AT THE CORNER.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4785, 10 May 1884, Page 2

AT THE CORNER.

[by nemo.]

Homo sum, htcniani nildl a me alieimm puto.

A wide metaphysical field is opened to the lovers of the abstruse. Acts of Parliament provide for all sorts of things, but in the records of the colony no provision appears to have been made in the matter of the admission of clothing within certain precincts. I have just heard something which opens a very serious avenue, not only for wholesome thought, but apparently demands some legislative provision. It appears that a " high local official," as a contemporary recently put it, had occasion to inspect the premises of a tradesman, a burgess, and a conscientious follower of the Scriptures. Upon application for admission to them, the inspectee cavilled not at the entrance of the official, but he made a proviso, saying," Well, Mr ——, the law certainly allows that you should inspect my premises, and I have no objection to your entering them, but you must take off your boots." "How? Why? Eh? f|&c, rained around from the official. " Well, the law does not provide that your boots shall enter, and I must request that you leave them ■ outside." The • inspection remains incomplete. This is really serious. Some "collar and a tie" act, to say nothing of shirt and studs and boot-laces, must be passed so as tocarry a man safely through. I have not learnt whether it was in consonance with the Moslem system of preventing defilement of the sanctum owned by the objector or not, but it is stated that the inspector incontinently fled. " :. ■ ■' ..* .•«* >< :■■.■; ".,■ ■'■■. The spirit of retrenchment runs fiercely through the municipal veins at present. With a very laudable desire to be economical, the Borough Council has just let a somewhat peculiar contract. I refer to that of the preparation of the Borough rolls. It is certainly not only customary, but desirable, that these should he printed, and in oases of con- : tested elections, a supply of rolls should be in hand if required by candidates. The idea of accepting a tender to write them is novel certainly, and perhaps good-natured on the part of Councillors, but the convenience of the people b^ing considered, and the faqt that a sense of the fitness of things is being displayed, aye questionable. XXX Some time ago I wondered , what became of the funds collected by the Salvation Army in the ustyal contributions, sales of War Cry, medals, &c. A balance sheet has just been placed in my hands, which I forward for publication. I have no desire to comment on it, and had I the inclination no opportunity is given, as the statement must be accepted as it stands.whether it be right or wrong. I must say that considering the supposed itagnation and doU times aj tfte Tijiojep,

the Army has done remarkably well for three months, and the exhortation in their officer's instructions to get money has been faithfully carried out. It seems a pity that 9uch items as divisional account* £15 19s 6d, and general fund £36, should appear, as it would seem almost reasonable that so long as the place supported its Army, nothing more should be asked of it. To send money from here, when many people are complaining of its scarcity, appears neither necessary or desirable. The items are:—; Receipts : Collections, £171 9s 8d; donation, £2 10s 4d j stores (War Cry, &c), £34 7s 9d ; band fund, £3116s ll|d; tea meeting, £47 193 lOd; total, £288 3sß|d. Expenditure : Francis, £19 10s; Hodgson, £15 Is; rent, £43 4s; gas, £7 7s 6d; cleaning hall, £16s9d; stationery and stamps, £1 7s 6d; telegrams, £2 18s 7d; printing and advertising, £4 12s 6d ; erecting platform, £5 12s lOd; opening expenses (lease, &c), £6 14s 7d; travelling expenses, £14 Is 6d; stores (War Cry, &c), £30 8s ; divisional account, £15 19s 6d ; furniture, £40s 2d ; cartage, £3 ss; incidental, 16s 2d; caterer for tea, £27 12s 4d; band instruments, £34 15s; general fund, £36 ; in hand, £1110s 9|d; total, £288 3s B|d.

That those at the Thames are a peculiar set of people has often been said, but until the other day I did not know that even in death their peculiarities were, still dominant, and that they occasionally succumbed from strange diseases. Looking over a report of a health official, in which seven deaths were registered, I wa9 struck by the diseases stated in three of them, viz., exhaustion, want of vitality, and opolexy. The first two I can undertand as perhaps being the most expressive terms at the writer's command, but the third is a puzzle upon which the conjoint labours of Walker, "Webster, and Johnston fail to enlighten me. Perhaps some of my readers have beard of it before, but I confess I have not, and must therefore set it down as a curiosity, for to insinuate that it might, by some inexplicable means have been meant for apoplexy, would be an insult to the understanding of any health officer.