TOLD ON LAMBTON QUARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5116, 29 August 1895, Page 3

TOLD ON LAMBTON QUARY.

[Bv The Ancient Mariner,] "And thus spahe on that ancient man, The bright-eyed mariner."—Coleridge. Wellington, Tuesday. seen is LUCK, A young fellow whose patronymic is strongly suggestivo of "That' knuckle-end of England—that land of Calvin and oat-cakes," who not many years ago figured in public as a Bank-clerk, but whose later lifo I was that of" boots "in a pub in this City, has just "struck a dividend." It appeal's that he is well-connected, his father being a spinner in a laige way in Scotland, and a well-to-do uncle quite recently "passed in his checks," leaving a small fortune behind, part of which, amounting to about £IB,OOO, becomes the property of "boots." Asimpleadvertisenient, asking for the whereabouts of the lucky individual, was seen by a j&iciior who knew exactly where to sSluB hand upon his man. The rest was easy work, " You press the button, and we'll do tho rest," was tho burden of the Solicitor's song to tho man wanted, The button was pressed in the shape of signing the necessary documents, and " boots" is now waiting to board the first Homeward bound steamer, to claim his dividend. The Arabian proverb which says," Pitch a lucky man into the Nile, and he will come up with a fish in his mouth," has a good deal of truth in it.

A NATIONAL XUISAXCK. The game of football is coolly appropriated by New Zealanders, as their National game, and I am suro no one should object, Even if we have no other claim to set up, we can at least say that we play, football quilo as well as anybody else. And what enthusiasm docs not engender in the breast of 'Arry and his mates, Watch them at an important match sicli as that played last Saturday jpfrnen Tanraaki and Wellington. Their enthusiasm knows no bounds, and their lungs are exercised violently. 'Aitry, \yhen not piayiii? football, is bound to bea "bari'ackor," and he does "barrack" with all the force he can command. Football' is ft great game, likewise a great nuisance. It becomes a great nuisance to those whq harbour "-rep" footballers qn their premises. No. matter tyUt'tbe press of business, the 11 rep jnusf be spared to ptyy fpr his distrjqt. '.'Sometimes it- happens that the player cannot, from 'his knowledge of liqw busy his employer is, tislj for letvve, l\e' has but to say so, Oqd |ialf-a:dozen influential men in the 11 sore and yellow leaf," but as daft about football as a schoolboy, will button-bole the employer and secure the set'vice of the " rep" player. This sort of thing is becoming unbearable, i}nd I know qne pmployer whq religiously bars fqotjjallerg. " Are yqu a footballer is jnvariably tho last question he puts to tho young man seeking omploymont under him, and if the answer kin tho affirmative, the fate of the Hfplicant is sealed. This particularemployer has been so pestered and annoyed by footballers in the past, that now, no devotee of this game can gain admission into his establishment. The National game requires to be kept well within bounds* otherwise it bids fair'to become, a National nuisance .

•'' " ' A fc'A6l'Aßl'lXCi "'' A man and his dog are invariably firm friend's. There can be' |ittle fjoulit about the friendship on the part'of tbpilofjWhose tiqncEt is Btillhijnmtcr's ' own { "■ Who labours, lights, lives, breathes, lor him alono.

Of course this is a dog story, but 1 it is (is true as it is pathetic. A s gentleman who, for several months ' past, resided in Wellington, owned a collie dog which he greatly pi-iaed, lavishing a good deal of affection on j -he animal, ~/fhe dog was aecus- j limed' to 1 ' grdft i^ ! Tuatiter bvoVy | nbiiijng'ii) flip mpsf boisterous • f (jp|iioii," racing' up '(\nc| dqwn tjip j vorwdah, and into tlw street, hark- • taj and yelping with doggish delight, j Swjw weeks ago, the pair sailed for , Sydney; all- went well until tho : steamer sighted the Australian gUoro. The vessel was about 20 ■ . «-i. Hads.l miles distant from oyuney —, the dog had just been let loose for a rin, its owner was -comfortably Seated''ln a 'deck'' chair, reading, when the collie in 'a moinPrit of thoughtlessness! sprang overboard |j)tq "fiie briny'deep. |lje poor dog must have' been under the impression it was' in its New Zealand home, itni fin being let loose, went through f'h'e' performance pf greeting Its master and thus took a 11 header" into the sea, Under ordinary circumstances, the ordinary Captain of an ordinary steamer, would have • signalled tho engine-room, " Stop her," and had the dog picked up, but my friend was travelling in an extraordinary steamer, and paid the penalty by losing his favourite dog. The collie, as soon as it dropped ink) the water, swam after the iffcnei'!' am]- kept lefts'it- could; or I-auppose until a shark stopped its exertions. To have saved the dog, tho skipper need not havo delayecf bis vessel riipro |ljfjn 'ien"oxf" fifteen' mindtfes,' b'flt'ri jjtppnage of fr-'sW'a-time was refueef. '%« hflwever, (14 npfi fprget fa) charge for tho passage of the dogNURSING THE MBY, -. Every parent will admit that 1 . ... babies when they come—and they . Ji&vo a wonderful knack of showing

up, singly in most instances, but often in twos and threes—bring with them love, without which they would he unbearable. I'or ever bawling and howling, for ever needing services, they drive onedesperate, but parental affection asserts itself, and baby finds every caro bestowed upon it. There are some babies, howover, that are an intolerable nuisance, and adopted babies come under this category. What could exceed in unpleasantness tho Bauk baby adopted by the Colony last year. Notwithstanding a very largo dose of soothing syrup administered in 1894, it this year threatens to take croup or some oilier infantilo ailment, and hero wo are at the present moment anxious beyond measure as to the fate of the helpless thing. Tho doctors have been in constant attendance for several days past, and tho bulletin tliey must issue is eagerly and impatiently looked for, In tho meantime all sorts of absurd rumours are afloat. To-day we are informed by the man in the street that the Select Committee's report was to bo discussed with closed doors and further that the telegraph wires were to be closed to the publio during the evening Not a particle of truth in all these rumours, but how they liavc originated is a mystery. The fact is that no one can really tell wlmt evidence lias been tendered, or what kind of a report the Committee would present, and out of tho uncertainty the vivid imagination of idle gossips manufactured the sensational news items.

OH' THE BEATEN TIiACK, It would be absurd to suppose that the Bank of Now '/calami bus not suffered during the past week. I believe it to bo true that several deposits wero withdrawn and not' a few current accounts closed. This was only to bo expected as the issue lias been in doubt and the light thrown upon the situation lias shewn us unpleasant features with possible consequences detrimental to tho interests of the Bank's clients. I am more inclined to wonder that the Bunk has not suffered in this respect more than it has done, and if all goes well with the Committee's report I have no hesitation in saying that the Bank will regain all that it has lost during the storm of the past few days, for there are hundreds who have a sentimental affection for the old institution and will stick to her through thick and thin, and their

example will cause those who li.ive wavered in their affection to return. To leave the Bank is just now apparently the correct tiling, but I hear of one individual who does not believe in keeping to the beaten track. This person had a deposit of about £2OOO, in one of the Australian Banks doing business in this city, which fell due last week, The moment he was able to release the money he took it to the Bank of New Zealand and deposited it there. Was he wise or was he foolish ? Time alone can tell, but we cannot restrain our admiration for such conduct which under the circumstances cannot be regarded as other than plucky, FANCY III'SINESS.

The predicament of the Bank of New Zealand lias given the other monetary institutions the opportunity of indulging in a little fancy business. Tho Bank managers have made a prodigal use of the negative, and applicants for overdrafts w hetber big or small have met with a blank refusal. " Overdraft! No, 1 cannot possibly allow you to overdraw your account," and with that Ilea in your 1 ear you must leave the managerial sanctum. No discretion is used, for no discretion has been permitted, and the unfortunate managers have been compelled to. say no" where they would rather have said yes," and where yes, under normal condition would have been the answer. A case in illustration was given iqc to-day. A geqt|en|an of means, whose funds aro invested in real estate and in mortgage of freehold property, happened to have let a contract for a couple of buildings, and found that the wages bill amounted to a trifle more than his weekly income. Naturally, he went to his banker, explained his position, and a s M permission to overdraw his aocoqnt to the extent of £3O or $lO. But lie reckoned without a knowledge of tho mystories of colonial hanking, and was greatly surprised when tho Manager told him he would not be allowed an overdraft of a single penny. The Manager was carrying out instructions, and bankers' orders are sometimes indexible, as it was in this instance, for tho overdraft was not granted. No one will say this was a proper action on the part of the bank,.on the contrary, .the refusal was calculated to lose .the'institution a very good client. - But the bank!s view was probhbly that by' showing a stiff back to an important client, it would tend to advertise the institution as tho embodiment pf caution aiid cqqsei'vatism. Thoro is another feature to such a transaction; the i'ato of the Bank of New Zealand has been shrouded in mystery during the past ten days; mystery magnifies danger as a fog the sun, and possibly tho bankers have magnified the danger. MUSIC'S MEI.TIXG TOXE.

Tho Empire City bids fair to become a gi-eat musical oentre.- ■ Justi now there is congregatedlii fellington' a great' number of professional musicians who are gradiidly infusing a iovo of nmsio into the masses, Musical sociotios are multiplying and their muster rolls present a pleasant prospect of much varied music in time to como. The Choral Festival Society, which regaled us with glorious melody a year or two ago lias a iiiSSlberaliip of 180; Mr Maughan Burnett's society Ims enrolled 150 mombors; the Organist'of §t, Mark>, conducts a choral society of h 0 voices, and there aro besides, 1 several other societies whiq]i are well patronised. Instrumental music finds plenty of exponents, in the orchestral society t|)o niaijy string and brasis hands, while ofpiaiip-tliunipers and pianqplaycra thovo are W'n fhp onougli. , 1 think it would he safe to say that jq 75 per cent, of tho homes in Wellington a piano or an organ ilnds a refuge, and the best part of tho remaining ' 25 per cent, can boast of a concertina, or accordeon. Wo float iu 1 music, aud it is our one rodeeming : feature. We believe with the jjob|

' that | MUaio the fiercest grief can charm, ' And tale's eeveieat rage dieann; i Musio can softoa piin to case, ) And make despair and madness pleaso [ Our joye below it con improve, ,+•> . And antedate W tjlisif above,' ( But with all this wealth of musical j talent, wo are, I fancy, wasting onr energies. 1 Cpuld faleiit be ; 3 turnqi to mqio pipfttablQ ftfcpiint if \io established' ft musical academy, and would not the pupils benefit by a'regular courso of study in such an ' instutioii tbnn under tlio go-as-you-f please system that now prevails ? i However that may he, tho Professors

will do the community infinite service if they could manage to instill the lusty luuged footballers, who rovel in "On tlie Ball" and " Crom-a-boo" with some regard formelody, or teach the street-corner " Yahoo " that whistling out of tune isabomiuablo. Perhaps lam asking for too much all at once, I will therefore be content' to see the musical academy established.

TUB GREAT CAUSE. Wellington is now being asked to help" the great causo." The modus operandi is simple " subscribe and advortise." The man that fails to subscribe to a newspaper is a fool, and tho man that does not advortise must burst, but there is a limit in all things, and wo have to draw tho line even at advertising. But " the great causo" on this occasion is " 'l'/jc a penny weekly paper to be published every Saturday in Wellington. Permit me to say that tho penny " People" has nothing to do with the Daily Commercial News anil Shipping Reporter to which I referred a week or two ago, The Commercial News is to be issued every morning at a price within the reach of all, for it is to be issued gratis, but for "The People," you must part a penny. This latest addition to the newspaper world is to bo edited and published by Mr Ji. A. Haggen, Into of Woodville. "The People" is described as a journal of liuance, commerce and money, and will treat of local industries, their nature, value, and expansion, agricultural interests; the rights of labour; prohibition of the liquor traffic; with a dash of society news and a little something to read to the family circle, Mr Haggen has undertaken a large contract, but as lie is a pushing man, there is no reason why he should not make a success of " The People." I for one wish " the great cause" every prosperity, but if Mr Haggen takes my advice, lie will not attempt to force down our throats his fads about paper money and state-banks. Plenty of financial and commercial news with critical analysis of prices, market reports and other such items will, I am sure, prove acceptable. I am assured that the Daily Commercial News will make its appearance in the course of a few days, so that with a daily and a weekly treating of commercial and financial matters, we will be well set up,

(iOtl) ON TUB TUfiESIIOIiD. On Sunday morning I took a walk out to the gold-prospecting claims at Karon Iteservoir. On the previous Wednesday half-holiday quite a hundred people strolled out that way to inspect the finds, among them being Mr John l'abian and another Greytown resident, who have on previous occasions—notably in the Tararua Itanges—taken considerable interest in mining matters. The first claim we inspected is located just opposite the valve-house at the lower end of the Beservoii;, on the town side. It is about a hundred yards up the hill, twenty feet or so above an old drive made some years back. The men have only cut into ! the hill about ten feet, and the substance exposed is what is known as " rotten-rock," rather an easily dislodged material, Here a miner showed us what he said was the residue of one pan of wash-dirt: in the bottom of the basin was to be seen sufficient fine gold to make a thin layer about the size of a'three-ponny bit. Every dish, we were told, gave the same result. The next claim we saw is one situated on thoside of the hill almost at the top end of the Reservoir. ltather more excavation has beon done hero, At the entrance to the cnt was the proprietor's " shingle " bearing this inscription sotice !

Prospector's Claim, 300 yards by 300 yards, protected by Government. (%ncrf) U. Thompbos, A wash-up made by llr Thompson gave the same result in very fine grainodgold us that seen at tho lower claim, and ajrain we were informoil that every test left the same satisfactory deposit in the corner of the dish. The reef, I gathered consisted of rotten-stone ns far as could be discerned, is about ten feet wido, r.nd has been traced for several miles. Indeed, the country has already been pegged out very completely for a considerable distance, awaiting a decision from the Wellington City Council as regards tho granting of leases, fiougli washing by hand with dishes after the primitive method we saw, ought to realise about 7s to 8s a day per man, the miners told us; but front a more systematic crushing with proper appliances they 1 would 1 expect' a hitter return—say alioiitthre'eounces to'the ton; 1 K'eljectiiijj on what we had leanit frqm pur visjt to tho Karori fleserYoir Heservo, there seems reasonable ground fqr believing that further working may provo tho existence of a payable goldlichl, right at the door of Wellington, with a supply of gold-bearing material that will hold out for many years to come, Let us hope expectations may be realised; but-, of course, after all until more extensive operations follow, everything at this stage depends upon tlje men s statement, that there has beeft no"suiting"done.