ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1632, 19 December 1882, Page 4

ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

TitE committee of the Takapuna Jockey j Club received a well-merited "dressing down " in the Herald the other day for their selfishness in deciding to hold their summer race meeting on .January 29th, the anniversary of the colony, which has been from time immemorial the legatta day. Those North Shore people are too grasping altogether. When they pi oposo to get up a regatta or a race meeting on the other side of the water they have not the slightest hesitation in powg vonnd with the hat, and askiug the Queen- i street merchants ami shonkcepcis for contributions to their funds. These have hitherto been freely given ; and what lias followed. The North Shore people ha\e> appropriated the two most important holidays of the year, vi/., the Pimcc of Wales Birthday, the day on wh'ch our annual Cattle Show is held, and the anniversary of the colony, the day on which our Auckland regatta is held. These are our two most important holidays, because the prosperity of Auckland is mainly dependent on its agricultural and timber industries, ot which latter ship-building is a not inconsiderable factor, and there can bo no doubt of the fostering effect on these industries of the cattle show and the regatta. Both these are to be spoiled, or, at any rate injured, and for what? To minister to the pride in their own importance of the North Shore people, and to put money in the coffers of the Feny company. The treasurer of the jockey club did not. improve matters much by insulting the Auckland press. One of the members said that Auckland people would object to the regatta being spoiled and that the press would probably enter a strong protest, but the treasurer said that the newspapers would not say much, as the jockey club spent a lot of money in advertising. Was there ever a more gross piece of impertinence? I believe that the treasurer was the same man who telegraphed to Dunedin, asking the Union Company to detain their steamer which left on "St. Andrew's Day until evening, so as to give the passengers an opportunity of attending the Noith Shore races.

There has been a good deal of unfavourable comment among the members of the legal profession on the appointment of j Mr H. G. Seth Smith to succeed Judge Macdonald as District Court Judge and Hesidenfc Magistiato. The chief grounds for gtumbling seem to lie in the fact that Judge Smith is , a stranger here, and that the local j lawyers seem to think that one of themselves should have had the appointment. J 1 cannot see that the fact that a gentleman has lived only a year in Auckland should be any reason why ho (should not be made district judge, provided he has the necessary knowledge and ability. I believe that Judge Smith has both, that he will make a most excellent judge, and that a year hence, if not sooner, the cavil- | lers will be bound to admit that a most judicious selection has been made. With regard to the second objection, J inu^t bay that I do not know a single lawyer who has been practising in Auckland tor any time, fitted to be appointed to the district judgcslup, who would accept the appointment. The salary is only CBOO per annum, a sum quite inadequate to compensate any of our leading solicitor ior the loss of his private practice, and those vho would be content with the salary are either too young or have not the necessary ability. I see that, w hen the mail left, the Mataura was almost ready to start for Auckland with a general cargo. She is fitted with the appliances requisite for carrying Home frozen meat, and the question aiiscs—ls she to be loaded lieic, or must she go to the South for her cargo ? For the sake of the interests of ! Auckland, both pastoral and commercial, it is to be hoped that steps will immediately be taken for making preparations ' for loading her here. It will create a j very bad impression, besides being a »reat loss, if she is unable to obtain a car^o of fro/en meat lieic, but must go elsewhere foi it. We giow beef and mutton as good as, if not better, than that gown in the southern portions of the colony, ho theie is no reason why the Mataura should not be loaded hcie—no reason but our own supmeness. In other mattci s Auckland is on a level with her Southern lunghboius, where she does not lead the \ an, and why should she be the laggard of the colony in the frozen meat trade ? In the uty we have a number ot public-spnited and wealthy men, who would surely provide the requisite capital tv start a freezing company if the matter were propeily put befoie them. I would surest that a few of the promoters of the Waikato Fleering Lompanv should foim themselves into a deputation to come to town at once, and wait on .some of our leading capitalists and urge them to take the matter up. Ido not think that the appeal would be made in \ am. i >- * It seems that we have had a narrow escape fiom a row with the Maoris at Wang.iiei. I think that thcie was .1 good deal of bluster about the matter, and that there wei c no serious grounds for fearing an outbreak on the part of the natives, but some of the out-settleis were so much alauned that they sent their wives and families into Wangarci, and they themselves turned out eveiy night to patiol the country. Fortunately, there is now every probability of mattci s being amicably arranged without a disturbance, which would have had a very bad effect. When arc wo going to have rain ? is a question \ery frequently asked just now —a question that no one can answer. There seems to be every probability of a long, dry summer, which will be very unfoitunate for the fanners., as feed is already becoming scarce. As one of them told me not long ago, it is splendid weather for hay-making, but there is very little hay to make. Aheady vegetables are both scarce and dear. The city is almost wholly dependent on the Chinamen for this impoitant article of food, and John, knowing that he is master of the situation, is objectionably independent. Not long since acaieful housekeeper w ent to the back door ot her house to interview the celestial visitor (not the comet) who supplied her with vegetables. In reply to her query, John said he had some very good 1 peas. When asked the price he replied, " half-a-cz own a peck." The lady told; John that the piice was too high, and that, moieovcr, the last peas she had got j from him weic very much shrivelled. 41 You no likee them so ? asked John, as he smote a smile that was child-like and bland. " Mnchee people like shrivelled peas now." The Auckland enckefcers made short work of their Wellington opponents, and I have no doubt but that they will be equally successful at Nelson. In that event thpy will have won eveiy match they have played with the exception of that at Christchurch, so that they will have no reason to be ashamed of the result of their tour. It is a pity that Mr Beale's vanity induced him to take a scratch team down to the West Coast, to be beaten wherever they have played. However. I believe that the Grammar School boys will play Beale's team on their return, and will beat them, which will show the Southerners what a "sick lot" they are. St. Mungo.

THE"*" following regulation regarding "reply paid" and "collect" telegrams is gazetted ;•—" The sender of a ( reply paid' or collect' mesßageimust, if requested to do so by the officer in feharge of the telegraph' station; :;lodge a sufficient sum of money to, cover the coat of the reply or. collected message. Any surplus of cash will be refunded upon de- ' -livery pi the' reply, /and the. money u lodged with, message Will be , refunded the ha^paid > ljtttiaapm&, „ s ; ' , \ ' ,: ?