whatever. Now, why was this thus? Is it only the victorious who deserve a welcome? and are not those who did their best to receive recognition ? I think that at least their comrades in-arms might have gone to meet the competitors, and played them home ; but Volunteering is on its last legs —no one seems to care whether it lives or dies. The bloodless story of Parihaka, Tararu, Hamilton, and Te Awamutu is forgotten. The alleged discourteous manner in which the Committee of the Choral Society notified hon. members that they would have to pay for admission to the last special concert has caused much dis* satisfaction, and some of the members have expressed their intention of withdrawing from the Society. This is to be regretted, and it is to be hoped that the Committee will make the amende honorable to the effended gentlemen, and induce them to continue their subscriptions and patronage. XXX I hope the Regatta Committee will try to get up a canoe race on the 17th. It would be a great feature in the day's amusement, and it would be just a little ahead of Auckland in regatta business. In years past the canoe race was considered the most interesting event, and while a " waka" can be found good enough to float, it ought to be included in the programme. For further information apply to Taipari. XXX The want of gas-light in our streets is a matter which ought not to be over-looked-by the Borough Council. I suppose there is no town in New Zealand of equal size, where the streets are un» lighted. If even the corners in the principal thoroughfares were graced with a gas lamp, it would be a great boon to the peop\e. I commend this question to the careful consideration of our councillors. Gas might be obtained at a reduced rate. x x x I have discovered, quite accidentally, that at feast some Government officiate require brains, and further that they are capable of abnormal development. Only imagine the inventive genius of a Southern official who has devised a clip—for filing Government Gazettes —which can be also used as a tooth-pick (double action), rabbit trap, flea-catcher (invaluable to Thames ladies), an infernal machine (the nihilists have ordered a sackful), linen dryer, mouse trap, hay rake, bollock yoke, and many other things too numerous to mention. After this, who will believe the story of the newly appointed official who had his brain taken out and cleaned, and, forgetting to replace it all,said "Oh, its of no moment, I've secured a Government billet." Our inventive friend has brains which can be used in as many ways as his wonderful " clip."

By how little wisdom is the world governed ! This in a small way is evidenced in the neglect of our local authorities to keep the Karaka creek clear of debris, and also to see that a large culvert is built through the railway embankment at its junction with each street, This will have to be done sooner or later, or the " intakes " will become cesspools, X X X To be " spotted " by the ever-watchful man in blue, for a Coroner's jury is " hardly ever " pleasant, and many are the ruses adopted to avoid it; but the twelve " good men and true " who held the inquest at Tararu this morning were rather hardly dealt by, It was raining steadily, so it was out of the question for the polioe to rely upon being able to get enough viotims at Tararu; they therefore summoned no less than ten Grahamstown residents, who had not only to give, up their time for nothing, but had to pay their own cab-hire to and horn Tararu as well. They were ail quiescent, however, and not a murmur was breathed to the Cojoaer anent their hard lot, though pri--1 vate opinions on the question were .pretty freely expressed. ■>i x- x Should w© ?ead of such things in America we would smile, but when it is done in our midst we must look solemn. News has been received that a bridge has been anchored, to a tree; good. We will

next hear of a wharf being tied to a landed pub. Surely this kind of thing should be obviated, approaches being washed away, should leave a well built bridge standing securely, and if it requires anchorage in time of a rash of water, it had better be raised and strengthened, or allowed to float " gently down the stream." It can hardly be safe for general traffic.