AT THE CORNER.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4874, 23 August 1884, Page 2

AT THE CORNER.

.;- _ ; . .'.■;;;■.' [bihemo.]!;-;!;^ ::'; Sotiio tuviyhimani niMl a me alienumyjuto.

Civil list day in out Resident Magistrates Court seems to; bo likely-, to be registered ns a holiday amongst the Maoris. For some months past the dusky o: ea have tried their hands as defendants in debt cases, but with Varying success, as a rule the result must hare been disappointing— (hat is, to them. The wily native will find in the end that j?akeha law with its; attendant cost will be less satisfactory than paying just debts. Yesterday a "fair" ouc of the race had £2 16s cost's added to a debt of £4 which she vainly resisted the payment of. ;;:. ■■■■'■,:" ■ x x x ". ' ''?}■ Of course drafts are fearful things, and nervous people particularly are dreadfully afraid of the direful consequences attached |to silting or standing in them. Although imagination may have .a great deal to do with the idea that there is danger to healih in even a small extraneous current interfering ;with the natural state of the air, and that such an introduction means premature death, I was somewhat annoyed a night or two ago while 1 enjoying an evening with a few hon vivants, to see a testy visitor glance around for a growl. After seeing that every window and door in iho room were shut, observ ing a cupboard open, this compound of amiability let out," For.Heaven's sake ! shut that door." . , c ■ .■ X X X ■'.-■■ ;:■ '■-■':■'. It was gratifying on Thursday night last to see such an interest taken in the establishment of a Parliamentary Union in our midst, and one of the most, satisfactory points in the affair was the eagerness with which the *" young colonists" en. tered in the spirit of the thing. Such institutions have turned out many, good politicians.... One of Victoria's Ministers, aud I may say oue of her most promising statesman, '-' won liis spurs " in debating clubs, and parliamentary unions, and there learnt what has been of use to him in steering his course through the life he has selected. Vive I'Unionl

•" Civis," in the Otago Times, is pleased to sneer at the. Anglo-Israelites and their beliefs. If he had a better:acquaintance with Bible history and the promises to Israel (not the Jews) under the Abrahamic Covenant, and would take the trouble to compare these with the present position of the British people, I think "Civis" would have his heavy ; eyes opined. There arcmany parsons quite as clever as " Civis "who—satisfied withlthe hundred and fifty passages in the Old Testament, which have a direct and unmistakable reference to the political, domestic, social, and religious^ economy of the Anglo-Saxon as it exists, to-day—are inclined to the belief/that the British people M fill the bill" when proofs of their origin are honestly sought for, and I need only mention one promise to Abraham which to-day is fulfilled, and being fulfilled, to the British, and .which should lead to a thoughtful consideration of the whole question—" I will make of thee a great nation, and thy seed shall possess the gates of his enemies." If anyone will take the trouble to make a list of England's possessions in foreign lands, he will at once perceive that she must be the nation referred to in that promise to Abra ham. If anyone in reading this de« sires information on the Anglo»lsrael question, I shall be glad (o supply it. .

The approaching, dissolution of the Thames Choral Society has apparently frightened some committee members into resigning, lest responsibility should lead to loss. It would be well if people were plainly told, when elected to such posi tions, what is. involved. Many persons consider it a fine thing to occupy an honorable place, if no monetary liability be one of the conditions. It is suggested, that out of the scattered elements of the moribund Choral Society a really good double quartette (vocal • and. orchestral) party could formed. This is worthy the consideration of our musical artistes. The old days of " Pinafore " and "Sorcerer " might be revived. X X, X I believe my suggestion re the sledge and bullock team for the Cemetery road will yet be adopted. I note that the other day Mr Baker could go no farther than Cooper's gate with, his hearse! Better get a sledge made, at onco William! '* v - ' X XX The telegrams received daily this week from our "weather prophet" at Wellington.—Capt. 1 Edwin,; have been read with interest, and that gentleman has been so correct in his forecasts lately that his invariable announcements of " bad weather approaching "—being accepted in most eases as an eaFpesl of what was to [ come—have caused many readers of the" Stab to call down undeserved anathemas on his devoted head. Why, according to the way I look &t these things, they should be thankful for getting the news in time to prepare for the rain, instead" of growling at the man as if he was the cause of its coming. There is another and brighter aspect of the matter, however. Thess floods may do damage to our County and Borough works, but they do a lot of good in washing away filth and preventing disease^ while, as the seasons generally balance themselves, having had a thoroughly seasonable winter, and borne the discomforts of innumerable wetliDgs, we pan -now look forward with a hope; which almost amounts to a certainty, to a fine summer and a good' fruit season.

For the third (and last.l hope) time in the past twelve months th*e Thames isHhe scene of a "strike," and this -time that most unfortunate body the Harbor Board is the one which has got into trouble, the opposing parties beinff the owners of vehicles designated under the various heads of cabs, Noah's arks, and 'busses; The Board demands the tax of a "colonial Robert" from each of the-befpresnien tioned vehicles for the privileged of: being allowed to explore the lower regions of the structure known as the Goods -Wharf. The Jehus think this is too. muchj and say;" We won't pay it. "Con; sequence • The poor benighted travel^ ler; male or female,! in this enlightened district of ours; is landed on a slippery wEarfj with a biting loothwly g*le blow- '

in £f, and[has' to walk '^otet : '- v..: "•. carrying his or her own traps, them behind[before acab ..-can ybevgofV:in)i i : all this, yei go! Is, is the Harbor^-; Board is poor (having all their jnEipney; locked up in a "white elephant" dredge); imd charges sucha toll that it will not pay the cab-drirers to risk tho chance of, not ; : getting a fare. It may be argued that this rate has always been th 9 same,'-tut ; the Board must remember that in the i good times, when fares were plentiful, the men did riot;'grudge it, but n°Wr-well, . they must either reduce ,■■■ the figure, or elsei lose the' toll altogether..;^Thef men appear to have j ust ice on : their iside, i • for they cannot be expected to ; pay what the number of fares they get does ;not recoup them for, and! I therefore hope the 7 Board will see its way; clear to fix the toll : according to ■ the dumber of passengers carried-in each cab. ;-i ■_ ~^- : : ~-■:■.- :?~:-:-^ r'f'-'y '■■.'- ---r -■.:■'■.V-.-.;" x K;":><r t -^;;;v : .;i:;v.;;;k;;y-;; In a small community.V such as purs it is not only the height of folly, but a display of bad taste and snobbishness on the part of anyone, to endeavor to '• set, by ; the ears " any portion of it in social matters. I have regretfully heard of attempts ■being made to interfere with the success of various movements, paving for their object recreation; and I must^ with sorrow confess that the efforts mj^% hare been grounded on a most unworthy - basis' It is quite sufficient for those-who \ Tear injury from aTeontaet' with^ilhe '." comaion herd " to wifhdraw their illustrioas patroaage from its instiiutions. It is entirely Consistent with, an inflated idea of self-importance, combined, perhaps, with an all-must-fail-without-them kind of feeling, for thoae'infected to refrain: from throwing themselves in the way of contagion ; but let those bright particular \ stars, having their own special, orbits, not interfere with the paths of other?, « who may—of course, unfortunately for them—have to .assume a lower grade in the sobial firmatnent. If the brighter lights cannot tend to harmonise matters in the direction vI" refer to,! their interference in; the matter,'.'' of disruption not only shows an unworthy feeling, but an existence of iH*nature and '. an exemplification of snobbishness, born of ill breeding, of a type to be- sevprely deprecated. I hope those who have tried to cause a little discord will take the hint to "let well alone." If they do not care to mix up with those " dreadful people" they seem to betray so' much concern about, they can at; least ignore their existence. The paltry feelings displayed are—well, I think I have said enough, and /. I hop_e to hear no more about arrant snobbishness on the Thames.