ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1705, 9 June 1883, Page 3

ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Yankeeiand has provided us with a now sensation in the shvpe of a female doctor, who, calls herself Dr. Anna M. L. Potts, who J« lecturing at Abbotts Opera House. One of the weekly papers worked off a very g6od pun on her name last wqek. thus : \! A curious Anna M. L. — ■& she quack." She has been lecturing in the aftornoon to ladies only, nnd in the evening to both saxes. The first few lectures were what Auckland people like —without money and without prico — and were consequently well attended, but since a chaige lias been made for admission there has not been such a rush for seats. The lecturers does riot give her audience much infoimation, but she has an easy coiiversation.il style, a certain amount of humour, and any quantity of cheek, so that many people !)robably think that she ;s cle\ or. One ady who attended an afternoon lecture told me that Mis or Miss Potts mentioned every disease that flesh is heir to, but gave no information as to how people AVere to avoid disease, or how they were to cure themselves if they were ill. So far as I can judge the lectures will do no good except to the exchequer of Mrs or Miss Potts and her colleague, Mr or Dr. Harrison, who signs the advertisements as "business manager," though some people say he is her husband, while others say> he is not. The other day I was walking along Queen-street with a nurribcr of gentlemen when we noticed b, picture of Anna M. L. in a shop window. We stopped to look at it, ami one gentleman, who is a pretty pood judge of physiognomy, remarked, " Well ! if that is a good likeness of Mis Potts I would not like to be Mr Potts." * On Tuesday evening there was no locturo at the Opera House, as on that evening Sir Geoigo Grey delivered an address in the Theatre Royal "on the principles which pliould guide the citizens of Auckland in founding the Free Public Library." This was a very sensible arrangement on the part of the doctoicss, as she would otherwise have had the unpleasant task of addiessing her remarks to empty benches Sir George (Jrey's address was a most able one, such as, perhaps, no one else in the colony poilld have delivered, and he showed his astuteness in delivering it instead of a political speech, which in the present state of public opinion, would have fallen flat^Jft would be somewhat hasty to say political speaker. Sir Gcort^c **«Pn s "used up," but it cannot bo denied that his last effort in that dnoction failed to excite the enthusiasm which ensued on his speeches when thccclcbiated •'Auckland phalanx" wast'ouned. Theie Was one thing in connection w ith the address on Tuesday c\cning at which I was particularly amused. That was the list of persons to whom invitations were sent, and the order in which they appeared in the llnald. The way in which men of importance'and holding pub lie positions were mixed up with members of tlio once famous central committee was a sight for gods and men, and the w.iy in which the clergymen of the various deno ninations were arranged must have made some of them "say their pi.iyeis backwards." Just fancy anyone putting t)r Maunscll, even in an invitation list, between Monsignoic Fyncs and Father O'Gara ? Ido not think the mcmbei-.ot the medical profession would be paitieularly pleased to sec Mrs Doctor L'otts in that portion of the list devoted to them, nor would Dr Murray Moore be delighted to see his name between hers and Dr Lee's, seeing that that gentleman is recognised as a medical practitioner, merely because he was in practice here befoie the passing of the act. Altogether it is a very funny list, very whimsically arranged. •* * * I was sorry to see that there was a probability of the re-issuing of leturn tickets on our railways, as I ha\c no doubt but that the time duimg which a return ticket can be tued will be limited as before to one day for each twentyfive miles, or something of that soi t. I do not object to return tickets por be, but I do object to the Government pmetically saying to people tiavelling by rail that, unless they return within a ccitain time, they will lose the diHeremo in cost between a single and a return ticket I should much prefer the system winch I believe is in vogue in America, There a return ticket remains in foice until it is used, without any restriction as to time I think that the Government adopted a sensible course when they abolished return ticket?, and to re-issue them undei the same system will be a retrograde movement. ' This is a matter of considerable importance to all who do or may use our railways, and I should advUe you VVaikato people to draw the attention of your in em be is to tie fact that there is some piobability of the old system being revised, and urgo them to object to it. The Blue Ribbon Army seeetns to be constantly gaining fresh accessions to its ranks, a number of our fashionable la-lies having " donned the bit of blue." I do not think that there was any necessity for this, but, doubtless they weic impelled by a laudable wish to set a good example to their washer- women, who aie nearly certain not to follow that good example. However, seeing that they luve put on the badge, it is to bo houcd that tney will be consistent and not only drink no wine, but eat no tiifles. tipsy - cakes and jellies, m 'ill of which wine is a principal ingredient. lam afiaul that a number of the Blue Ribbon Army who dine at the Commercial Dining Rooms, either consciously or unconsciously violated their pledge the ocner day. There had been a dinner there, at which theio was a superabundance of good things provided, the consequence being that a number of unusual di.shes appeared on the luncheon bill of fare, tipsy-cake being among them, and, tell it not to Goltlie ! whisper it not to Holy Joe !— that tipsycake v» as eaten by a large number of the wearers of blue libbon. Bishop Cowie gave the Sabbatarians a "nasty jar"' on Monday evening at the meeting of the Auckland Institute, when he advocated Sunday lectures on Hebicw and Greek, the better to enable students to understand the Bible. Even the Sabbatarians could hardly object to the propos.il, if the matter would be allowed to rest there, but they say that this is a specious attempt to introduce the thin end of the wed go ; that, these leetuies once started, lectures on other subjects will follow, that theatrical performances: ■will soon follow the lectures, and that we will speedily diift into that bete iwir of . the Habbataiians, the Continental Sab- -, -.'JMH. think that they are crying out ./••^^^■ley are hint, but am inclined to there is something even worse " Tnanthe continental Sabbath, and that is what is too prevalent in the greatest Sabbatarian country in the world—Scotland—a Sabb ith devoted to drunkenness. We have far too much Sunday drinking in Auckland at the present time, despite the efforts of the police to suppress it, and I would gladly hail lectures or any other rational recreation 'which will lessen that evil. * * Talking about Sunday trading naturally reminds me of the annual meetings of the city licensing commissioners, which have been taking place this week. As a result of the new Licensing Act, which came into force a little more than a year ago, the ratepayers have had the right to elect the licensiug benches, and, as a rule, they exercised that privilege by electing men who would do their duty fairly and impartially, and without pressing unduly on those who had vested interests, would remember that their first duty was to the public. The effect has been seen in the number of old shanties which have been pulled down _,during ,J;he past year, and replaced by handsomo buildings, affording proper accommodation to the public. What the commissioners began last year their successors are carrying on this year. The Hocuses of ft large number of tumble*

clown wooden shanties nave harl their applications for the reuowal of their liconsces adjourned, to enable them to produce piano for new buildings, and guarantees that those buildings will be erected, while others who had brick buildings which were small or out of repair are to increase their accommodation or mako the necessary repairs. Yes, the new Licensing Act was very much needed in Auckland, and is having good re&ulta. St. Mitnuo.