Items of Mail News.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1906, 23 September 1884, Page 4

Items of Mail News.

THE PKKES AVD TtlK FRENCH IS 3. In dealing with the Manchester speeches the "Standard" observes that 41 Lor.l Hartingdon eked out his material by pi tyhil expressions of incredulity as to the anxiety of the House of Lords foi the extension of the franchise. It U pitiable to see the uses to which this threadbare piece of pleasantry is pit. The qu -stion is not whether the Conservative? are consumed with the desire to enfranchise t!ie county householders. They are content to say that their zeal equals that of the majority of which Ministers are so excessively pioul, and U quite equal to that of Ministers themselves who lefc the question untouched until it was thrust upon them last autumn by the Leeds delegates. But they avow — and their most anxious wish is that the country should understand their avowal — tint to ♦nfranchisement without redistribution they are resolutely hostile. Tf Mr Bright cannot appreciate the distinction, Lord Hartington doeß. 'We admit the inconvenience which will arise if a dissolution should take place with the extended number in the existing constituencies. We kuow that that will be no fair representation of the people.' These weie his words — not in 1860, not last .intumn, but no longer ago than on July 26. If no other proof were forthcoming, these two sentences alone would furnish a complete justification of the course taken by the Opposition." TUB ULADSTONIAN FOREIGN POLICY. In especial reference to the delimitation of Afghanistan, the Standard urge 3 that "the 'force of events' has materially modified Mr Gladstone's policy in many parts of the world. In Central Asia we find abundant evidence of its potent influence. The rash pioceedings which followed the accession of the present Government to power have been successively reversed ; and it may Vc said that, in some important respects, the policy bo unsparingly denounced a few years ago has been earned beyond the aim of its framcrs. The ridiculous confidence in the stability of semi-organised communities, in the patriotism and morality of Oriental agit-itorti, and in the rectitude and disinterestedness j of our European competitors, has been shaken beyond hope of rehabilitation. The shortsighted setflbhncits which prompted the Government to shirk responsibilities and leave Oiir allies and prottys to 'stew in their own juice' has encountered speedy retribution on the Nile, and has only escaped the same fate in Afghanistan by a hasty realisation of Imperial duties."

THK PUKSENT STATE OF THE MONEY MIKKbr Seldom, if ever, in the whole history of banking has money been so cheap as at present, says the Economist. A quarter of one per cent per annum (l^d a day interest on £1,000, or only 13s 8d a day for the loan of £100.000) i 3 so strange —we had written impossible—a condition of aiFairs that it will tend all the sooner to work its own cure. County bankers cannot alford to have baluice* eating their hoadd ofF in London at evpn 2 per cent., and their London dg jnts who receive money on such terms and relcnd it at |, or in default of a bettor price, let the money He idle, arc equally desirous of being rid of it. That the " oHieial minimum " is not now below 2 per cent, is owing to the circumstance that the Bank of England never has published a quotation below that figure, but under present conditions, they must accommodate their puvate customeis below that rate, or practically for the time surrender their discount business. No other State bank, except the Bank of France, has ever lowered its rate to 2 per cent., and th<» B ink of France has only done bo on two occasions, in 1877 and 1879. But the piesent is the tenth occasion on w hicli the Bank of England has reduced its rate to a 2 per cent, level.

I'VKMINO PROSPECTS. The Sp-dator fears that the year 1884cannot be a prosperous one for the farmers of this country. The extremely low pi ice of wheat, the rather pjor prospects for other generally grown ciops, and the probability of a deficiency of vvintoi-keep for their live stock, together place them in a position in which it will bo hard for them to make both ends meet. It is jii3t possible that the cereals may yield so abundantly in proportion to straw that their produce will be, altogether, but little below average. That, however, would not entirely make up for the other disadvantages of the season. As a vile, when the cereals are light, there is a good crop of hay, and very often of roots also ; but it is not so this year, and pastoral as well as arable farmers are hard hit. What makes the position all the more distressing is the fact that this is peculiarly a season in which the most needy farmers will suffer most severely. It often happens, when there is a great crop of &traw, that the best farmeia sulier most seriouly from the lodging of their corn, while poor farmers have fair standing crops ; but this year, tho^c fortunate enough to occupy farms, either naturally fertile, or made so by liberal expenditure, will reip a rich harvest, while their less skilful or less favourably situated neighbours will go short. The chief element of uncertainty now before the fanners is the chaiactei of the weather for the mc.itheiing of their ciop*. An iudiMcientcrop well harvested h moie valuable than a cood one aoddened with tain, discoloured, and sprouted. Fine weather for the next six weeks would be an invaluable boon to the country.

A G \s man always sings in long meter A Lvdy and gentleman accidentally touched eu'h othei's feet under the table. " Seciot telegraphy," said he. "Communion of soles," said she. An engle carried off a small boy. at Waco, Texes, and the city authorities are agitating the question of hatching eagles as an important local industry. '* How can a woman tell ?" is the title of a leccnt poem. Humph. How can falie help telling. A Nvrmuu, fiieud says that ballet danceis wear their dresses at half-mast, as a token of respect to departed modesty, Tiik paradox of paradoxes is that in the marriage ceremony the woman doesn't get in any more talk than the man. " Can you tell me what time it is ?" asked a lady, while waiting in a bank, "No, no; I'm cot the teller. Next window, please." A K':nti>cky woman who .«at down on a bet-hive to watch a fire npoeddy lost her interest in the conflagration, and btruck a bej-tme for her own home " Can you tell me," asked a man' of his tailor, " how you came to get thii coat so tight ?'' " Oh, yes, sir, Tho fact is, you were tight when I measured you." Yes ! It is certainly true. Ask any of your friends who have purchased there. Garllck and Cramvrll have numerous unasked for and very favourable commendations from country customers on their excellent packing of Furniture, Crockery, and Glass, &c. Ladies and gentlemen about to furnish should remember that Garlick and Cranwcll's is tiik Cheap Furnishing Warehouse of Auckland. Furniture to suit all classes ; also Carpets, Floor Cloths and all Hou^e Necessaries. If^our new house is nearly finished, or. you are going to get married, visit Garlick and Cranwell, Queen-street and Lorne-strcet, Auckand. Intending purchasers can have a catalogue sent free.

"German Syrup." No other medicine in the world was ever given such a test of its curative qualities as Boschee's German Syrup. In three years two millions four hundred thousand small bottles of this medicine were distributed//w of charge by Druggists in the United States of America to those afflicted with Consumption, Asthma, Croup, severe Coughs, Pneumonia and other diseases of the throat and lungs, giving the afflicted undeniable proof that German Syrup will cure them. The result has been that Druggists in every town and village in civilised countries are recommending it to their customers. Go to your Druggist and ask what they know about it. Sample Bottlss 6d. Regular size 3a Bd, Three doses wilt relieve any case,