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Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2322, 28 May 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

A Texas clergyman relates that as ha was wending his way to the sanctuary, on the Sabbath, he saw a boy, with a fishing-rod-over his shoulder, going in the opposite direction, when the following dialogue ensued, the clergyman taking the initiative:— "Don't you know you are a bad boy?" "Yes, sir." "Doesn't your father ever punish you ?" " Yes, sir; last summer he made me go to Sunday School twice." The 'Presbyterian" in ait article on legislative reform, "saya :■ "We confess to the feeling that is far too much legislation m our Parliament. There is, of course, a strong temptation to a Ministry to pass many Bills, because it shows a good tale of work done, and saves a session from the reproach of barrenness. Perhaps the chief blame rests with the people themselves, who value a session according to the number of legislative bantlings it has produced. We are persuaded that what the country needs is not so much a succession of new laws, but administration of those already in existence, and time to allow themselves in public sentiment. Papuan Humours.—During a cruise of a certain gunboat on the northern coast of New Guinea, relates the author of "The Cruise of the Marchesa to Kamschatka and New Guinea," a village was touched at which up to that time had never been visited by Europeans. The captain, anxious to impress the untutored savage arrayed himself in full uniform, and landed in company with the surgeon who was similarly attired. The natives crowded to meet them in hundreds, and appeared tolerably trustworthy, but before long intimated that they were to pay a visit to the chief's house. This the captain resisted, fearing treachery, but in spite of his endeavours they were carried ; off, and his guard prevented from following. The hours passed away without a sign of the officers, and the boat's crew began to fear the worst. Suddenly a crowd was seen approaching. It parted, and disclosed the gallant captain to his anxious and astonished sailors, bereft of uniform, and dressed in alternative stripes of red and white paint,