POSTSCRIPTS.

Evening Star, Issue 5762, 27 August 1881, Page 1

POSTSCRIPTS.

The gentlemen appointed to conduct the inquiry into the chargee made against the conduct c.f the Benevolent Asylum are “full up” of Mr Hitchcock ; nor can this be con* sidered at all surprising by anyone who has taken the trouble to read the report of the proceedings so far. The question would seem to suggest itself, whether the troublesome and expensive machinery of a Government investigation bai not been set in motion in this instance without due consideration of the character ©f the representations made and of the weight to be attached to the statements of those who made them. There are certain Individuals in moat communities who make it their business to gird at public institutions; and, oddly enough, a

person of the oamo it awe as Mr Hitchcack’s colleague made himself very disagree a' le n the Wakatip District some years ago : >y "U attack on the management if the I>» »>) hospital — his indictment eventually C'li'g found to have been hosed on no rjou.ds whatever. Mr A. C. Begg, at a nr eiing of the Education Board, complained that some of the school teachers were being made use of distributing tickets tor Saturday after* noon theatrical performances. Very wrong, and highly subversive of morality, no doubt 5 But who sot the example of using the machinery of the State schools for purposes not contemplated by the Education Act? Did not a political association, of which Mr Begg is a leading member, uao the teachers who were willing to bo made instruments in the cause as canvassers in a sort of plebiscite of parents ? and do not those teachers who very properly reluicd stand in the black-books of the Education Beard ? What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander! Tae idea of forming ah Angling Club in Dunedin is a very good one. It is evident from the experience of the last three years that the Acclimatisation Society are powerless to check the abominable poaching which is carried out to a system in the Water of Leith, A club, consisting aa ft probably Would of soma 200 members, wonld surely be able, in conjunction with the Society, and having the law at IhJr back, effectually to protect real sport and bring delinquents to justice. The waters require to be Patched not only in the open season, but a month or two antecedent. It hj notorious, indeed, ihat trout have been taken and even offered for sale privately already, A few convictions, followed by the impo.-itioa of wholesome penalties, would atop the little game of these disreputable depredators, It was altogether an absurd proceeding to charge a member of the Committee of the recent Industrial Exhibition with stealing, because he sampled a bottle of colonial wine, it being clearly the duty cf thoie of the Committee who rejoice in strong constitutions to ascertain in the only way possible—namely, by experiment—whether such generally unknown beverages are wholesome or the contrary. The Legislative Council have thrown out the proposed new wino license, so that this local industry will still have to maintain itself on its comparatively private reputation, and steady old topers will tinue in doubt as to the quantity necessary to make one “ fu’ ” without inducing disorganisation of tho digestive faculties, A special report from this sampling commissioner would not be without intrinsic value.