AT THE CORNER.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4745, 22 March 1884, Page 2

AT THE CORNER.

[BY NEMO.]

Homo sum, htimani nildl a me alienum puto.

A cacoethes movendi in the matter of love-making has attacked a young and unsophisticated importation to oar shores, and from his own account of one of his adventures. I have gained an experience that may be of benefit to some of those embarrassed as he was. I am told that after a severe struggle in the matter of self-respect, and being in a state of bewilderment as to whether his divinity was " a perfect lady " or not, oor young wooer " popped the question," bat did not meet with "sighs responsive," and felt somewhat like Bunthorne when the latter lover was " kerushed again." My friend, however, related with elation his recovery from the very sad disappointment. He said, and publicly, too, " By Jove, I was bad, you know. I felt it awfully—yes, rather; but I went in for sodah and milk, you know, and would you believe it, yon know, it really saved my life. Going in for soda and milk always now, when I propose." This youngster still lives.

The Borough authorities are decidedly wrong in refusing to allow persons to remove debris from the Karaka Greek. It seems somewhat like a " dog in the manger " spirit. It would be a good thing if residents on the creek were forbidden to throw rubbish into it. ;

In November, 1882, a line of coaches was started by Messrs Young and Pope between Thames and Tauranga via Paeroa, and great success was expected; but owing to the condition of the roads the fine teams were unable to continue their thrice-weekly journey to Tauranga, and the coaches had to he taken off within six months; Twelve months have passed, and yet the road between Paeroa and Waterford is unfit for coach traffic. Why is this thus? Do our local*authorities wjsfc to^see|all the traffic direr ted from the 1 Thames to the CambridgeRotorua road ?' When will our people wake up to the consideration of their interests, or do they prefer the sweet dolce far niente, whieh^appears to govern their movements? XXX A fishmonger's shop is much wanted here. Will any of our fishermen take the hint, and start the thing: it would surely pay? Such an establishment should supply not only fresh fish, but also oysters (in season), lobsters, dried fish, tinned ditto—and, in fact, any and every variety of marine animal obtainable in the Gulf, leaving out sharks, stingarees, porpoises, and whales. XXX Why do our miners continue to risk their lives descending shafts in cages without head-covers? I should like to know how often the strands of the shaft ropes are examined, and whether anyone is responsible for this being done? The cool way in which miners dispose of sach questions is a marvel. The funerals are generally well attended! X X X When do the County magnates intend to build the Komata bridge ? It is high time it was taken in hand. Perhaps when a Councillor gets drowned in the River, the bridge will be erected, •:,- x mt x ■■■ ■ • ■ If the local agent of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Society wants a job he should inspect the animals used by the mail rider between Thames and Paeroa. X X X What would not appear to be very generous treatment, it is said, b,as been experienced by some of the Unfan Sash and Door hands, who, have been committed for trial in connection,* with the late timber dispute $t Hikataia, I am told that the company tried to induce the men im plicated to proceed to Tairua—which means more than one day's swagging— and the men objected to such an arrangement, as they are bound, Jo, appear in Auckland before Sftany dajs elapse, My informant that some of the men haye had to submit to the " dirty glove v parable, vis. : Now that their work is done, they are thrown aside. In fact the company has, if my information is correct—and I have no reason to doubt its accuracy—threathened to withdraw bail \i the men refuse to proceed to Tai?«a. This would eeem somewhat ungrateful. I have been futiher told that a few of them, after : getting into trouble in their employer's interest, have had their services dispensed with., XXX I have been shown a most idiotic circular from the Eailway Department anent the isgue of a reporter's pass on the N.^. Eailways. The effusion, evidently the, emanation from th,e brain substitute of some departmental noodle, requires inter alia that the Bdiae of a reporter must b«

inscribpd on the pass, and it is not trans* ferrable. Of course, one can give the department credit for the possession of the most sublimely ignorant officials in the colony; but, can' any ordinary mortal, even without the knowledge of the business of a newspaper office, conceive thepuerility of such a condition being enforced ; the pass is for twelve months, and even supposing that one man should be in a position to do the whole Jof the duties of a reporting staff on a newspaper, in his absence from duty, sickness, orany other cause the, grand, cpacenion is worthless. Should the reporter, in whose name this pass' is issued); be em* , ployed elsewhere, the privilege of ÜBing it cannot be indulged in rby iny^other on a paper. - Whoever has had a hand in this sensible (?) production should be appointed a member of the Cabinet, if he be not already, and a "medal Struck on' the outer lining of the most pachydermatous animal to be found. And to add to the [ absurdity .of this newly-born regulation or determination, this peculiar privilege (?) . must be paid for. ■„. -. vst^-.j.5,.^ i * * -& ' Standing at;''a' street cornet <Xw&WliG&* day night, I heard one of a; group of men who were conversing-, near me make the remark, !«vid«|tly - referring 4 to-myself, "Well, whoever it is writes iat&e Swais a mean, fellow., .to run down the Salva* tiodiiUlik^ydoes.Vi This wi»W rerj complimentary, and was certainly £ poor recompense for my efforts tojjoint out some of thelglaring pfifCoftljp* Army. Since then two or three other incidents have come under my notice, Mly blMtipg out the remark that the nightly conversions are often 'the '■ result 'of excitement. One is relative -to a bushman who attended the meetings, was " converted," and whose advent into the Army was duly notified in the War Cry, with a dote to the effect that he was going back to his old mates to carry the good tidings, &c. Well, the bushman did go back, to a settlement not 20 ■ miljes from here, but thjy good tidings were not spread much by him, for on the first night of his return he got gloriously drunk, and sold his " shield " for 5s to a mate, who was in a similar condition, and from whom it was shortly afterwards stolen. X XX Could I see that the .Army was really doing a good work on the Thames^ I would gladly welcome them, but when I see them, to say the least of it, spreading such a spirit of levity all through the town, and hear men, women, and children of all classes speaking of Sacred things, which should be mentioned with respect, as if they were the doings of tlitf last play, I cannot think that with all their noise they are doing tha good they profess to be accomplishing. „ .. f T