THE SLAVE OF THE LAMP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 48, 27 February 1890, Page 4

THE SLAVE OF THE LAMP.

Br J. C. Firth.

In the long ago, in an Eastern city, there might have been seen an ancient man with Oriental features, calling aloud as he traversed the tljngy streets, " Old Lamps for New." This ancient man was a magician in quest of a wonderful lamp, which some one in that city had got hold of, and was using to provide all manner of gorgeous thing 3 for his own advantage. The fortunate owner had but to rub this wonderful lamp, when the "slave of the lamp" appeared, and procured him everything he could desire. Unhappily for Aladdin, he lost his lamp, and came to grief.

That old Arabian myth has had ibs counterpart in our modern colony of New Zealand. We, too, have had our Oriental magician. One day, some twenty-five years ago, he appeared in Otago, not, indeed, with a magic ring, but with a masterful pen, with which he did many remarkable thinge. After that lie appeared in our Empire City with his wonderful lamp, and rubbed it to some purpose, in the midst of tho simple crowd assembled there. As in the old story, the " slave of the lamp " apneared to receive his commands. ♦'Borrow," said the magician. Instantly, with few exceptions, the crowd of most potent, grave, and reverend seigniors cried aloud, saying at the tcp of their voices, " Great is the magician of the lamp. Borrow, Borrow !" and they borrowed. Ten millions, twenty millions, tkirty millions, and palaces in wood and stone, schools, roads, bridges, railroads and all manner of things covered the land like magic ; for every member, every electoral district, every publican, and every sinner who wanted a job or something, for somebody else to pay for, fold their votes to the magician, who rubbed hia lamp, and—the job was done. Then our magician, like the other magician, disappeared, and took away his lan-.p. It is true our modern Aladdins thought they still held the lamp, and rubbed it hard, and called out at the top of their voices as before, " Borrow, Borrow !"' but with small results, for the " slave of the lamp " had gone, and notwithstanding all their rubbing, he came back no more for many a day. After a long time the Oriental magician appeared once more. The people who lived in the "City of the Plains," commonly known as Christchurch, wanted a railway from their city across some lofty mountains to nowhere in particular. Tho magician was their man. The old conjuror rubbed hard at the lamp, bub in vain, for though he charmed and rubbed never so wisely, and called aloud like the prophets of Baal till far into the night, the burden of his charm being as before, " Borrow ! borrow 1" it would not do; either the slave of the lamp was sleeping or gone on a journey, for neither he nor his millions came again. Then a bright idea struck our modern magician. He exchanged a vast tract oi country for the railway. Some of this land was covered with forests, some of it was covered with snow, as white as European snow and of as much value. Some of the land was said to contain gold, and some of it was known to contain nothing in particular. The people of Christchurch were satisfied, and with buoyant spirits and cheery voices, cried aloud, " Great is Vogel, the magician 1" Once more the magician gathered his garments about him. He had beena great adept at throwing dust in people's eyes, and ha now shook some of the dust from his feet, and departed, as he said and as was hoped, for good. Not so; for the magician has "struck oil " at Taranaki, and ie returning to New Zealand to try the " lamp, trick" once movs.

It; is rumoured that this time he has set his face towards Otago, where he first rubbed his lamp and began to Borrow and Conquer. Mr Vincent Pyke having, as he said, " got his ticket for the better land," and being now, it is understood, with St. Peter, or " gone under," the Otago Central Railway, like Mahomet's coffin, is suspended between earth and heaven.

Sir Julius is of opinion, that like the greater Julius, he has only to come and see and borrow to conquer. Unfortunately for our Julius, fortunately for New Zealand, we have found out that his grand scheme, " Borrow and Conquer," means in plain English, "Borrow and be Slaves," and we intend to have no more of him or of his schemes.