ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1563, 11 July 1882, Page 3

ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

We have not got the matter of tramways settled yet. An offer to construct two liuesj one to embrace Ponsonby and other places to the west of the city, and the other to embrace Newmarket and the intermediate places totke east, was made to the City Council by Mr W. S. Totten, on behalf of the St. Hejiers Company. The scheme seemed quite feasible, and, on the whole, a reasonable one, so it was referred to a committee of the council to report upon. The committee brought up a report, recommending that the oner be adopted, with some slight alterations in the terms. This report should have been considered by the council last Thursday evening, but Cr. Crowther objected to it being considered until it had been printed, and so it was deferred for another week. Much unfavorable comment has been caused by Mr Crovvther's action, as he is one of our principal cab and omnibus proprietors, having a line of omnibuses running on one of the routes proposed to be taken by the tram-cars, and people readily impute inetrested motives to him. To say the least of it, his action was in bad taste, and was in maiked contrast to that of the Mayor and Cr. Aickin, who, being shareholders in the St. Heliers Company, took no part in the diicussion. They were quite at liberty to discuss the matter, though not to vote on the subject, but they refrained from taking part in the discusaion, and the action of Mr Crowther appeared in worse taste as a consequence. However, in spite of all opposition, we I are hound to have tramways, and Mr Crowther had better look abont him for some other place than Newmarket to which to run his omnibuses. The number of applications for orders, prohibiting publicans and others from supplying drink to people who are injuring their own health and property by the excessive use of intoxicants, is rapidly increasing. As there appears to be no provision made for supplying publicans with photographs or accurate descriptions of these prohibited persons, the (question naturally arises — How are publicans to know who are prohibited persons ? Are they to ask everyone who asks to be supplied with liquor what his name is, and if an order has been issued, prohibiting people from supplying him with drink. If they arc to do so, there will probably be a very large increase in the already very large amount of lying done in the community, as no one is likely to admit that he is ons of those unfortunates who have not the moral courage to stop drinking when they have had enough. In all probability we shall have one or Wo publicans fined for selling liquor to those who were prohibited persons, though the publicans had no knowledge of the fact. Then we shall either have the Licensing Act repealed or some provision made for sending to each publican in or near the place in which each prohibited person lives a photograph and minute description of such person. "What a nice collection of photographs those publicans would get! While listening to " Rip Van Winkle," it occurred to me that there was a splendid opening for a local Irving to write a similar story to that pathetic one on which tha play is founded. He could take his hero (there is not much that is heroic about Rip Van Winkle, by the way) up to the top of Mount Eden, twenty, or, still better, thirty years ago, and let him describe the scene that lay at his feet. He could then put him to bleep, to awaken to-day, and let him describe the same scene. No ! not the same scene, for it has altered wonderfully in the last thirty, or even twenty years. Looking to the noith he Mould see Rangitoto, Tiritiri, and the other Islands in the distance looking just as they did before his " forty winks" began, but all else .would be changed. Instead of ti-tree scrub and »coiia, he would see at his feet handsome houses, pretty cottages, fruit-laden orchards, beautiful gardens, glassy fields, our splendid hospital, and, every here and there, churches with their graceful spires pointing to that heaven to which those who worship in them hope some day to go. By-the-by, I have noticed that very few of those who express a hope that they will go to heaven, even of those who seem fully assurred that they will go there, seem to be in a great hurry to go. Considering what a wicked world this is, and what a good and happy place heaven is, they show a most unaccountable reluctance to leave this for a better. Among those who have gone to heaven ' lately, I believe will be found an old gentleman, who died abont a fortnight ngo. After receiving a liberal education, he became a clergyman of the Church of England. Unfortunately his health gave way and his mind became deranged, and he was thencefoi th religious-mad . In the hope that change of scene and of climate might have a beneficial effect, his wife and family came out here with him. The, change had the desired effect, as far as his bodily health was concerned, but his mind did not recover its lost balance. The figure of the tall, venerable-looking, old gentleman, who went about delivering tracts and warning people to reform their evil ways, was a familiar one to many. He would often take up a position 011 Sundays near to a church and give tracts and admonitions to the people as they came out. It is doubtful if he did much, if any pood, but there can be no doubt about his sincerity. He performed what he believed to be hi 9 mission, and I have no fear but that ho has received his reward. In the olden days there used to bo a street-preacher here, named Cartwright, who, on account of his long flowing beard was called by irreverent people, " Old Beardy." He used to stand at the street corners, or on the wharf, and preach to the passers-by. He had a rich, Bonorous voice, and spoke with much eloquence, so that he often gathered a considerable congregation. I .remember I on one Sunday long ago, hearing him preach at Somerville s corner, while at the opposite corner, of the Crescent, as Shortland-street,, was always called jn those days, a man named Johnny Makepeace (a inmost inappropriate name) was pouring forth blasphemy "and profanity, reviling religion in general, and Cartwrightin particular. The latter may have been a ;fanatic,- bntat, any rate he was trying to do Qod service, whereas Makepeace was certainly an emissary of the Devil, doing jasi much) harm • as/possible, and reviling a better man than himself. So i far* as! l know; 'the police 'did "not? interfere, but they were in those day! a roHgUMot.fevery^differontfi'dm-'therrespec-'i 'table^ienjo^jbti^h^fp^ce^ Ijememberone day 'asking a policeman whoiiiTlknew, butjjad.not seen fpr-spme time^-wiieceihe hifobqen.'-.tH.e Jfcold, ,me that JieMd^een;? kw ( fy, ii^m gQnsitry^bvittJuJi'flcov^di not jiayel bgeji .ls run^mT" - -Times , hay,e, .bhflngß^fliijAe'iheni : fortuiiately.v J/ ~ "