ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1268, 14 August 1880, Page 2

ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

ObR legislators, conscious of their great value to the Colony, have decided to increase their numbers. Six more members ! Six more Sir George Greys, or six more Speights ! Six more Seddons, or six more George Joneses ! May a kind Providence protect us from such an infliction ! It is a very sad thing that, when every one sees the absolute necessity for retrenchment, the Government Bhould bring down a Bill to add more than £1000 per annum to the amount of honorarium, and no one can tell how much to the cost of Hansard. I think it is a step in the wrong direction, and would have been well pleased to sec the number of members of Parliament reduced. It would be pobbible to eret 30 or 40 " good men' and true" able and willing to give a portion of their time and talents to the service of their country, but certainly not 90. The only consolation I have is that the majority of the new members will como from the Middle Island, for, though the confession brings a blu^h of .shame to my brow, ap I am an Aucklander of upwards of a quarter of a century's residence, it must be admitted that the Southern members are men of a better class than the Northern members. Of course there ore exceptions to this rule, but the" exception proves the rule." Major Te Wheoro moved an amendment on the " Marriage with Deceased Wife's Sisters" Bill, which did not meet with the success it deserved. He said that this was a Maori custom, and that, as they were about to adopt a M tori usngo, the childi'en born of a marriage with a deceased wife's sister should be tatoocd, and he moved an amendment to that effect. Only 10 members had the *ense to ngree with Te Wheoro. EDtd the amendment been carried it would have . sived a. .great deal of unpleasantness in the future. Any one visiting in a family of which some- of the members wore inAwrAvould Know that the subject, Mirrifige with Deceased Wife's Sister, was tdhonnl, and avoid it. A similar plan might be adopted with advantage in families where there are a number of .step children. I know of oue family which was awfully complicated. Mis>> A. was married to Mr 8., and there were two sons aud a daughter bom, is-aie of this muriage. Mr B. died, and Mrs B. was married to Mr C. , who had two children, issue of a former marriage. One child was born bcfoie Mr C. followed the example of Mrs B. and " joined the majority." Mrs C. consoled herself with a third husband, by whom she had four children. Thu.s there were members of four different families living under one roof, aud the way in which strangeis " mixed those childien up" was pomething really, truly, awful. Now if those children had been tatooed, with a different style of tatoo for each of the four families, it would have prevea ed mistakes. A lady married to a Chinaman ! Yes and she a cultivated, well-educated lad/. Her friends were horrified and scandalised when they heard of the marriage, but they altered their opinion, when they came to know the gentleman — for he was a gentleman by birth, manners and education. By birth a mandarin of high family, ho was sent to the United States at tbe age of seven. There he was educated, first at one of the best public schools and then at Sale College, where he obtained high honors carrying off the prize for English Literature and many, others from the native-born competitors. He obtained a lucrative appointment under the United States Government, and received a large income from his estates in China. Climatic influences, education, and mode of living, combined, not only improved- his physique, but altered, the contour of his features, and his appearance was very similar to that of an educated American, with the exception of his eyes, which were of the almond-shape peculiar to his race. He fell in love with an American lady, "who accepted and married him. The Chinese Government, on being apprised of his marriage, confiscated a large portion of his property, so he went to China to obtain redress. When there he was asked why he had not married a Chinese lady of his own rank. " Because/ he replied, " I prefer a wife with a large head to one with small feet." With the assistance of his influential friends and relations, he obtained restitution of his property, after •which he returned to his wife and his adopted country, where he now lives, beloved by his wife, admired and respected by a large circle of friends, and a blessing to many who kayo Leen assisted by his princely generosity. Sir Heroules Wobinson is to succeed Sir Bartle Frere as Governor of Cape Colony, and Sir Arthur Gordon is t6 come to. this colony as the successor of Sir Hergulej. Sir Arthur has never been

fttlpopular Governor}- but he is a man of ~great ability, ■*£& one who will do his duty without respect to persons. When, in Trinidad he mado himself very unpopular by compelling the planters to treat the natives as human beings, not as beasts of burden. Public feeling ran very high against the Governor, who, unfortunately, allowed himself to be influenced by «, number of men who professed fcajjt>e "champions of a down-trodden race," and used the power placed in their hands for the purpose of annoying those planters who would not toady to them. As one of these satellites was leaving Government House one evening he vgas seized and carried away to a lonely spot at some distance, where he was tarred and feathered, some oi the tar being poured down his throat. For some time the Governor went about with an escort to | prevent him being treated in a similar way. However, he found that there was a good deal to be said for the planters, as well as for the natives, so a proper investigation was made, and matters ultimately assumed a more satisfactory position. The Star says that Sir Arthur Gordon is a friend of Mr Gladstone and Sir George Grey. I hope the latter part, at least, of the statement is incorrect, .as we do not want a Governor who 'has friends on either side of our politics. By-the-bye, why has Sir George Grey been overlooked at this juncture ? He was sent to Gape Colony on a similar occasion some years ago, and, according to Mr W. L. Ree-i, did all that was required in the way of pacifying the Colony. Can it be that the Gladstone Ministry think that the great Pro-Consul is getting into his dotage, or is he too great a radical, with his elective governorship, &c, for even a Liberal Government to give him an »p» pointment ? The District Caurt was occupied on Monday and Tuesday with a case which caused a good deal of amusement to Bench, solicitors, jury and spectators. A man namt'd Heavy sued another man, named Givineif, for £100 cash lent. The evidence was of a most contradictory character, and the accounts were as complicatad as the Colonial Treasurer* Financial Statement. The defendant deposed to a particular payment of 10s. The plaintiff's solicitor asked him where he got the 10s. " Out of me pocket, shure," was the reply, " But where did you get it before you put it in your pocket," asked the lawyer. " From the man that paid it to me." JThe solicitor saw that he was not going to make much change out of the 10s, so passed on to some steers. "Where did you get the steers ?" he asked. "From the cows, sir." When the plaintiff was giving his evidence, he was asked whether tho def entant had signed a certain promissory note before or after he received the money it represented. " Before he received jt" he replied. " Thrue for ye," said the defendant in a stage whisper, "for I haven't received the money yet. However, the jury believed that he owed some money to the plaintiff, and returned a verdict ion £38 12s 10. How they arrived at that amount is as great a puzzle to everybody but themselves as the due date of the millenium is to St. Mungo.