MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1286, 20 August 1883, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

■ ♦■ ■ ■ Among the items in the estimate of expenses for the Duke of Edinburgh's, special mission to Moscow is £1000 for, "gratuities." People who think that this amount is exorbitant (says a Home paper) will perhaps change their opinion on learning that when the Emperor Nicholas visited the Queen at Windsor Castle in 1844 he gave £2000 to the servants and £1000 to the housekeeper, as well as six gold snuffboxes, with his picture set in diamonds to the lords of the household ; and six with his cipher to the equerries and grooms-in-waiting. These were the chief gifts ; but for the other dependants about a bushel of rings, watches, and brooches was distributed. When the late Emperor Napoleon stayed at Windsor in 1855 he left £1500 for the servants. Colonel Brett is the funny man of the Upper Chamber ; whether he intends to be funny or not may be" doubtful. It may also be questioned, whether so august and grave an assembly ought to have a funny man at all. It is quite obvious, however, that Colonel Brett does posture in a way toexcite the amusement of his fellow colonists. He has his fiery moods and his plaiutive moods, but he is equally grotesque in both characters. Being a man of diminutive stature and by no means imposing appearance, l *big ; oorts" are as mirth-provoking as hia more sober utterances. He lately assumed in succession two characters. When the very existence of a Nominated. Chamber was threatened, he announced himself ready to defend his rights, as a member of that Chamber to the last. " I'll fight your battles for you" was his cry, "You need not fear while you have m« to defend yon." 1 But by-and-by an insidious motion was brought in to deprive members of the Council of their sacred honorariumThen the gallant Colonel waxed, plaintive. If his sacred two hundred guineas went, he owned he would be no longer able to give his valuable services to his country. Hereat hia country ought to have wept, but didn't. He went on to tell the House that because he was a poor man he had to leave Mrs Brett in a temporai'y widowhood while he attended to his legislative duties. Poor woman, it is to be hoped her health does not greatly suffer by temporary separation from her peppery old lord and master. It is evident, however that what force will not do maj be effected by cutting off supplies. If the country no longer needs the services of its Colonel Bretts, it has only to stop their pay, and they will no longer resist by force of arms the deprival of their "rights." This is consoling. We should not wish to see the Council Chamber in a state of siege, with the terrible Colonel leading the augnsfc insurgents against the Democrats of the Lower Chamber, but, as the said Lower Chamber holds the purse strings, it can soon end the patriotism of all the Bretts by stopping the supplies. " Don't lire, I'll come down," will then be the Colonel's cry. Touch his political " ri'.rh f s " ;uhl he is on fin;, touch his i<iv.; ;:':;, :..r;,l hcsadly subv.d.'s, T!k/; [.. ■■.'-.■ *

confession, but 25 Lords out of 81 who voted on the honorarium question seem to be very much of the same opinion. Only six could be found willing to sacrifice their annual solatium on the altar of dignity, and even some of these six would possibly not have voted as thej did had they not been tolerably certain that their patriotic self-sacrifice had no chance of being accepted. They can always refuse to take their chequ -s if they like, but I do not think the records of the Treasury show many examples of such self sacrifice. Even the protestingPharazyn has quietly pocketed his annual cheque for fourteen years, and I am afraid is not worth what he has cost the country. Even Colonel Brett, funny as he is, must I fear, be acknowledged as somewhat dear at the price. ' A young lady from Canterbury thus gives her impression in the Lyttelton Times of our Parliament : — " I went into the House and heard Major Atkinson speak. It's not very edifying. In fact, it coulden't well be more" undignified :Most of the members keep their hats on. A large nember sit with their feet cocked up on the seats, or sprawl full length on them. They laugh and jeer and abuse one another like a loi of express-drivers." The total amount of gold duty received during the year 1882 in the undermentioned provincial districts was, — £ s. d. Auckland „. 3233 10 1 Wellington ... 1 15 0 - Nelson ... 4897 10 6 Marlborough 135 4 8 Weßtland ... 8436 6 8 Canterbury ... 1 2 0 Otago ... 8344 7 9 Of amusement little can be said. The drama ilv Auckland ha 3 lately been in a bad way. The Theatre Royal was i opened recently with *' a speciallyselected company," comprising, among others, "Miss Grace Sheridan, from the Haymarket," supported by Mr Barry O|NeiL The opening night the " gods " got rather lively at the intervention of the prompter, who was irrepressible. At a critical juncture in the piece •someone suggested that the heroine should kiss the hero for his mother and be done with ifc. "Miss Sherdian, from the Haymarket," who, it is rumoured, is a worthy Auckland matron, thereupon fell in a huddled heap of lace and muslin on the stage in a fainting or hysterical fit, and Mr O'Neil was called upon at short notice to take the part of removing the unconscious lady from the stage — a " lightning change " which he had not anticipated. The specially-selected company <lid not adventure upon a second performance, and are now looking for a specially-selected audience for " Won at Last". The company was succeeded by local amateurs in opera. It says much for the local musical talent -existing in Auckland that one of our local musical classes, under the talented 'oonductorship of Professor Caillian (the late editor of the New Zealand Muse), should have been able to run "The Barber of Seville" ibr a whole week at the Opera-house. Wells' "bough on corns." — Ask for Wells' "Rough on Corns." 7|cL Quick relief, complete, permanent cure. Corns, warts, bunions. Moses, Jlosa & Co. , Sydney, General Agents. The vigour of youth given to the aged and infirm by using Hop Bitters. Try it. Read,