Notes and Comments.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 126, 21 March 1901, Page 3

Notes and Comments.

- On tha last day of this month the census of tho colony will THE census, bo taken, and already the forms for filling in have made their appearance. There are a few alterations, but not of very great 'consequence. Turning to the example given of the mode of filling up. the return, vve find that our old friend, Taffies Henry Thompson, is still there. Curiously, too, he has not -advanced in age during his sojourn, but holds tenaciously to 1: is two score aufftwelve. James Henry, it will be noted with interest, belongs to the male sex, is married, and lives in a wooden house of twelve rooms. There are also. a. number of other details regarding James Henry, such as his profession, religions denomination. the Sunday school ho does not a:tend, and his length of residence in the country. Next comes Sarah, the wife of the aforesaid James Henry, who is ill with fever. Then follow in order Martha, Henry and James, children of James Henry, varying in age from 20 to X years. Henry is 19 years of ago, and it would be of interest to know whether he had applied for enrolment in any of the South African contingents. but in this again, the return is wanting. Aunt Maria and her little boy Wiiiie are absent, having, apparently, outstayed their welcome and departed for fresh fields and pastures new. Their places are tak.-n by Louisa Watson and Juba Swhiton. The former is r married female, an artist by profession, and her length of residence in the colony stamps her as a ” new chum.” She is in business - on her own account, but does not employ any labour, being apparently : able to “ paddle her own canoe.” Anyone interested in Louisa’s- welfare will b« pleased..to learn that she is , 33 years of age, is in good health, was born in Ireland, can read and write, floes not attend Sunday school, and is visiting James Henry Tuompson. John Swinton, as his name implies, is a male. Furthermore, lie is eight years of ago and unmarried. Johnnie was born in Victoria and has existed for ..twelve whole months in thia Greater Britain of tha South, enjoying the advantage of free education, and having resort to Sunday School, apparently because he does not receive religious instruction in the state school. . By-the-bye John is a Baptist. Thomas Henderson and Susan Smith, male and 1 female, respectively, are unmarried servants of J.:H. T. The former is a Presbyterian and the latter a Wesleyan Methodist, but sad to relate, neither attend Sunday School. Thomas is suffering from the effects of a burn, but the return does not state whether he is progressing favourably or. otaenvise, mr whether kerosene or a mustard plaster has been applied to the injured part and with what results. These ommissions are to be deplored. Susan Smith claims France as her birthplace, . and no one is likely to have the chance . to contradict her. John Smith, lodger, , blacksmith, cut of work, of tho Salva tion Array, has, metaphorically speaking, taken up his bed (or bluey) and ■ walked, his place being taken by Ole Jenson, of the same occupation. No , mention is made of a presentation to . John Smith, but perhaps has been overlooked. Ole is a native of Sweden, . a naturalised British subject, and apparently has strong opinions about religion, for he objects to state to what . denomination he belongs. He had , passed the age of Sunday School attendance. Like his predecessor, Ole is on the look-out for a job, which we trust he will soon procure. In the meantime it is to be hoped he will find . his new “diggings” to hisliking, and be . able to fill in his time with the convivial company of Johnnie Swinton , or Louisa Watson.

The Palmerston North Borough Council is working up city fathers, a name for variety performances. At the last meeting the programme was unusually lively. Councillor Park moved for an enquiry into Councillor Edwards' alleged disrespectful mode of . addressing fellow Councillors. • Councillor-.Edwards then " took the i. flare,” and defied the Mayor when his

f Worship masked him to sit down. Councillor Nathan, in moving a vote of censure ■’ on Councillor Edwards, said the meetings during the past few weeks 1 had been scandalous, and a disgrace to ythe town, and if they were continued i-he would stay at home. ■: Councillor said . ditto to Councillor jj-'The meetings were degenerfibear garden. . If .they continued, he would not attend them. After a good deal of steam had been let off in this way, the vote of censure was passed. Thou both Councillors Park and Edwards withdrew language, the original resolution was withdrawn too, and finally the entire proceedings were expunged from the minute book. Quite a pretty little comedy, in three acts. Perhaps the same finish will be enacted to a little “ drama ” now being plryed in, eh 1 another little town.