Dunedin Gossip.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 2207, 8 August 1910, Page 5

Dunedin Gossip.

( ' uo.M Ouu Own Coaimsi’oxuu.vr.) Dunedin, August 5. The affairs of the city as they come up in the city council arc occasionally discussed by flic “ Man in the Street” who gets his information in a mysterious way. Iml generally in a form which reflects upon sonic one. ft is really astonishing how quickly any story which in the slightest way reflects upon a person’s integrity (intis its way about and how rapidly it magnifies. This was what happened in the case of Cr Shacklock. lie is a member of the Limited Liability Company which manufactures ranges. An order for one of these articles was sent to the (inn lor the corporation’s employees at Waipori. hul without Cr Shacklock’s knowledge. He ascertained casually from a clerk of the order and gave instruction's that the article should not he delivered. On being informed that the range had been sent lie adopted a course which probably nine out of ten men would have followed on the spur of the moment. Thinking only of his own point of 'view he asked that the account he put through a firm of ironmongers and he would debit that firm with the cost. As the counsel consulted advised it was a most indiscreet act, because if. did not do away with the fact that the article had come from the councillors firm who doubtless made the usual wholesale profit. It only served to cover up what was not a fact, that the order had gone to his (inn direct. The whole thing was trivial in a way. hut the principle is a sound one, and after the mountain made of the matter, by those only too ready to think evil, it will doubtless causa members of local bodies to be particularly careful in such matters.

Our town clerk met with another rerebuff at last meeting of the city council. As Mr McCurdy, assistant city engineer had been censured by the works committee for some alleged bungling about cutting down Heriot Eow, and bad demanded an enquiry, the works committee reported that it was inadvisable to appoint him to the position of city engineer, but by a clerical or printers error the report as printed read that it was advisable to appoint Mr McCurdy. Not unnaturally the supposed conclusion

seemed a tame one and was the subject of much comment. In the Council itself the matter resolved itself into another struggle between the admirers of the town clerk and those opposed to him as it was proposed to continue him as acting city engineer until the enquiry was over about the Heriot Row affair, Mr Richards’ opponents were successful and Mr McCurdy was appointed acting city engineer.

An attempt is being made to ridicule the stand taken in Wellington by Dr Gibb and I lie Rev Mr North in protestiug against the production of the farcical comedy “ The Girl from Rectors.” After having witnessed the play as produced in Dunedin, every right thinking man and woman will admire the stand taken by the two divines. The play is insidiously unhealthy''. It not only glozes over vice, but holds up to admiration the vicious —if they are not found out. Hie principal characters are shown to be living a double life. The wife of a judge supposed to be a perfect icicle is shown among the fast set in New ork leading a life which would cause her to be banished from decent society. Her husband the judge, is shown to be no better than she, while the beer-leader of the hero in New Vork. his boon companion and promoter of drunken orgies, is next seen as the parent of the girl to whom ho is engaged. Most of the other characters are. of somewhat similar types. Altogether the whole tone was detestable and one could not he!]) being surprised at the leading lady consenting to undertake the part she did when there was no strong moral lesson to be gained and no good purpose served beyond making the injudicious laugh. After having once seen the play no self-respecting person would care to invite his wife or daughters to see it in his company. Do county people ever read the newspapers. Judged by the success which attends the “ Confidence Trick,” men when they come across a man from the country the latter never seem to have heard of the dodge before. Another of those eases came before the police court this week. The countryman was spoken to in the street and promised work. The accomplice presently appeared to take the part of “ boss.” The countryman pays for drinks and after dinner is accompanied to the theatre. -Here a variation was made, for the countryman somewhat muddled, is enticed into a quiet locality where lie is assaulted and robbed.