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Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 184, 22 November 1876, Page 2

"To what bass uses do we come." Who is it that has not heard of the immortal " Siuiler," the late representative for the Dunstan. How well was his genial countenance and seraphic smile known in the Otagon metropolis in hours snatched from nis arduous legislative duties. Alas ! he has gone from our gaze " like a beautiful dream. Great things were prophetically foretold as to his future, and a nod and a wink would convey that ho was not SQEPHEKO-ing the ruling powers for nothing. When the Minister of Justice, the H-n. John Bathgate, appointed himself to the District Judgship of Dunedin, the " Smiler's " admirers felt the injustice perpetrated as if it were their own ; but when Prenoekgast became Chief of the Supreme Court, to the exclusion of the elect of ihc Dunstan, the cup w;is full to overflowing. Disgusted with such treatment. he determined to quit the political arena, and his seat was handed over to a worthy representative in the portly person of St. Vincent. His benign smile 110 longer shed a soothing influence o'er the ruillvd spirits of his brother legislators, the walls of St. Stephen's no longer resounded with the dulcet accents of his lisping oratory, the '* three star" at Bellamy's remained uncorked, and the eyes of the fair ones in the Stranger's Gallery searched in vain for their prcux rfinmUcr. Silently as the leaves fall from th< ; tress ha-l he dropped from the paths of men, and ail that was left of the once noted, gay, and happy Smiler was the pleasant memoi'ies of his self-satisGed, rubicund, and joyous countenance. Todav. however, he once more comes to the stn*face ; but oh ! how changed. The woolsack is a mji'i, the Bench, like Belthazzau'.s throne, is built on sand, and as it Aver.; as an epitaph to his fallen greatness, all that remains of him appears in a Gi'oymouth paper in the following announcement: —"Mr. T. L. SnKriiEito, Agent for the Government Life Insurance Department, Post Office, Greymouth." Alas ! what a i failing oil was there I Poor Tommy ! and I | is this the end of all your high aspiraI tions I But such is life. Beau Bntrirj MELT., the envied of peers and princes, 1 died in an obscure French fishing village, and his Colonial counterpart is buried in obscurity 011 the banks of the Grey. We must confess, however, none could be more fitted for the post assigned him than t.-.e recipient, and in the matter of " assurance " he will never run short.