BRIEF MENTION THE PREVAILING SCARE. — MORE GERMAN ANNENATION.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 226, 10 January 1885, Page 12

BRIEF MENTION

THE PREVAILING SCARE. — MORE GERMAN ANNENATION.

Harnperedly circumstances — A New Year's Day picnic. Nothing like good honest gas to purchase goods by. The electric light has been tried at home and proved a failure. That Kelson-street titter is beginning the house -breaking business at rather an early age. She will not gain any kudos by it. Five-year-old girl in Ponsonby, observing a drag pass full of holiday-seekers : ' : Throw them things out and give me a ride !" A Waverley Pun. — Seedy-looking individual : "I say, boss, how often do you shave ?" Genial Boniface (whose beer is only excelled t>y his beard : '• Just as often as you shout." Total collapse of S.L.I. Auctioneers springing up like mushrooms. Arthur's, Cochrane's, Carbines', Ley don's, Lewis', and Hamer's are the best marts for exhibiting household furniture, &c. r and where generally the best prices are obtainable. We have received from Messrs Murray and Spencer, Queen-street, a sample of their " Albata pens," which we have tried and found very flexible, to stand wear, will not corrode. Three dozen of these pens are sold in a box for sixpence. A contemporary stated the other day — ■ S'The time for holding the annual meetings of shareholders for the election of School Committees is approaching." The paper is so essentially the organ of capital that it evidently would like to see the management of all public affairs in the hands of shareholders. The Observer seems to be in request in the country districts. A subscriber residing 50 miles from Auckland complains of the frequent miscarriage of his paper, and pronounces a malediction "on the wretch who would rather steal than buy an Observer." It is needless to say that we entirely endorse his sentiments. The Te Aroha organ of the Band of Hope and Blue Ribbon Army has lately been severely exercised on the subject of beer and brimstone. The editor's interest ia brimstone is a little fpremature, though, of bourse, he will get his bier before his brimstone. Perhaps the prevalence of the latter "in his immediate vicinity has something to do with it ; but, to add to his troubles, he lias lost a swarm of bees, which he advertises for. Probably the bees will see the advertisement and return at once. ■The .knowledge of English, history is something wonderful in Auckland. Since the production of " Jane Shore," the surmises as to who she was'havc been somethingawful. One respected citizen was under the idea she was a mistress of Richard the Third, while another laughed and said, "Nonsense, that shows what you know about history. Jane Shore was a morganatic wife of Henry the Eighth, who, for some imaginary crime, condemned her to walk the streets and live on tallow candles and ditch -water," then, recollecting something he added, "'No, no, I'm wrong, that was Jane Grey. I knew it vas Jane something." A correspondent who signs himself "Truth," sends the following: "Sin, — I firmly believe that the Roman Catholics of Auckland exercise more command over their tempers than any other denomination in this City, as witness the beneath. Time. Sunday evening last ; place, St. Patrick's Cathedral ; collection plate going round. Voice : ' Now then, P., down with your half - crowns !' Quite loud ; heard by all in the gallery. P., in an equally loud tone : 'No b y fear ! ' Now, I venture to say that in any other church or chapel that would have been followed by a ' pitch out,' but at St. Patrick's raised fingers and < Hush ! hush ! hush !' was was all that eventuated."

Seedy-loolring Individual : " I say, boss, bow often do you. shave ?" Genial Boniface (whose beer is only excelled by his teardy : " Just as often as you shout." Total collapse of SL.I. The "Auckland Clmstmas Annual and New Year Number," printed and published by Mr William Mahoney, is printed on toned paper with a coloured cover, and contains eight pages mostly of original matter, the selections being of an excellent kind. The first page is filled with an original poem, " The Old Log Hut ;" an Australian Bush-

man's Tale, by Thomas Bracken, which is remarkable for its graphic power, deep passion, and pathos ; "A Bunch of ivowan Berries" is contributed ; "Christmas, Old and New," is a somewhat scholarly historical article on the customs of that festive season; "How I Found My Wife," by E. Morgan Morris, Editor Telephone, is a well written local story with a skilfully-managed plot. We have received from Mr 11. H. Hollo way, of Hamilton, an original musical composition called "The Tenakoe Galop," which is the first of a series that the composer intends to publish, under the following titles: "In the Twilight," waltz; "Love Letter," •waltz: " Sup jxle- jack," polka; " Lina," polka; " Eotomahana," waltz; " Rotorua," waltz. The title-page of the piece sent as is very handsomely got up, and the music is neatly and clearly printed. Evidently the composer has spared no trouble or expense in producing it in a creditable style. We have not had time to try the galop, but we will do so, and give our opinion in a future issue. Dr J. L. York, the celebrated Liberal orator, of the United States of America, will deliver a series of Liberal lectures in all the prominent centres of population in New Zealand during the month of February, March, April, and May, on the followingtopics :• — •" Evolution and the world we live in," " Nature's divine revelations," "Science of life and how to be happy," " Liberalism, its defence and demands," "Individuality," Love and marriage," " Open questions in sociology; "The logic of unbelief," Inspiration — What is it ?" "Science and religion," " Common sense," "America." The doctor is expected to reach Auckland about the 20th January. The Columbian, American, and other newspapers speak in eulogistic terms of his abilities as a lecturer.

And, like Oliver, lie wanted some more (Samoa). A correspondent strongly condemns the unfairness shown in the so-called reductions in the Armed Constabulary. He says there is a sergeant for every three constables and an officer to every ten, and that the lame and the halt are retained in the force while the young and able-bodied get their roni/e. At oue station he alleges only 12 out of )50 arc on the roll as fit for duty, the rest being employed as servants to officers and noncommissioned officers. He thinks the only people who would be sorry to see this noble army of martyrs abolished are the slaveys who admire the silver buttons and tight pantaloons of the " mmi bnhs of the foorce." We think our correspondent is undeservedly severe on the force, who, after all, can only obey orders. The retention of the older members in preference to young men Avho have not outgrown usefulness in some other employment is, to our mind, the proper thing. Is our correspondent one of the despised and rejected junioi'S? The United Temperance Demonstration have no reason to feel grateful to the Blue llibbon Army, if the facts communicated to us can be relied on. Several delegates from the Army attended the first meeting of the U.T.D., but when they learned that the Demonstrators proposed to indulge in impious muscular exercise or sports, they turned up their eyes in holy horror, and departed, lamenting the degeneracy of human nature. is 1 one of the Blue Ribbonmen joined th" procession, though many wearers of the blue could be seen on the racecourse. One prominent member of the noble Blueites absented himself from the racecourse in high dudgeon, and probably spent the day in sackcloth and ashes, with occasional draughts of ginger ale and a dash. The members of the Temperance Demonstration are liberal-minded persons, who entertain strong objections to having religion thrust down their throats in season and out. IS" or did they fare any better at the hands of the Salvation Army. A polite note was addressed to " Captain " Burford by the secretary of the Society, inviting Mm to cooperate in the demonstration, as many of the Army had participated in the demonstration at the previous annual turn out. Howevei-, the secretary's invitation was not acknowledged, and the explanation given sub rasa is thai the " Captain '•' had to go through the form of communicating with headquarters as Dunedin. About a fortnight afterwards

the secretary waited on bandmaster Little, with circulars containing the proposed programme, and the latter said he had to attend a meeting- that morning, but would bring up the question, and communicate the result ; but the first intimation that the secretary received that the Army had made other arrangements came through a paragraph in a contemporary. Evidently the things which the two armies are deficient of are courtesy and good breeding, but what else can be expected from men who lift up their eyes to heaven, and are perpetually laying the flattering unction to their souls that they are not as other men are, drunkards, winebibbers, publicans, and sinners ?