ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1520, 1 April 1882, Page 3

ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

There seems to be auy amount of diversity of opinion about the proposed extension of the City boundaries. Some of the city councillors objected to the motion proposed by the Mayor, on the ground that no practical advantage would accrue from the suburbs being taken into the city, that the suburban districts would participate in the large and rapidly increasing revenue derived from the city endowments, and that all that the city would gain would be an increase of area and an increase of debt. Many people in the suburbs, on the other hand, object to the amalgamation, be- ! cause they will lose the control of their own rates, which they have at present, they will lose their identity by being merged in the city, they will have to pay higher rates than now, and they fear i that their wants will not be so well sup- I plied as by the highway boards. Personally, I can hardly be supposed to feel very strongly on the subject, as I do not own any property in the city, and only a very small piece in one of the suburbs, besides having a slight interest in a cemetarylot. Still, looking forward to the futnre of Auckland, it seems to me that it would be highly beneficial for both city and suburbs that an amalgamation should take place, and that right speedily, but I had better not say more on this subject just now, or the readers of The IFtulcalo Tunes will be voting me a bore. * There are great rejoicings among those in the employment of the City Council, from the Town Clerk downwards, in consequence of the resignation of Councillor Offer. He may be a very nice man, but I cannot, at this moment, remember anyone who has expressed a very large amount of admiration of him. However, I have a bad memory, so it is possible that I have come across an admirer of him, and have foi gotten the circumstance. It was said that he went into the council for the express pin pose of "making it hot" for the Town Clerk. Of course, this was only a rumour, and we know that Dame Rumour's character for veracity is not of the best. Certain it is that he made the climate so very sultry for the Town Clerk that he had to appeal to the council for protection, and Councillor Offer was given to understand that it was not part of his duty to worry the employed of the council. He took the hint, but the officials knew full well that if he was sure of support from some of the othev councillors, he would "break out in a fresh place," and so they rejoiced exceedingly when they heard of his resignation. There was a big row in Queen-street on Saturday night. A man of colour, named Cox, who keeps an oyster saloon near the Bank of New Zealand, had a slight difference of opinion with another coloured gentleman named Hill. Mr Hill wanted to have his supper in a private room, but to this Mr Cox objected. There was a row and struggle, and, in order to bring it to a close, Mr Cox took up a knife and .stabbed Mr Hill. The police were informed of tlie affair and went to arrest Cox. A large number of larrikins, hoodlums and yahoos gathered around, and proceeded to show how great a nuisance they could be. The police requested them to retire to their virtuous couches, but either they had no virtuous couches or they did not feel sleepy, or they had been to see Mace and felt pugilistically inclined. At any rate, they would not " move on," so the police arrested one of the ringleaders, who rejoiced in the name of White, but was not what our American cousins would call " a white man." He objected to being arrested, so he struck, and kicked at, and (struggled with the constables, but unsuccessfully, as they put the " bracelets" on him and took him to the station The rest of the hoodlums, larrikins and yahoos hooted and boo-hooed at the police. .Some of them talked about a rescue, but it ended in talk. The average larrikin is very good at hooting and boo-hooing ; he is quite capable of ill-treating an old man, a woman, or a chihl ; he will sometimes attack a solitary policeman ; but when it comes to a fight with half-a-dozen constables, even though the larrikin has two ov three hundred of his species to assist him, he is "not on." In spite of his bluster he is a coward at heart ; he knows that if his companions trust him they will find that their confidence has been misplaced ; and so he (measuring their own bushel) dare not trust his companions. The Wellington correspondents of our two daily newspapers seem to be unduly agitated over the question of who is to be the chairman of committees in the new Parliament, Hach of them has sent up about a score of telegrams on the subject (two score might be nearer the mark, but I prefer to err on the side of moderation) since the elections took place, and they will piobably send another score or two during the seven weeks which must elapse before Parliament meets, and even then they will not have been able to settle the matter. I would say to each of them as someone (whom I know not) says in the play (which I know not), " don't exasperate yourself," but be so kind as to allow the new Parliament to settle this little matter for itself, as it certainly will do, whether your gracious permission is accorded or not. Some years ago we Aucklanders showed our admiration for royalty by the reception and entertainment we gave the Duke of Edinburgh. After that we got into a perfect fever over the proposed visit of the Prince of Wales. That did not eventuate. However, we received information that the sons of the Prince of Wales were coming, and we burned to do . honour to them. Again we were disappointed, but to console us there came down from the Waikato His Majesty, King Tawhiao. We received him well, and did our best to entertain him properly. Of course, the "fresh fish" banquet was not a great success, but that it was not was caused by the most singular succession of misfortunes and blunders from which a man ever suffered (vide Mr Dallen's able letters on the subject). Ignorant people would suppose that our appetite for anything in the way of, or belonging to royalty, would have been satiated. Not so, however, as this very week there was a large and brilliant assemblage at the North Shore, a splendid luncheon was provided by the proprietor of this cafe. Champage flowed freely, and so did the speeches of Consul Griffin and other great orators, and all this was in honour of the launching of a royal barge for King George, of Tonpa. Who can say that in this democratic country, where "Jack is as good as his master, and a darned sight better," we do not preserve our admiration for royalty and everything, directly or indirectly, connected with it? We will elect a king, not a governor. How will that suit Sir George Grey ? St. Mungo.

One touch of winter makes the whole female world sealskin. A writer on the domestic life in Italy says that, as a rule, " distrust and suspicion rule the ordering of an Italian house. No master or mistress usuolly believes in the integrity of any one in his or her employ, and the whole home life' resolves itself into a kind of war of wits— a grim kind of clexerness of theft matched by cleverness of detection." The servants are abominably treated — badly fed, abused and scolded, '