Fltsam and letsam.

Otago Witness, Issue 1296, 30 September 1876, Page 13

Fltsam and letsam.

jS* quid novitli rectius itlit Ccmdidut imperti} it rum, hit tiler e meeum.

"If you know anything better than those remarks of mine, kindly toll me ; if not, uaa these with me."

There is a story told in one of the old Punches of an enraged mistress going into the kitchen and finding a tall soldier ' in a cupboard. The girl had declared that she knew nothing about it, and followers were strictly prohibited. ■ A brilliant idea came athwart her brain, and oa the discovery of the concealed young man she suggested that "Please mum, the last young person must have left him."' > This story haß a moral. I notice a growing habit on the part of the Ministry to throw all the troublesome matters they can on to the shoulders of the late Ministry. No matter what it is, a scandal or an extravagance, a department or a job, they, always declare that the last, young person left it. This is the advantage of reforming a Ministry instead of making a, new one out of the Opposition. All that is good and Btrong goes with the new people ; all that is weak and objectionable dies with the old. This is' the 'opinion; o£ the Government. I notice, singularly enough, that the Opposition is of * a "different' opinion. What a pity it is ole| iMfrs Grundy thinks that the Opposition' and Ministry always take opposite sides.

So we are really going to war* in. Otago. The love of sensation in this Province is wonderful, and most of us would as Booii have a new sensation as a thousand per annum. How well it would sound—^The Provincial party, under the command' of Brigadier-General Stout, , crossed the Taieri, and advanced towards Otakia, throwing out skirmishers to Green Island and Mosgiel. A very determined hand to hand combat endued between the 1 Uhlans of the Colonial forces and the advanced posts of the Provincialists about the old. Hillside turnpike. The former were worsted, and had to retire . on the main body, which lies about half-a-mile on the Dunedin side of Green Island. We understand that supplies are coming in very readily to the patriots, but that the General Government forces are half starved. How nice it would all sound. Is this really what the local self-government men would en? joy? Their words seem like it. Shall we have to announce a great hanging in these columns in another six months, in which Messrs Mac— w, S— t, and L-r-n-h will figure prominently. There is nothing like facing realities. Tall talk is one thing, but fighting is quite another. I had begun to fancy that the Colonial Parliament had really got past the stage when it would occupy itself with trifles, and the little ins and outs of parish business that ought to have been managed at the Provincial Council or the Town Council ; but I was amused, and not agreeably surprised, the other day to find that the Lyttelton town clock occupied no small portion of a night's debate, and that Mr Murray- Aynsley asked a question about the winding up and general regulation of its works that would have seemed trifling at a Eoad Board. I suppose that it must be regarded as a colonial question — bhis interesting and very exciting point about the Lyttelton town clock. I never know now what ' is a colonial question and what isn't. Who can tell after the town clock 1 The .Timaru breakwater was a great blow to my feelings as the first consequence of Abolition, but it was as nothing compared to the Lyttelton town clock. I wonder did Sir George Grey think of remarking that the happiness of the whole human race was in reality involved in the correctness of the Lyttelton town clock. Dear me, how the price of votes has diminished since I was in the House. I see by a late telegram that no less than forty-nine members voted for one penny on the postal card question. At this rate it would be possible to buy up the entire Assembly for tuppence — and dear at the money I think some one said. Well, I don't know — everything, the proverb tells us, has its price, and I suppose even a member of Assembly has a value, though I don't understand decimals, and so I don't know what that value is. '

Yes, I quite agree as to the Jiypercriticisin of much of the debate on hot language that has passed this year at Wellington for gentility. I see in a States Council that brie member called the other "a slobbering eel of a fellow j' and pat

the words were objected to, but what, oh, what would have happened to the individual .' (I call him so on purpose, because man might be out of order) who used such words in New Zealand, polite New Zealand ? For my part I much prefer the easy diction of Hob Miller to the polite and far-fetched euphemisms of Sir Piercie Shafton. There is always a touch of. the tailor's shears sticking out of the very particular and polite coat tails of your gentlemen who is so easily shocked. Crustacean.