UNDER THE MICROSCOPE.

]Bt Magdffin.]

" A duel's amang ye fakin' notes, An 1 failli he'll prent 'em."

: ; What lias been said of Corporations '•£-" that they have neither souls- to be :diimned, nor bodies to be kicked " — .f3.alH6 true- Ofv Highways Boards j and although it isim possible to bestow the pedal punishment, i.t.is well that there li sifch a" tiding as'the Press to show- up their little eccentricities and inconsistencies. Formerly the local Board was not worse than other bodies of a kindred nature, but with the new blood a new regime has been inaugurated. Ashort time ago the question of advertising was discussed, when one thoughtful gentleman with most praiseworthy selfabnegation, proposed that placards stiould be printed m lieu of advertising, and that each Warden should resolve himself into a bill-sticker, and paste die posters m his particular d.istfict. This was an act of patriotisi, however, which his brother Wardens were not prepared to offer up upon the altar of their country, so the proposition was not seconded. We are told that it is "but one step from the- sublime to, the ridiculous," and I presume by t|\e same process of reasoning, it is but one step from the ridiculous to the sublime, and consequently I/w as oat surprised to see the same parsimonious gentleman, who had been prepared to. go. to such length**, and bring such degradation upon the body to effect a saving 1 at the next meet ing wheel right round, and launch out into an unnecessary and uncalled for expense upon the self same question. A certain member had "an axe, to grind," and as the coontynot' only provided the stone but the man to turn it, the majority were only too ready to oblige. In f>-tW. words, a. pror position was made that in 'addition to the two Ma'iawatu papers, a third, outside the County should receive a share of the advertising. The mover of the resolution I presume patronises th.c Marton paper t and, *s Ue is a little world, and all the inhabitants beside* m his own estimation, he naturally cauie to the conclusion that every body {Anglice, himself) -reads that journal* 4MO one would quarrel either with the egotism or- the bestowal of patronage did the worthy indulge either or both at hig own expense, bu,t certainly .the ratepaydrs have" a right "io : object n hen any member seeks to. subsidise his -private organ l.»y dip.p.ing his hands into their pockets, I feel convinced .there were men sitting at that Board, who inwardly condemned the step as an absurd waste, which, they had not the moral courage tQdonouuo«i