Passing Notes.

Otago Witness, Issue 1340, 4 August 1877, Page 13

Passing Notes.

Apparently the old battle of Agriculturists versus Squatters' is to be renewed.. There is in this case, as in every other, a good deal to be said on both sides, and wh?t I have to say will be equally fair to both. Some years ago, when there was a good deal of agitation about agricultural land at Teviot, a large squatter somewhere in that neighbourhood exhibited at a Dunedin horticultural show some magnificent apples, - upon which was placed a ticket, stating that the apple 3in question were grown upon his station at Teviot. They were awarded first prize. Jfow, this squatter was always in the habit of asserting loudly upon every possible occasion, that land at Teviot was worthless for agricultural purposes, and that nothing could grow upon it. A friend walking round the show with him stopped before the apples, and said, " I say, C , you shouldn't show apples like that here." " Why not ?" " Well, after seeing them people will never believe in your statements, that 1 there's no agri- " cultural land at Teviot." The placard stating where the apples were grown waa removed instantly. The Colonial Treasurer thinks it would be a pity to disturb the smoothness and harmony of the Government for a year or two, and hopes, with a childlike simplicity, that the Government will be allowed to carry on quietly without any disagreeable questions or a discussion being raised on constitutional or other unpleasant matters of a similar nature, which might endanger their seats. No doubt this would be an excellent thing so far as the members of the Government are concerned, but the benefit to the community would, I fancy, be a little problematical. However, Messrs Stout and Macandrew, and the others' of that little band of fanatics, are not likely to see matters from the same point of view aa the Ministry, and consequently the Treasurer's dreams of peace and a long tenure ' of office undisturbed, are, I am afraid, likely to be rudely dispelled. You see, in matters of this sort people in office are apt to hold slightly different views to those out of office, bat who would like to be in. The Turks seem to have gone into the earth— at least, if the telegrams that the Russians have crossed the Balkans in' force are correct — and we are not apparently to have any bloody battles, ™ith correspondingly delicious pictures in the illustrated papers. However, to make amends for this, and give the horror-loving portion of the community, a little pleasurable excitement, a massacre on a large scale is by no means improbable. One of our shepherd kings was going home the other day to air his wealth and show his importance, this part of the world having become too small for him. His tali: showed that he considered him- | self far above ordinary mortals, and that he was justified in so considering himself was evident when he electrified tho passengers wh® were voyaging with him by asking the captain "whether there were any tropics on the other side of the line ! " St. Kilda is still determined to keep up its reputation, and had last week a final ,scene, in which the late Mayor took a last hand, and seemed determined to score all the points. After every councillor deserted him, he finally addressed himself to the ratepayers, several of whom were present to see the usual fun of a

Municipal meeting. It certainly was a novel idea to determine that a particular Ward should have no rates expended on it because the Councillor representing it had offended the rest of the Council. Fancy South Ward being excluded from all benefits because Councillor Fish allowed his tongue to wag indiscriminately ! The St. Kilda bear garden is getting beyond a joke, though what's to be done with it I can't say. The ratepayers seem satisfied, and if they are, why it's no one else's business.

There seems to be less talk than usual this session ; but don't let us cry before we're out of the wood, it's only the calm which precedes a storm. Sir George Grey and Mr Stout have not begun yet ; but wait a bit, they can't keep quiet long ; they can no more hold their tongues than they can fly.

I saw a splendid example of a guilty conscience the other day. I was sitting talking to Smith when the fire-bell rang. Smith counted the strokes of the bell, and then, jumping, exclaimed, "It's High Ward, and, by Jove, I left a candle burning in my office !" and the way he pegged down the street without a hat was a real treat. I don't think he leaves a candle burning in his office now.

The question of Evolution has been agitating the public mind of late in the Empire City, and everyone has something to say about it whether he knows anything or not. Of course, as was the case here, some of the parsons went into violent opposition, and one gentleman distinguished himself by the excellence of his sermons denouncing the theory, and by the soundness of his arguments (in bis own opinion) upon the subject. Another gentleman, who had a loaning towards the Evolution theory, met him one day, and a long discussion ensued. At length the somewhat pertinent question was asked of the eloquent divine — to wit, whether he had read Darwin. " No," was the reply, " but I've seen his photograph, and that's quite enough for me."

"It's an ill wind that blows no one any good" is an old saying, and in exemplifi. cation of it comes the story that the Turks were having two ironclads built in Great Britain, which, in consequence of the declaration of war, they cannot get, and which will in all probability fall into the hands ot the English Government for an old song. It's a pity they can't get a few more chances of this sore.

The other day, during tha hearing of a civil case, the Jury were observed during the whole time to be taking copious notes. The counsel noticed this, and complimented the Jury upon their care and the attention they were evidently paying to what was going on. The Jury smiled, and it was noticed that they left their notes behind them on retiring, and a friend of mine, out of curiosity, examined them. Ten gentlemen of the Jury had been amusing themselves by seeing who could draw the greatest caricature of the Judge, counsel, witnesses, plaintiff, de fendant, and every one connected with ihe case. My friend also found a large sheet of paper with the word whisky .written upon it, in twelve different hands, apparently showing, as we thought, a desire to partake of that beverage. Yet, after all this careful note-taking, that Jury were quite unable to agree. Singular, was it not 1

The desire to be Chairman of thejTuapeka County Council was evidently very strong in the breasts of the great patriots, Brown and Bastings, and I must say I admire the ingenuity of the side which made on 9of their own party Chairman pro tern., so as to get an extra vote. I have often been at meetings where our whole energies were directed to getting one of the other side into the chair, but then the chairman had only a casting vote.

Councillor Wade has not only an extraordinary idea of the importance of the part of the world in which his lot happens to be cast, but he has alao a singular craze which causes him to believe that all the rest of the world is leagued j against his little portion. Only the other j day he made the ridiculous statement — worthy of a child of six — that he heard for a fact that influential Dunedin merchants were straining every nerve to prevent a certain line of railway being completed because it might benefit Invercargill. But now he out-Herods Herod. He calls attention to the fact that the Home papers studiously avoid mentioning the Port of the Bluff ■ What an infamous proceeding on the part of the Home papers ! Can it be that the blightinfluence of Dunedin upon Invercargill and her destinies has reached as far as England, or have influential Dunedin merchants bribed those wicked papers to studiously avoid mentioning the Bluff? Stay ! May it not be that the Bluff is so small and insignificant a place that the Home papers have never heard of it I If this should prove to be the case, let Councillor Wade and his friends at once prepare a pamphlet on the Bluff, and get it largely distributed. Such an important part of the world is surely worthy of being brought into greater prominence.

The Professor of Anatomy has arrived, but in the meantime the student ha 3 gone away, and the University authorities are in despair as to where they are to find another. I" hear the Council of that august body propose to expend a con-

siderable sum yearly in importing & few medical students from Home, and I think it's a capital idea, as apparently medicine is a profession youths brought up in the country don't seem to care about. But the University have got a lot of money, and they are determined to spend it somehow or another.

The following appeared in a daily paper the other day :—": — " I have not made any stir, but, having worked on railways, I thought the thing would be investigated by the authorities, as such indulgence of the larrikioa might occur once too often." From which it would appear that the railway authorities go in for larrikin indulgences in the shape of investigations. I hope they will discontinue such practices.

The ease with which petitions can be got up is well exemplified in the Wakari cace, where some people signed a petition, signed another to the contrary effect, and finally signed a third to show that the first was the proper one, and that they only signed the second because they didn't read it !