THE WANDERER.

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 147, 27 May 1892, Page 2

THE WANDERER .

Money begets friends does it ? Not always ! for sometimes it drives them apart. An instance occurred on the VTairoa not LOO years ago. A few gumdigging chums chipped in together, popped down tlieir money and sweep’d the pool. With the majority of the lucky ones it made no difference in their demeanour beyond bringing a smile of gladness to their faces, but not so with one of them. What a change came o’er this youthful aspirant for financial fame! how th e bent form became erect, and even more elongated, so much so that it became quite practicable to look clean over all old chums. Ah! said one of the latter as all the bright visions of stray long beers vanished, be clad! boys the old song must now be changed for “ Johnny he hardly knows us v So goes the yarn. There’s an old saying, better horn lucky than rich. Well ! let’s try another, hotter remain poor than become a fool. In my wanderings many changes come under my notice. In my last run up to Opauake I noticed that Mr. Harry Kjeer had left Babylon where he had been managing Messers Milchelson and Bros’ Store, and I was informed that he intends starting on his own account. Should he do no I for one wiuhjhim every success. Harry was always a good fellow and well liked by those who had to do business with him. On arriving at Opanako I found that some of the natives had returned from the great meeting at Wnitaugi, but it would appear that up to the time of their leaving very little business of any good had been done. It seems to he the general opinion that it is time to put a stop to sending Maori members to parliament. The Wanderer quite agreed with them in that, thinking what a good thing it would be for the colony not having to pay for these dusky puppets going to Wellington. I ro--nember when I came over to New Zealand from | -• mvself and two others, after jumping I Sydney, . _ * —muired what fun was on in j on to the whan. .. 1 1 nothing! unless we j the evening. Wo were to,-., '*-■* House Tf« wont to the House, so after tea to w, .

went. Well, after scrambling up stairs and gaining admittance to the gallery my gaze fell upon n form full of Maoris with a pakeha at their head. I at once came to the conclusion that I had made a mistake and got in some menagerie or peop show. Seated on’my right wag one af the“ orney ended uns,” ragged at elbows, unshaved, unshorn with breath reeking with the smell of ‘ baccy beer and inguns.’ This party in answer to my enquiry informed me that I was in the House of Representatives right enough, he also told me thatit was likely to be a dull night and no fun on, consequently I soon left but as I wandered along I wondered how the people of New Zealand could tolerate these dusky ones in parliament, drawing salaries and entailing the cost of interpreters. The thing is simply an absurd farce, and I believe the majority of the maorislook upon it as such themselves. So the new parson has arrived, and been duly welcomed and installed. I should think it was a fine thing to be a Wesleyan parson—plenty of change, ft strikes me that it’s an excellent plan the Wesleyans have of shifting their ministers every three years, for it must be an intolerable nuisance to have to put up with a parson who you don’t care for or agree with —probably for the term of his natural life. One might bear such an infliction for three years, but if it came to the longer term the Whnderer would take active measures towards swapping churches. I was not at the meeting of welcome, but for all that I heartily welcome the Rev. gentleman to this district, and trust he may become well liked and respected as his predecessor. . There are plenty of young sparks in this district who want looking after with a careful eye ; the Wanderer cannot watch them all. At a recent meeting of the Count}'’ Council I noticed by the report in the Bell that Or. Dargaville pleaded very hard that lis tender for advertising etc. might be accepted. Poor boy 1 there’s not, the slightest doubt that he would plead hard —in fact beg and pray when anything cropped up that would affect his pocket, but it strikes me very forcibly that it. would be much more after the desire of his constituents’ hearts if he would look more after their interests and less after his own. But what made Cr. Audus turn tail and run ? Fie, Audus ! fie ! there s nothing like fighting a thing out fair and square! We’ll let you off this time but don’t do it again. Take my advice, stick to the Beet,—it’s fighting a fair aud square fight and will coine out on top, and don't you forget it. So far thou hast done well, but small acts like this will bring blots upon thy good name. Flo w many more schoolmasters are going to get into trouble ? When on my wanderings I have on more than one occasion heard dark hints thrown out about certain masters, but like Mr Editor, I considered the Committee were the proper parties to hear of and enquire into the rumours. At the same time one naturally asks himself how much of this falsifying of rolls is going on in the Colony, and whether it would not be advisable for Committeemen to take it. in turn rnd inspect the rolls at their respective schools weekly. Surely that ought to put a stopper on such little games.