TOLD ON LAMBTON QUAY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5062, 27 June 1895, Page 3

TOLD ON LAMBTON QUAY.

[Bv The Ancient Mariner,] SI And thus spake on that ancient man, tf£> The bright-eyed-mariner."—*Coleridge, Wellington, June 26, ITS ORIGIN. The scheme propounded by the Bank of New Zealand Estates Company for ridding itself ef the jettisoned cargo of the Bank of New Zealand, which it- salvaged a few years ago, is looked upon as highly speculative and of tho order known as" wild cat." This lottery busi-_ nesß follows in the wake of the Queensland andTasraanian schemes, both of which were anything but successes, besides there is tho St. Alban's estate lottery, over which tho great Tattersall, is at the present , moment in earnest consultation with >Ms very numerous clionts. Even supposing the Estates Company receives Parliamentary sanction, tho probabilities of the venture proving jj, success are considerably marred by (Re failures in the Sister Colonies, and by the still undecided Tattersall scheme. If thore is any credit for imitating this gamblo it cannot be claimed by the officers of the Bank' of Now Zealand. The scheme was not evolved out of tho inner recesses of their brains, nor yet did the idea emanate from that astute body of business men that compose the directorate. Tho origin of this " wild-cat" is enveloped in a little mystery, and we must go back to the time when the Colonial Treasurer was contemplating his invasion of the London money: market. A colonist with a patriotic outburst of feeliug and a consuming j desire to save this glorious country I wrote toMrW ard suggesting a lottery, \ as an easy and inexpensive method of I realising on the Estates Company's : fiperties at rnoro than market j ne. This letter Mr Ward pigeon- j ed, but .when the Ministerial | Pooh Bah, Mr Sedion, annexed the j Treasury, the pigeon-holes were! overhauled and the patriotic epistle i was.brought to light. It was then minuted " Send this to the President for his opinion," and from the royal presence it passed to the 8.N.Z., under escort of a trusty messenger. The President read it carefully, and although it is against tho grain of a time-worn proverb to count the chicks before they are hatched, still the President indulged in alittlearithmeticmerely to show his confidence in tho ability of the lieu. £IO,OOO for this estate, £20,000 for that Auckland business, £12,001) for that Southern Fellmongery, and in a few strokes of the pen, the State guarantee of two millions seemed to vanish. The scheme was good, very, very good, and the Government Auditor was called in to see the new-found treasure. Ho walked round it, for a fe while, and seemed disposed to t it with indifference, but lie did butt against it; the fascinating res of the President enraptured him, and after counting the chicks he felt fully persuaded lie had already earned his salary. President and Auditor now brought the matter under the notice of the Directors, who were only too glad to side with the sponsors of the scheme. The wild-cat will, in a very short time, mako its appearance in the House, for the approval of members, and although some may indulge in cat-calls, and give the creature ugly names, it will nevertheless come out of the Parliamentary Buildings, vigorous and healthy. The man that suggested this idea, may possibly receive all the credit of having been the originator, but it is not unlikely that others will mop up any praise that may be associated with the scheme. c, THE liors' INSTITUTE, 4pi'e have a variety of Institutes devoted to furthering the well-being of the people, but there is no Institute doing the good work that is being done by the Boys' Institute. It was founded just three years ago, by a few large-hearted and highminded citizens, and the usefulness of the Institute, has amply demonneed. To me, it seems iitodible that tho Boys' Institute can have survived three long years, for its support comes entirely from the voluntary subscriptions of the Wellington citizens, The wellsprings of charity, do not bubble over with the wealthy of Wellington, but apparently an exception is made with the Boys' Institute Any working boy of Wellington, can become a member of the Institute, and is expected to subscribe sixpence a month for the privilege. Once a boy joins the Institute, he has every fflility afforded him for improveffiitj a variety of subjects are taught, the teachei'3 giving their services gratuitously. Discipline is strictly enforced, and in military drill, the Boys' Brigade is becoming very efficient. Those who have the management of this Institute, have their heart in the work, and nothing that will benefit the boys, is overlooked, It is a great undertaking, reflecting to the credit of the Empire City. I could mention many names of helpers and supporters,but the central figure in this greatcharitable scheme is, without doubt, that of Mr J. G, W. Aitken, to whom the boys owe a great deal. Although we must look entirely to the City for the support of this Institute, there is a way in which sympathisers in the country can assist, especially those who employ labour, Some of the lads have reached the stage when it i is necessary to shift for themselves, and any country reader requiring theseryices of a boy should communicate with the Secretary of the tijto s' Institute, ™ KNOCK-DOWN BLOWS. The noble art of" self-defence" is tho" tag " adopted for referring' to glove fights, but where the nobility comes in when two idiots punch each other to 'gratify tho sanguinary cravings of a crowd is difficult to comprehend. Several ► of our youth have recently received instructions in boxing, and what might be styled a scientific test was held on Monday evening in a semi►private hall at the Thorndon end of the city, If rumour can be trusted, there was money in the test, and the backers are said to move in, the upper circles of society, The police got wind of the projected fight, indeed it would have been singular had they missed- hearing about it, for almost every street arab knew it was to tako place, and the police, represented by a couple of 'tecs and ■two or three constables in plain clothes were present, and spoiled the brutal fun, As soon'6s the'fighters warmed up their work, and were « landing "oners on the conk " and hot'uns on the kisser," the bbies stopped the test. How the stakes will go, 1 cannot say, but it will be hard if, after submitting to r - bruises and black-eyes, the combat- , ants receive nothing. There is no

doubt,- the City police have scored this time. PRIVATE CONSTABLES, What irritates me, with regard to , the police, is the unaccountable i affection that is shown for tho street hoodlums. These wretches can play any prank they please, without fear of interference from Constables. No part of the City is free from ' larrikins, and I am much afraid ' thoy are quite past the control of the ' men in blue. Possibly there is some excuse for the police, for it is wellknown, that the number of constables on tho beat, is far below the requirements of - the City. Representations made to the authorities have failed, and we have to manage as we can. There ' is a way by which the force can be materially strengthened, if the Government cared to adopt the ' practice prevailing in Jersey, where private citizens are appointed to act as constables, and havo as much authority as the police constables, although receiving no pay. In Jersey, the people are glad to become constables, more particularly those who are property-holders, and who desire to see the neighbourhood, iu which they live, free of criminals ! and law-breakers. I am sure there ore many people in Wellington, who would be quite willing to assist the police in preserving order, if they were called upon to serve in the ! private police. What a terror the secret police would be, to the average.' larrikin ?' Hoodlums would think twice beforo they indulged iu horse-play, not knowing when they might be pounced upon by .'» citizen constable. Jersey is worth :copying in this matter, and Welling- ■ ton should bo the first place experii meuted on. I WINDOW GARDENS. \ Tho Empire City is noted for its ! unsightly buildings, dirty streets, I and general ugliness. Wo possess a ! Scenery Preservation Society, but ! the members find it hard work to ;be useful, for there is no sconery to • preserve, We can boast of very ilittlo in the way of gardens, or plantations, or anything approaching scenery, and it is the treeless character of the City, that is most marked. Gardens are few and ill-kept, while there are not more than two avenues of trees iu the whole City, Our buildings are huddled together like so many rabbit hutches, whilo tho land attached to each house is of the smallest possible area. We really have no opportunity foi gardening, and many who would like to so beautify their homes, are unable to do so, for the want of land. But Wellington is not the only place so circumstanced; other Cities are as badly off, the only difference is, that in some Cities the people are encouraged to make what are called "window-gardens." A fine collection of pot-plants about a window, gives it quite a charming appearance, and it is window-gardens that aro required in this City, to relieve it of its monotony. The Horticultural Society could, with very little trouble, encourage the people in this direction, and perhaps the suggestion may be of use to such Societies ill the country,