THE BEER TAX.—REPLY TO WORKING-MAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1278, 7 September 1880, Page 3

THE BEER TAX.— REPLY TO WORK-ING-MAN.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, — I notice in your issue of the 28th. ult., a letter from a bibulous correspondent who signs himself " "Working-man, " evidently one of those working- men, who earning good wages, spend more lLan they ought in beer and their time in hanging round a public-house bar, discussing "Grey and the situation" between theirdrinks. lamperhapsinerror, but I take it that it was not such as thesa that Mr Whitaker sought to represent " when canvassing for the seat, " but working-men of a different stamp to whom beer was a very small consideration, and I boldly assert that Mr Whitaker merits the support and confidence of his constituents for the fearless and straight forward coursa he has pursued in this, as ia every other instance. That he knew he would give offence to numbers of beer bibbers and publicans I haye no doubt. Nevertheless he had the courage to vote for the right ; though perhaps not the popular thing. " Workiagman " being probably exempt from the tax on personal effects in the Property tax (and may be indeed exempt from the tax altogether ; his love for the seductive beverage having assured that) may account for his partiality for it. I will conclude by advising '* Work-ing-man " to take his beer in moderation and then he would not feel the tax even though it were sixpence. Also, not to flatter himself that " Grey and the Work-ing-man" will go down in the Waipa. And to bear in mind that there are all shades of "Working-men," from the class he represents, to that of the workingman whose capital is invested in the property which he works, and who possibly prefers Mr Whitaker's views to those ©f Sir Gerge Grey on this (pint pot) measure. — I am, &c, Anothbr WorkinO'Man.

The wife of a wealthy and retired grocer to her artiatio dressmaker : " Dress me in such a manner that my vulgarities will pass for mediaeval aftectations." If you send a telegraphic despatch from Paris it will reach Alexandria (Egypt) in 5 hours, Berlin in 1 hour 30 • minutes, Bucharest in 5 hours. Constantinople in 5 hours. Copenhagen in 4 hours, Cuba in 10 hours, Edinburgh in 2 hours 30 minutes. Dublin in 3 hours, Frankfort-on-Main in 1 hour 20 minutes, Geneva in 1 hour 15 minutes, Hongkong in 12 hours, Hamburg in 1 hour 30 minutes, Jerusalem in 6 hours, Liverpool in 2 hours, London in 1 hour 15 minutes, Madrid in 2 hours 30 minutes, Manchester in 2 hours 30 minutes, New York in 3 hours 30 minutes, New Orleans in 8 Rio Janeiio in 8 hours, Rome in 1 hour 30 minutes, San Francisco in 11 hours, St Petersburgh in 3 hours, Southampton in 3 hours* Sydney (Australia) in 15 hours Valparaiso in 12 hours, Vienna in 1 hour 45 minutes. Washington in 6 hours, Yokohama in 14 hours, and Zanzibar in 7 hours. "Atlas" in the World says:-An effort is being made to get the Australian eleven at Lord's before the end of the month, and to let bygones be bygones. By all means : but one of the Colonial team was given out the other day for obstructing the field. Will no one persuade them that the game of cricket is not always to the strong ? I remember once playing on the borders of the Black Country against a local team. " How's that, umpire ? " asked the wicket-keeper. 11 Out ! " " Hout be dommed ! " returned the burly batsman. *'Oibe the biggest mon on this 'ere bonk, and 'ere oi'll " bide !" After that we hired a fighting umpire.