ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1830, 29 March 1884, Page 3

ECHO ES FROM THE C A FE.

The other day while I was in my office I' was told that a lady wished to see me. I went out and saw a lady, comely and fair to look upon. She informed me that fßlie "was an agent of a Life Association and asked me if I would take out a policy on my life. I told her that I was already so well insured that, in the event of my being chloroformed out of existence, my wife would be in the same happy position as the lady who telegraphed to her father, " Dear John is dead. Loss fully coveted by insuiance " She thanked me for the information, jWished me good morning, and withdrew. This is quite a new dopirtnre in the way of canvassing for life insurance and, I think, a great impiovement on the old - Style. The ordinary canvasser is a man who calls, generally in the busiest p.ut of the day, and asks you to iusuie your life. If you decline to do so, lie im mediately begins to aigue the point, ami hurls at you an as ray of facts and figures, veiy frequently expressing himself in bad English, with a total disiegard for the letter "h." He will not take " no" for an answer, but continues talking until you think that he will, like the brook, # 'go on for ever." When at last lie sees that if he does not go theie will be a fight, he takes his depaiture, leaving behind him the threat that he will come back auaiu. How much moie .pleasant it is' to bo addicssed by an educated larly. who states litr business, and, when she finds that you do I'ot intend to insuie, thanks you for the information and goes a\i <iy es, I think the new plan is far piefer.ihlc to the old one, and I heartily wish the lady canvasser succoss. Talking about being chloroformed out of existence reminds me of the sad death of Mr James Mulholland, cleik in the Stamp office, which took place on Friday last while he was under the influence of chloroform, admmioteied by Dr. Stalker, to enable him to perform a punful operation on the deceased. Tlic propriety of a doctor administering ehloioform without the assistance of another medical man has been very fieely discussed in the daily papers since the sad occurrence, but it seems to me that the leal cause of Mr Mulholland's death has been over looked, which was the administering of the anaesthetic to one whose constitution Mas so much impaired that he had not the strength to rally. At the inquest evidence was given to the effect that the doctor took the precautions usual in such cases— lie felt the patient's pulse, and ascertained by the use of the stethoscope that his heart was quite sound, but ho had no means of learning that the patients' constitution was practically gone To my mind, the lesson taught by this sad ctastiophe i-> that chloroform shou'd not be ddmrnisteied except by a doctor who has bcmi attending the patient for some consider able time, and thoioughly knows his constitn tion. Of course, this is not possible in the case of a stranger v\ho has but recently ainved, but it should bo a nile to be obseived whcicver practicable. There have been a number of items in the London telegrams lately which hive an especial interest for us in New Z<m land. Among these is the information that, the colonies not h iving yet agreed to conMibutc £10.000 per annum, the appointment of a High Commissioner tor the Pacific has been delajed Considering the large amount of annoyance and loss that accrued to the colonists, especially to those of Fiji, in consequence of the appointment of Sir Arthur CJoidon as High Commissioner of the Pacific, I do not think that the modest sum of £10,000 per annum 13 likely to be contributed very speedily. Our share of the amount ■would not be very Luge, but I do not think the present Ministry would be dis posed to place it on the estimates, or, if they did, to stake their existence on its being earned. On thecontiaiy, I believe that, if they deemed it advrsiblp to sub mit the vote to the House, they would be rather pleased to see it str uck out. The Queensland people would not be more favourably disposed, and if the British colonists m Fiji had any say m the mat ter, thpy would oppose it "tooth and nail." In view ot the fact that they have just had to iajc the question of in creased taxation to provide ordinary revenue, it does not seem likely that the New South Wales people would be disposed to bear tin rr share of the bin den, ■while the Victorian colonists would pro babty object on the giouud that thej would lcceivo no benefit from the outlay. Altogether, it seems to me that, if the appointment is not to be made until the colonies contribute £10,000 per annum, rt is not likely to be made for some considerable time.

Another matter which is of interest to us is that Loifl Thiulon's motion in the House of Loids in favour of opening museums on Sunday was 1 ejected by a majority of eight. So small a niajoiity is a sure indication that it will not be long befoie the piesent iniuoiity is turned into a majority, and the woiking-ol.isses who have not an oppoitunity of attending museums, &c, except on Sunday, will be affoidod the opportunity of doing so on that day. Of the advantage of such a couise, we have piactieal pioof in the number of people who go to our Fiee Public Libiaiy on Sunday, as theie the}' derive benefits which they ceitainly would not obtain if they spent the day in the public-houses, as many would do were the libiary not open. Our museum is not open on Sundays, simply because the Auckland Institute, which lias the custody of it, has not had the funds needful to pay an attendant, but the Co&tley bequest, will place it in a position to confer this boon on the public, and I do not doubt but that the nicmbeis will soon decide to do so. Of coui^e, there will bo a howl fioin strict Sabbataiians, but they will have to give way to public opinion. The Hon. E. Mitchelson is about to give fuither pioof of his fitness for the position of Minister for Public Us, by making a- peisonal inspection ot the various lines that have been surveyed for the Auckland and Taianaki railway. It is to be hoped that, as the result of his inspection, the best and shoitest route will be selected, and sanctioned by Parliament dining the next session, that the million loan required for the construction ot the line will be raised, and that before the end of this year work will be begun at both ends of the WaikatoTaranaki railw ay. Of course, there will be active opposition to the proposal on thepaitof the .Southern members, who are always ready to oppose the expenditure of any money in the North Island, but if the Northern members work together for the attainment of this object, there can be no doubt but that it will be carried out. * * Mr Macandiew, who was for many caw Superintendent of Otago, and who was, and is still, the great loader of the Otagan members of the House of Representatives, is at piesent on a visit to Auckland. Advantage was taken of this fact by a reporter of the Star, who waited on him to ascertain his opinions on matters political. There is so much of Scottish caution in Mr Macandrew's character, that it is not to be wondered at that he was rather chary about expressing his opinion, except on subject 3 on which, that opinion was already wellknown. One of these is the matter of insular separation. He has always been a staunch aud consistent proviucialist, and opposed the abolition of the proj vinces most strenuously. Ever since ) '/that' abolition took place he has advocaT ted ( a ( return to provincialism in a modified form, by making each of the islands ' 1! a separate province, with a central Government at Wellington to levy customs duties, •&<?„ bu£ each island to have the " expenditure the revenue raised therein. •J3eeioa.that.most of the borrowed millions " have been spont in the* South Island, I ( ft,.betfe«e'thatwe in, the North Wand tf^puld'be'Jßaiijero by jpsylaV aepwatiop,

and if I hart the right to put the mystical letters M.H.11. after my name, I would follow Mi* Macandrow into the lobby if he moved a resolution in that direction, provi icd provision were made for an equitable apportionment of the interest on the loans. St. Munoo.