THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1842, 17 January 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1880.

Some little time ago we called attention to the fact that, unless some means were taken to improve its financial condition 8 tho sphere of usefulness of the Lyttelton Colonists’ Society would he greatly curtailed. Prom some cause or other those interested in the operations of the Society have not met with that amount of sympathy and support which they had a right to expect. The consequence is that the committee have had to make certain alterations which, to a great extent at least, practically extinguishes the Society. Even as a matter of sentiment, this is greatly to he deplored. Founded almost at the same time as the settlement itself, the Colonists’ Society in the past has done great service; more perhaps than those whom we may call the present generation, are aware of. As apolitical power, in times when it was necessary that some means should be afforded for the voice of the people to he heard, its weight was felt on many occasions when attempts were made to crush down the then struggling Canterbury settlement. Socially, also, it has done yeoman’s service, and it can hardly he wondered at that those old colonists who know what has been done by it should express regret at its decay. But, apart from sentiment, there is another and more important matter to ho considered. For years past, tho committee have thrown the reading-rooms open free of charge to the seamen of ships visiting the port. A counter attraction—how much wanted in Lyttelton onr readers well know—was thus afforded to tho temptations of the public-house. Jack ashore —that is quiet and well-disposed Jack—could here spend his spare hoars rationally and profitably. This privilege has now been obliged to be withheld, although, only temporarily, we trust. Let the inhabitants of Lyttelton take this matter seriously in hand, and with a very small subscription from each of them, tho Society will at once he placed in a sound position. Even for tho sake of “ auld lang syne,” if not for the continua tion of a privilege which has been productive of good, wo trust an effort will be made once more to re-open the library on the old footing.

Me. Robert Stout has no intention of being shelved, for the present at all events. A statement was made by the Wellington ‘‘ Chronicle” that a Supreme Court judgeship has been offered him. This, through the columns of the “ Times,” Mr. Stout has denied, and has farther said that, even if tho offer had been made, be would not have accepted it. Mr. Stout no doubt does well in not wishing to retire for ever from political life. Even his political opponents would be sorry to see him retiro into tho cool and verdant repose of a judgeship, seeing that he was by far the most improving of tho late Ministry, The late Premier has, long ago, lost all pity for his hearers. The same old, old story is, time after time, poured into their ears, and the treatment of the subject oven is but little varied. * * * * The repeated air Of sad Eleotra’a poet had tho power

To save the Athenian walls from ruin bare—sang Milton in his sonnets. But Sir George Grey’s “ropratol air” has no saving faculty in it whatsoever. It is both monotonous and useless. Then Colonel Whitmore’s utterances never sounded with a true ring. Ho was not heart and soul with his own party; it was a mere matter of convenience that ho found himself in their ranks. Mr. Sheehan was utterly disappointing. Looked upon at one time as a promising young colonial prodigy, ho soon fell behind tho expectation of his friends. Much as a young cornopean player may bo tolerated for a short time, in hopes of rapid improvement, but will be voted a nuisance if the improvement does not eventuate, so Mr. Sheehan was listened to on his first advent to power, but soon lost, notwithstanding undoubted talent, the

vantage point he might have obtained by more application and self-culture. As for Mr. Maeandrew, ho never was a speaker. But Mr. Stout was always a fresh and interesting speaker, however dogmatic ho might happen to bo—and terribly dogmatic and domineering ho was on occasions. An omnivorous reader, and ever the victim of the last pages ho had turned over, Mr Stout’s utterances possessed a character of variety that could not have been obtained in any other way. His ideas on political economy, sociology and all the ologies wore beatifully green and blooming, because they were invariably fresh plucked from the thoughts of the last eminent writer that ho had studied. It was a novel experiment, that serving up of other men’s thoughts “hot and hot,” but it served its purpose admirably. It prevented monotony, because no two utterances pointed in exactly in the same direction. The public at large will no doubt be delighted that Mr. Stout has no intention of retiring from the political arena. Ho was always displaying now colours, according to the substance on which ho had last fed, and onlookers felt interested in the phenomenon. However, ho has displayed something further. The masterly manner in which ho retired from his post when the general situation became rather hot, and the singularly effective means he took of covering his retreat show that he possesses diplomatic qualities of no ordinary character.