AT THE CORNER.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4886, 6 September 1884, Page 3

AT THE CORNER.

5^ [by nemo.] Semo tnm, lumani nihil a me aliennm puto.

Tbe Themes Borough Council caDnot j after this, establish a reputation for! despatch. The " quickest time on record " has been credited to. the Lawrence' Borough Council, the members of which recently put through their business, at one sitting, in ten minutes. This Council, it is asserted, bad no money to spend, and thus got rid of the disagreeable duty of not spending it. Here we are somewhat similarly placed: as' regards finances, but considerable time is spent in discussing ; bow to disburse what may come in " the j sweet bye-andbye." Lengthy meetings | of the Council are periodically held, and, as far as I can see, a little bit of personal; prcminence is generally the motive lying at .the root of their prolongation. Verb, sat sap, "-■■■-..■' , x x x I was somewhat pleased to see that in a recent local jour co-cm noticed the rapid spread of the frog creation in our district, especially at Tararu and Kopu. As a frogite, I am'rather delighted with the idea that the music of the amphibious animal referred towill not go unappreciated in our portion of the globe. What should we do? what would we do? what could we do—were the wholesome little quadroped wiped out of existence? The thought is really maddening. There can be little doubt that the Borough Councillors hare not been properly attending to their duties, or they would have seen to the introduction of frogs in thfe Pollen street and other ponds long ago. X XX Why do not the people residing at the bush station up the Xanaeranga Valley try and get a telephone established there? TheKirikiri folks ought also to more in the same direction. Bapid communica* tion by telegraph has become a necessity, and our outlying districts should get "bent on " to some wire if possible. X x X Many hare been the amusing anecdotes told re the mistakes of "new chums "and "greenhorns," and Ibave onemore to add to the number. It occurred in our big neighboring city—Auckland the proud,— and the characters were a newly-arrived emigrant and a master painter. The employer bad received a commission to paint a house in the suburbs, and providing the ■foremen tioned "chummy" with a brush and a large pot of paint of the correct color and consistency, he despatched him one. fine morning recently to execute the task, t strictly enjoining him to commence daub* ] ing "at the top." Away went the embryo 8.A., and manfully set to work " according to directions." Before the day was dune he was back to the shop, asking for " more paint. " Why," said his employer, " what have yon done with it all ? I gave you nearly enough to finish the building." "Oh!" exclaimed Mr Greenhorn, " but I haven't done tbe roof yet!" Here ends my tale; I don't think a sequel is neces- ' sary, but I reckon, that " chummy's " | name wa» Walker before long. . •

My" SaWation " friends will doubtless look askance as they see the shocking result of religious excitement on the unfortunate man Cullen, who wss to-day arrested as a lunatic. The dreadful ravings of the poor creature were really heart* rending, and showed most unmistakeably where the root of his malady lay. When such evidence that there is a liability of people's reason being unseated, by the vagaries of this peculiar body, it is really time that something should be done to prevent ocourren«es similar to this sad case being possible of record; N

Man's descent has been, bothering the world from almost time immemorial, and now a new philosopher, and perhaps friend, to the human race, has met with the discovery that man has descended, or, I should say, ascended from reptiles. Thit ii really a most comforting reflection, and perhaps to a great extent accounts for fhe-rffurely natural—fondness of the allimtor for man as a rule. -^It-n»y~be-aiso-Snotherlinkinthechain 6f evidence in favor of this theory that the make family are ■omewhat disgusted at the degeneracy of nan since hit departure from their ranks, and shew their disapproval of it by the dangerous result of coataet with them. X XX

The leader in this moqiingi 'Tiser is devoted to the consideration of the alleged Beedr ciwumstaoces 9f the recently' •leeted Chairman of Committees in the House of Sepresentatiyes, and of- the reMons why he should hare, been eleoted to the post. What » there in the ipreintment to call for such distinguished noaeeP To say th* : least, the allusion to Mr Hamlin's private affairs is in bad tapte. ■ '