TOLD ON LAMBTON QUAY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5092, 1 August 1895, Page 2

TOLD ON LAMBTON QUAY.

[By The Ancient Mariner,]

on that ancient man, 1/ie bngktei/cd wraen'-Coleridge, Wellington, Tuesday^ A STALKING HOUSE. The prevailing depression is being utilised for airing sundry schemes and ideas, and during the past fow weeks everyone who has nursed an impracticable scheme or an unworkable idea, lias rushed into print, and tlio preface of tlieso letters "to the editor" generally begins with, 11 in oi/der to remove the depression." The latest fad takes the shape of an "Industrial Association," and is borrowed from Canterbury, wliero an Industrial Exhibition is to bo held shortly. The number of societies for preserving this, and prevent- i ing tlmt, and associations for booming one thing and another are plentiful enough in the City, and one more added to the number can make but little difference. The proposed Industrial Association will have a big programme, the central idea being to encourage and foster local industries. On paper the scheme looks very well indeed, but. put into practice I do not suppwgf" 1 the community will derive any bedfi lit. There will be annual tions, ns a matter of course, mid there will beollicers to managetheconcern, and on the energy of the latter, will depend the amount of interest taken in the affair. The Secretary would be the principal man in the scheme, and probably the only man to receive remuneration, and therefore the chief lienejimm under the scheme. The depression will remain with us all the same, notwithstanding these brilliant ideas. HKAD OP AX EDITOR. Members of Parliament, like schoolboys, have their periods of merriment, and when the mood takes them they can be very funny. It is well-known that the pet aversion of the Minister of Lands is a newspaper editor of the " wrong color," aud the word Pomahaka makes his hair stiffen ami stand upright. The famous Pomahaka Estate has been very much in evidence this session ; there is a petition from tbo settlers praying for a reduction of rent, and there are certain giganti. turnips in the lobby of the Holjf intended to give practical proof ot the extreme productiveness of the Pomahaka soil, Some wag has taken advantage of the situation to harrow the tender feelings of the Hon. Jock, and lias carved one of the Pomahaka turnips to represent a man's head, and a plentiful use of ink has blackened the image which is set off with the legend: " Head of an Editor, decapitated by the Minister of Lands." It is said that the Hon. JohiiMcKenzie refuses to see the joke, but his looks, when ho passes the decorated turnip are terribly ferocious. CASUAL CAMS. There is much indignation felt in the circles described by Civil Servants, at the reflections cast upon them by some Ministers. The Minister ol Lands complained in the House last week that Ministers were surrounded by spies; this is true, but tliecadsareainongthc "casuals,V and are distinctly the proteges djk" Ministers. The Civil ServantpropS® has no need to act the part of a spy, so long as he performs tlio " (Jovermnent stroke," and minds his own business, there is nothing to trouble him. Nut so with the .supernumerary clerks, wiio owetheir temporary appointments to grovelling and lick-spittling Ministers. It is these individuals who are tlio spies, and have been encouraged to a great extent by the system of espionage, sanctioned by Ministers. The Civil Service has been completely disorganised by tlio present Government, and the clerks of the Government Jiiiildings live in hourly dread of dismissal. The " casuals," themselves, are unable to distinguish the spies among their number, and are therefore obliged to daily perform a series of genuflexions before Ministers, so that they may retain their billets. It will bo terrible when the washing-up takes I place, and this event canmit long be delayed. Ministers alone are responsible for the fact that they are surrounded by spies, and therefore 41 should not complain. fB

BRICKS IX IIUSIXHSS. 0 There is not the least doubt - bricks arc doing well in business, for 1 the building trade is really brisk, ' 0" Hie Reclaimed Land, bricks are ; being piled up at a rapid rate, while ) several new warehouses are to bo put 1 in hand shortly. Tenders are being ; called for two largo buildings, ono 1 for Kenipthorne, Pressor & Co., to s be four storeys high, and the other 1 for Benjamin and Co., of tiro . storeys. The Ermiiij l'ost is ) to move into new premises to . be erected, and the tenders . for these are being invited, The livening Bloater" has occupied a commanding position at the point where Lambton-quay ends and Wil-lis-street begins, and the paper is no doubt running a risk in leaving the spot. The now premises will be ; about the centre of Willis-street and though in the heart of the city, the position cannot be compared with the present one. However, the people are not disposed to growl, if tlio change means an improvement in the paper; we have put up with Jimwig l'ost very patiently, and itij® really time the paper acknowledged^ ! the obligation it is under and improved itself. Compared with the papers in the other large centres of the colony, our evening paper is rather ara^sothat improvements on a large scalo are possible. The bricklayers arc of course quite pleased with the times, and the promise of plenty o work, The plans for the uty baths are, I understand, well in hand, so that more work is assured. "SUFFER UTTIiK CHUMtEX," It is painful to see the number of children wandering aimlessly about the streets every night. Girls and boys between the ages of sixteen and eighteen virtually take possession of the footpaths of the main thoroughfares every Saturday night, and their horseplay, bad language, and rude behaviour is not only sickening, but also endangering the future of the City. I was particularly struck the other night when walking dowitfiA Cuba-street, where half-a-dozen boysP* and a couple of girls had congregated themselves, with the highly-seasoned ■ " talk of tlio youngsters. Tlio two girls were boisterous urchins, slowly but surely graduating in vice. One snatched a scrap of paper from the other, and out plumped the expression, " What a damned •hame," while the boys chorused in a stronger vein. This is the first chapter with these silly girls, the second will probably he recorded- in the Alexandra Home and the tiird in gaol, Walk behind any #f thg 1

" pushes" and your cars will tinglo with the filthy language that will bubblo out of their foul mouths. In the sido streets the horse-play is vigorous, tho voices nre loud and boisterous, and every othov word uttered is an oath. There is a good ..deal to be said for the folly of youth, Bit much of the blame lies with tho yolice, who seem callously indifferent to tho position. A stricter regard for the duty they owe to tho public, would cause the constables to" move on" these larrikin gangs and disperse them. A "Society for the Sup] iression of Larrikinism," is much more needed in this Cilv, than even a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

a rossiiiu: mrr. Tho Ward Reception appears to havcsmilfed out the Seddon Souvenir.

The great birthdaygiftofathonsand guineas has apparently died a natural death, for we hear little of it now. The memory of the Ward liasco has possibly damped the ardour of the Liberals; at any rate there is no booming the birthday party. The promoters of the Ward Reception have not received their rewauls as yet, but this is no fault of the Government. Their efforts to appoint a few more Legislative Councillors were baulked, but had fs not happened, one at least of Reception Committee would 'e been the owner of a political l ponsion of £l5O per annum. How will tho Government reward the Chairman of the Ward Reception Committee? is asked on all sides. I do not for a moment think Sir Walter Buller undertook the responsibilities of Chairman with any ulterior motive or with any expectations of a reward, but the Ministry never forget then friends, and Sir Walter deserves to be remembered for his distinguished services, I have no doubt he has been kept steadily in view, ami as the Agent-Generalship will soon be vacant, I should not be surprised if Sir Walter Bailer is appointed. It is the one billet that he would like, and it is the position he thinks he can fill to perfection, and I believe he is right. In the giddy circles of London society ho would be a shining light, and his intimate knowledge of the colony and its requirements, could be used to advantage. It would be a lifting reward for the fiirman of the Ward Reception nmittee, and the probabilities of appointment being made are great.

i.ncn.MOTivn rem,. When the railways of the Colony were under the control of the Commissioners, the question of utilising firewood as fuel for the locomotives, was each session asked, principally by the present Ministerial parly,and when the Commissioners refused to sanction this kind of fuel, all sorts of epithets were Hung at them. Tho scene lias changed, and those

who were persistent advocates, are now positively against the scheme, yet from a National standpoint, there is much to commend it. The firewood now goes to waste, while coal is consumed, but if the locomotives burnt firewood our coal would be conserved and a waste product turned to account, Besides this, selling the firewood would be

to tho bush settlers, equivalent to obtaining a second crop off the land. Bf Victoria, it is the custom to burn firewood on the engines, where, by doing so the struggling bush settlers aro helped. In Canada the same course is adopted with similar ends in view. Even if the firewood cost more than coal, the gain to the community will, in the long run, more than compensate us the extra expense. The settlers near Eketahuna are losing a golden oppor-

tunity, and should petition the House '' to give the firewood a trial. When the line is opened to Woodville, and this is an event tlmt will occur about Christmas of next year, a large quantity of firewood could be consumed, and the benefit to the settlors would be enormous. Dr Newman tired the shot this session, hut being of the wrong hue, did not hit the mark, but ft petition through Mr Hogg may have the desired effect.

lill'l'l.W KKKVKS. I occasionally stroll into the Press Gallery of an afternoon to watch the proceedings of the House. On Tuesdays when the members meet again liter their three days' of rest there fipjuerally much to talk about, and the buzz of conversation thus occasioned iscontinnous and exasperating to those obliged to hear what is being 6aid of the speakers. To-day the scene was as 1 have depicted it, everyone was talking in a semitone ' above a whisper, the Hon W. P. Reeves, was on hisfeet mumblingout something about a paper which he .. desired to lay on the table. No one ' could hear a bloomin' word he littered when several members inclined for business called out in a peremptory manner " Speak out!" " Speak out!" Nothing disturbed, the Hon, W. P, took a few short steps forward and retorted, "I should like to speak out but I f am afraid of disturbing the conversation." The House was caught, and the roar of laughter that followed proved that the retort was thoroughly appreciated. Reeves is "ripping" on occasions, especially in quick retorts. DITTO DITTO. Last year when the unemployed question was at an acute .point, and (jeering was too apparent, three MPemen of the commercial class , in the City conceived the idea of soliciting public subscriptions, and expending the money so obtained in some work of public utility. In this way the" Queen's Drive" was made last year. I notice the same gentlemen are again tramping the streets, bobbing in and out of the various business places, and the smiles of happiness that playabout their hairy lips, lead me to think that they are meeting with the same success as last year, What work they intend fixing up, I have not ■ discovered, but I can quite believe it '' will bo something calculated to benefit the City, and they can bo trusted to carry the job through in a business-like manner. The soupkitchen has well served its purpose, but if the unemployed were found work to do, I think tlicy would appreciate it a great deal more than their daily pint of soup. The worst of the unemployed difficulty this ' y& ' 8 that there are so many mffimics and tradesmen idle, to whom navvy workwould bono relief. Tho unskilled laborer is not so pressed this year, as the drainage works and one or two other undertakings, find him in plenty of work i TOIMVIIiE TEIiKPHONK SYSTEM. It is singular that you have not availed yourselves of tho advantages of the telephone in the Wairarapa— I mean as a method of communica- ' tion between tho scattered buildings and outposts on country stations find farms. Now that the Govern-

ment is introducing improved instruments into city circulation, there should be plenty of the old style of telephone, good enough for the purpose, available at most moderate prim; and tli,e top wire of existing fences, with a loop round straining posts, does tho rest. lam not sure that even insulators aro necessary, as electricity always follows the easiest channel, and in this case that would certainly be along tho wire and not down the posts. At gateways the wire is either run overhead from poles on each side, or is carried underground by the introduction of a length of thin cable. In Australia, telephone facilities of this nature are fairly frequent in the back-country, and possibly the mention of the matter in this column may lead to the introduction of similar services in the Wairarapa.