POSTSCRIPTS.

Evening Star, Issue 5229, 8 December 1879, Page 4

POSTSCRIPTS.

A relation or namesake of Professor Scott writes a most indignant letter to the ' Morninf Herald,' complaining that the papers have had the audacity to remark upon tho wonderfully comfortable character of an appointment whose duties only necessitate six months' residence in the year, and thus enable the fortunate incumbent to take a trip round the world every year if he so pleases. If we were guilty of "sneering" because we pleasantly called attention to this, well and good ; but our opinion remains the same, that the arrangement of terms in the so-called Otago University is simply absurd, and that there are a good many more cits on the strength ot tho institution than are required to catch mice. Puff it as you may, and Heaven knows it is puffed enough in some quarters, the whole affair combiues the maximum of coat with the minimum of utility. Mr Walter Johnston, M.H.R. for Manawatu, kicked up an awful bobbery in the House with regard to the laying of the foundation stone of the new Supreme Court with Masonic ceremonial. Mr Johnston is an exceedingly sensible, long-headed man, but having been educated at Stoneyhurst appears to take the ' Tablet' view of this particular matter, and thinks the Government should not have directly or indirectly sanctioned such an arrangement. It appears the Government were in no way responsible, although, no doubt, the Hon. Mr Whitaker did attend in full fig, as in duty bound, being Provincial Grand Master of the North Island. Freemasonry in this part of the world is a very harmless amusement. It is a great mistake in Mr Johnston, and those who think with him, to exalt it to importance which it does not in any way possess. The ' Tablet' is perfectly rabid, and would have people believe that Freemasonry is quite on a par with Nihilism, and that it has a special mission in the Colony to subvert religion, morality, and all social institutions. If the editor would consent to be initiated, if only in the first degree, he would scarcely afterwards deem the subject worthy of serious thought, much less of columns of what, without offence, we may term encyclical prose. In tho Legislative Council a few days ago the hon. Mr Wilson moved a resolution to the effect that the bankruptcy laws require amendment. The Attorney-General hit the nail pretty straight on the head when he expressed his opinion that all the evils of existing legislation on the subject were owing to the fact that the creditors had the management of the estate, instead of a Government officer, who would act in a certain definite manner in all cises, No doubt Mr Whitaker had in his eye the urgent need there exists of fraudulent bankruptcy being without any exception made the subject of prosecution. Colonel Whitmore thought all bankruptcy laws should be abolished, leavisg the creditors, it may be presumed, to take it out as best thev could. Captain Eraser, with his customary good sense and pleasant sympathies with the unfortunate, suggested " that all bankrupts should wear a distinguishing dress, aa in Italy." In some cities we know of this " distinguishing dress " would hardly bo a distinction. The gallant captain would no doubt also propose that the amount paid in the £ should be embroidered or stamped on the b*ck, after the fashion of Mr Caldwell's wardrobe. Some curious facts would then be patent in high places and select circles. Mr Reeves, one of the representatives of Grey Valley, is very anxious that an import duty should be placed on coal. Fortunately his motion to this effect fell still-born in the House, although supported by an entirely novel and ingenious set of arguments, to wit, inter alia —that the imposition of the duty would reduce the cost to the consumer, ard that 300 or 'IOO more persons would be employed on the West Coast in coal-mining. The latter is quite intelligible from a protectionist point of view, and would practically amount to thin: that the whole population would have to pay dearer for its coal in order thai; a f<iw hundred men in a particular locality might find remunerative employment. The -statement that the levying of an import duty would reduce the cost to the consumer \\:is, as it deserved to be, laughed out of the house ; and even the colleagues of the hon. felt called upon to point out th.v; the statistics showed that, whilst there were thirty-two coal mines prodncing 131X000 tons yearly, the annual consumption of the Colony was 294,000 tons. The Reeves family seem to have protection on the brain.

A most remarkable letter signed " Buach" appeared in the ' Tablet' a week or two ago on thfl subject of " Snakes in Ireland." The editor is responsible, it may be supposed, for the heading, which is a regular " bull " to begin with, as there are no snakes in Ireland. People generally are possibly not aware of the historical facts stated by " Buach," and we therefore subjoin the more novel and interesting :—"! hiring the captivity of the children of Israel in Egypt there also so-journ-id there the Milesian colony, whose descendants were to occupy Ireland some years subscquen tly. The chief of this colony married the daughter of Pharoah. From this uniou sprang a son named Gadel, or Gaoadhail. When young this child was bitten on the neck by a snake, and the father being intimate with Moses brought the child to be cured, and Moses did cure him, and promised at the same time that the land his ace would inhabit should be free from snake 3 and poisonous vermin of all sorts. These people crossed the Red Sea with the Israelites, and after many wanderings came to Spain ; from thence to Ireland, which they called Innisfail—Land of Destiny." 'Not wishing to arouso the angry passion 3 of the 'Tablet,' we otter no comment on the above, not even committing ourselves to the suggestion ha co the kind of waistcoat which would best suit Mr Buach.

Some festive individual suggests to a contemporary that in order to meet the pressing demands on the Treasury a capitation tax of Ll or L2 a head should be levied on bachelors. The idea is not altogether original, bo it has not even originality to commend k. Bachelors, as a rule, remain in that unhappy condition simply because they cannot atlord, under the existing accidents of society, to marry ; and it would be rather hard to tax them for being poor. There are, of course, exceptions ; but in the main unmarried men contribute beyond their individual proportion to the indirect revenue. They are, moreover, quite numerous enough to -irevent the imposition of such a class-tax a'; r. suggested. The Hon. Mr Oliver is now, and is for ■some time likely to be Minister for Public Works. "Will he be good enough to turn his attention to the Railway Department, so far at least as regards the comfort and convenience of vrtttengera? Why are certain train.; day ji-it day in conveniently crowded, although cm;.;by carriages by the dozen may be seen within hail? Why docs the 2.30 train lor l\.r", Chalmers never scarcely keep its time, being generally ten minutes behind at starting, and frequently much longer? Why is the stupid system of lockrcz l">ih do.]'-i ••{ the carriages persisted in, although long ago abandoned in all civilised countries ': A good many more questions might be p.:o;.eil, but, perhaps, Mr Oliver will see into matters for himself. There ha-: been a financial debate in the Christian Young Men's Association, which must have been very like what on similar occasions takes place iu the House, for we read in a c>»t<-:nporary that " a great deal of irregular discission took place," and the action of th'. board was severely criticised. Ths Association are now desirous to proceed immediately with the erection of a building, but have wisely determined to postpone the work until the money required ia iu hand. To this laudable object recruiting from the outside world is being actively proceeded with. The ' Morning Herald ' is responsible for the statement that "two enthusiastic members of the Dunedin Young Men's Christian Association recently made a raid upon the compositors in Dunedin iu search of recruits for the Association's membership. Sad to relate, they labored in vain ; the attempt proved unsuccessful." Such heroism deserves a better fate. The late chairman of the Tuapeka County Council made a move in the right direction whan he strongly urged that body to cut down the oilioial expenditure His enemies of course represent that, with a "smile which was childlike and bland," he proposed that the chairman shall in future have no salary, knowing full well that he was not likely again to fill the chair himself. This 16 altogether a mistake. The balance eheet of the Couu.ii shows that there will be

great difficulty to make ends meet during the current year, if even the main roads are to be maintained, and Mr Brown very properly thought that economy should begin at the top of the tree. It is understood that Mr J\\ lew would have taken similar action in the Vinceut County Council, but was unfortunately unable to bo present at the first meeting of the year. The suburban municipalities had almost forgotten that they had endowments munificently granted by the Liboral (?) Ministry until the Colonial Treasurer announced in his Statement that the property of local bodies would be exempt from the new tax. Major Atkinson need not have troubled himself with regard to these particular endowment*, con.•id. ring that they are hardly worth 300 pence, 'much less L3OO, thus coming under the ordinary exemption provisions of the Bill. It would be well that the present Government, who are really sincere in desiring to strengthen the hand* of the local governing bodies, should be asked to review tho matter of the endowments. There seems likely to be a very nice row over the matter of the Mayoral election. Presuming that Mr Fish was disqualified, it seems a pity that his opponent did not take time by the forelock instead of waiting until the very eleventh hour, and then taking action necessarily capable of much misconception. The whole matter still admits of beinc placed on a basis satisfactory to the public. Let Mr Walter give an assurance that, should the Court adjudge Mr Pish to have been legally incapable of being elected, he will not take advantage of the position, but will, immediately on being declared Mayor, resign the office and remit the election to the ratepayers.