ECHOES FROM THE CAFE,

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1372, 16 April 1881, Page 2

ECHOES FROM THE CAFE,

The Evening Star, on Saturday, contained a scathing leading article in reply to a letter written to, and which appeared in, Truth, a London society paper, of which Mr Labouch<sre, a member of the Imperial Parliament, is the proprietor and editor. The letter was written by a man named Lathrope, who came to the colony as an immigrant at the expense of the Government. The writer says that he was ' ' gulled " by an emigration agent, and that since his arrival in the colony he has been unable to obtain 'employment. He says that the colony is in a bankrupt state, and that the deluded immigrants, not haying a workhouse to go to, have to " die like sheep by the roadside." The idea of a journal having stich a name as Truth, devoting space in its columns to the publication of such preposterous lies, 13 really too absurd, and the editor well deserved the castigation he received in the article in the Star. On Monday evening there appeared a letter from Lathrope, in which he attempted to justify his letter to Truth, and in which he had the cool effrontery , to say that the reason that he cannot mention an instance of people dying like sheep by the roadside is that the newspapers of the colony are banded together to suppress accounts of such cases. Of course this is an impudent lie, told to cover his former lie. lam sorry to say that there are some journals in New Zealand, the proprietors of which would be only too pleased to be able to insert a paragraph with the startling heading, " Man died of starvation in the street," while the majority of our newspapers would chronicle the fact with genuine regret. It seems to me that Lathrope is one of those who is constantly looking for work, but devoutly praying that he may not find it. There was a good instance of the anxiety of working men to obtain employment, at the time that Dempsey, the contractor for the reclamation for the new Railway Station failed in his contract. A farmer, who lives out at the Whau, required the services of a number of men for harvesting, so he sent his overseer to engage as many of Dempsey's men as he could. He offered them five shillings a day, and to send his spring cart to the Reservoir in Newton every night and morning, to take them to and fro, or, if they preferred it, to let them sleep in one of his outhouses, to lend them cooking utensils, and to provide them with potatoes gratis. The overseer went to those unfortunate unemployed and told them the terms on which he could offer them employment, but they threatened to stone him for having the impudence to offer them less than seven shillings a day. Many people are very much dissatisfied that Samuel Brown has escaped the punishment which they consider he should have suffered. He pleaded guilty, on Thursday last, at the Supreme Court, to having burglariously entered the shop of Mr Henry Waite and stolen a quantity of tinware therefrom, to having stolen a quantity of knives, forks and Rpoons from Mr Waters's dining-room, and to having stolen similar articles from Mr Dallen's dining-room. Mr Justice Richmond, after a number of influential citizens had borne testimony to the prisoner's former good character, ordered him to find sureties that he would come up for judgment when called upon, considering the case to be one of kleptomania. People think that the Judge might have been right in so considering it, had the charges been merely those of stealing the knives, forks, and spoons, but the general impression is that a man who lets a shop, but keeps a duplicate key of the door of that shop, and goes by night and steals tinware from it, is a thief, and should be punished for his crime. Many people say that it is the old story — one law for the rich and another for the poor. Madame Lotti Wilmogt, a lecturess, has been holding forth in the Lome Street Hall, on the last two or three Sunday eveninga, to considerable audiences. She is, I believe, a woman of considerable ability, and she thoroughly understands the art of advertising. Not content with the ordinary notices in the newspapers, she went to the Supreme Court, and sat just behind the reporters during the hearing of a number of cases. When the hearing of the case of alleged rape was about to begin, all the women and children were ordered out of court. Madame Wilmott went out, but only to go up into the gallery, where she was partially screened from observation. However, Mr Brookfield, the Crown Prosecutor, discovered her and drew Mr Justice Richmond's attention to the fact that hia mandate had been disregarded, and the Court Crier and a constable were sent up to invite Madame to retire. She did so, as her purpose had been gained. Both the daily papers, give an account of the incident, and Madame Wilmott wrote letters in reply to each, so she got a large amount of cheap advertising. Mr William Lee Rees has come up to Auckland to prosecute Mr J. D. Wiokham, proprietor of the Free Lance, for having 1 published a libel on him. The case i« causing a considerable amount of interest. I suppose the defenoe will be that the statement complained of was true, and was published for the public good, which is certainly the best defence which can be offered in a libel case. If Mr Wickham can prove the truth of the allegations made by him, he waa simply doing his duty as a journalist, in giving them publicity, and the liberty of the press must be maintained. The, late Mr J. S. McFarlane was, on one occasion, threatened by Mr Rees with an action for defamation of character. -Speaking about the threat to a friend, Mr Maofarlane said, " Rees has set himself a difficult task, for he will j have to prove that he had a character for me to defame." I must cut the '*' Echoes" short this week, ai th«re being no train on Good Friday, they must be posted this (Wednesday) evening. St. Mungo.

Mr G-. S. O'Halloran haying disposed of his_ store at Te Aroha, requests that all outstanding debts be paid at once to save further expense. Mr J. S. Buckland's next Ohaupo Live Stock Sale will take place on the 26th inst. The Cambridge Horse Sale, advertised by Mr T. S. Buckland to take place to-day, will be held next Saturday, on which day the Cambridge Cattle Sale will be held on account of the regular day being Easter Tuesday. The new pure cash system now being initiated by G. and C. will certainly prove a benefit to the public. It has been a great success^ in Sydney and Melbourne, and when strictly carried _ out the customer who buys at an establishment where the goods are marked low to ensure a rapid sale must be a great gainer. G. and C. sell their drapery milli nary, and clothing' at such prices for cash as gives the buyer the advantages of a shareholder in a co-operative society, without the risk of being called upon to bear aportion of the loss should the year's business prove unsatisfactpry. Garlick and Cranwell wilt aim to retain the confidence which the public have hitherto shown them, and arc determined to give the pure cash system a. fair trial; whether they gain or lose tho first, year. Country buyers on remitting cash with order will be supplied with goods at co-operative prices ; just the same as though they made a personal selection. ' Furnishing goods, such as carpets, floor cloths, bedsteads, bedding, and general house furniture, the largest portion of which is , turned out at our own factory, will be marked at the lowest remunerative prices, and a. discount ot five ner'cent. will be allowed to those who pay~af the time of purchase. .- G-. Ie- C. bavingr- realised the entire value of their stock during their' late cash 'sale, the present stock is new Arrtr'cß'rm.Y bought. A<n inspection is invited. — GAfcnoic and CRAMWKtt, City Hallgurnisbing Arcade Queenstreet, Auckland - '