ABOUT NOTES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 296, 2 October 1873, Page 7

ABOUT NOTES.

Most people in business know the parentage of these useful bits of paper at sight, but few, we fancy, conld at a moment's notice describe the li trade marks" by which, in addition to the. printed title, they are distinguished. Indeed we may confess at once that until we were shown one of the w tea of the "National Bank of New Zealand " it had never occurred to us to make a comparative examination of the paper issued by the four banks having " a local habitation and name." Since then, having drawn cheques of our respective bankers for the express purpose, we have taken a good look at. them all, and are therefore in a position to describe, in a rough, unimaginative way, the " marks "in question. The Union Bank has a lady with a stations looking animal beside her (supposed to represent Britannia and the British lion, we believe) gazing complacently at a plough, a sheaf of corn, several casks, a full-rigged ship, and a kangaroo. The Bank of New South Wales has a lady reclining on what might be taken for a horizontal tombstone, with a stick and one or two snakes on it in her left hand, and a^bigger stick without any snakes on it in her right, a few cattle and sheep, a shield with a shephe d in ! kilts upon it, an anchor, a wheatsheaf, a school globe, and barque in the distance. The Bank of New Zealand note has two neat medallion pictures,

the -uppermost representing two Maoris inMihe old-fashioned watei-proof cloak, with a pretty land-and-water-scape in the back ground. The lower one is more or a fancy, sketch of what may have been in the days of yore — two larije tailless, and apparently windless, birds, like magnified chickens, the moas, emus, dodos, or kiwis of a past age ; a Maori canoe and a volcano in the back ground, and some tree ferns and flax in the fore ground, make up the picture. The old Bank of Otago had lady with an uncomfortable looking helmet and something like a riding-habit, with the skirt thrown over the right shoulder, holding aloft a flag combining the British ensign and the Southern Cross, standing sentry over two emus' eggs, life buoys, or bags of chaff, or something of that kind — certainly not two bales of wool — with some sheep onner right, some diggers beach-coming on her left, and a steamer in the distance. The new National Bank of New Zealand, which might have been expected to come out with something in keeping with its colonial arms, had adopted what is known as |the " Royal Arms " — the " lion and the unicorn " — each as unlike anything in nature as it is possible to conceive. We can only account for the adoption of such a " trade mark " on the supposition that a misconception existed in the mind of the artist as to the intention of the bank's founders. In common with others, we have understood it was their "wish to have the institution regarded as pre-eminently a New Zealand one, and have therefore considered the title a pardonable anticipation of the time when, having gone out of leading strings, the colony should become the Britain of the South and assume the responsibilities of a "nation." The real meaning, we are now led to believe, is that the " National " refers sdely to the British nation, and that the founders desire to hare it understood that their " nationality" is purely British, although they are willing to transact colonial business. The general appearance of the papers tends to confirm this impression — its plain black and white strongly resembles a "Na- } tional " Irish or Scotch note. There is not even a fern leaf to break the severe simplicity of thjß engine-turned borders, and the size is much smaller than that of the other colonial notes. The £5 note of the same bank is larger, and is printed in bjpe, with a heavier border. The LlO is of very similar design, printed in a fine brick dust color. What may be intended as a'* trade mark " is only noticed on close inspection — the initial letters of the bank's name in monogram. As the result of the scrutiny, we feel bound to .say that the new note does not compare favorably with some of those already in circulation. It is, however, printed on good paper, and although there may be sentimental objections to its "image and superscription," *in practice everybody we have met with is willing to take them for value received. — " Southland News."

The Times has received a full report from Newfoundland of the- voyage of the American ship Polaris, which, after reaching the latitude 82deg. 16min., lost its commander, Captain Hall, apparently by apoplexy, on the Bth of November, 1871, and a considerable portion of the crew of which was separated from the ship on the sth of October, 1872, and floated south on an ice floe. Tbe account of their sufferings And expedients for a liying is very interesting, but after all the chief interest is the ship's experience of the climate of the extreme northly point reached, and segms to confirm the theory that it is much milder than that of the region south of it. In June the plain around them was free from snow, and the ground covered with creeping herbage, serving as food to great herds yf musk oxen which range over it. ludeed, north of 80deg. it was much warmer than between 70deg. aud 80deg. Besides musk oxen, rabbits and lemmings were seen in abundance ; the wild flowers were brilliant ;r; r and when the Polaris unfortunately* went into winter quarters in 1871, a heavy bank of cloud was seen, which looked like a water horizen to the north-east, the direction in which a way was open for the Polaris to explore. Driftwood, too, came floating down south, which seemed to imply" that the Exquimaux at least had dwellings further to the north. Probably Captain Hall's want of intrepidity in going so early into** winter quarters was due to his failing health ; but it would be a thousand pities if we do not follow up by further investigation the many evidences of a milder climate near the Pole. The " Times " will not e.u-ily persuade us that our courage ou^ht to quail before the open secret of the Polar Sea. There is at present (says the " Advertiser") a patient in the Ararat Asylum whoae madness has taken a singular and rather pleasing form of development. The . man is an Italian, and every evening he sings mass in his native tongue, with great beauty and power. His voice is remarkably "rich and full, and the rendering is described as well worth listening to. Evident Genius. — Emmy ( mamma's volunteer secretary) : " How is this to be answered, Kitty ? I don't know what to say ! (Reads:) 'Mrs Fitzmode at home on the 30th. instant from four to six o'clock.' " — Kitty t " Well, I should write and say mamma* did not know Mrs Fitzmode had been away, bat WOQdera she qfcouM return to atop only two hoars.

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