Passing Notes.

Otago Witness, Issue 1417, 18 January 1879, Page 16

Passing Notes.

Mr Sheehan, in addressing the Thames people the other day, referred to the influence of men who are interested in acquiring Native lands being used against the Government, to prevent the triumph of the pacific policy which has brought Rewi into friendly relationships with us. Anyone who knows anything of _ these Pakeha-Maoris can quite believe it. If the present Government succeed in their efforts to settle all Native differences they will probably remain in office, and if they remain in office the " Pakehas" will not get their big blocks : so it is just fighting for their own land they are. But among the many lies told on the Native question, the most unblushing we have yet heard of was that dual one quoted by Mr Sheehan — "It had been stated in a newspaper that the Hon. J. Sheehan had been turned back from Mokau by a chief named Titikau." The reply to which veracious statement, in Mr Sheehan's words, was simply this — "He had not been to Mokau, and there was no chief named Titikau." That is rather mean for the newspaper — two lies in one short paragraph ! "What is truth] said jesting I'ilate, and stayed not for an answer": so Lord Bacon commenced his remarkable essay upon "Truth." Had he lived nowadays, and among the PakehaMaoris, he would have been inclined to answer the question in the language of Mrs Gamp, "There ain't no sich thing." By the way, Mr Wakefield talked the other day about the Government wanting to increase the Maori franchise, and said that the result would be to throw several constituencies into the hands of PakehaMaoris. Does he, in the innocence of his heart, believe that these Pakehas are all favourable to the Government 1 Let him inquire of Mr J. S. Macfarlane. But, if not favourable, could he offer the Government a greater compliment than by saying that they want to give the Maoris votes, even at the risk of their own influence?

The Yankee engines seem to be firebrands, and cast right and left, and in front and behind, not sparks merely, but live coals ! Some sheep were several times set on fire in the trucks the other day coming from Oamaru, and owners of crop and grass paddocks on either side of the line are in a constant state of trepidadation. If losses from fires could be thrown on the Government, they would 'already have some thousands to pay in Canterbury, But it is said there is no remedy against the Crown for such damage. What is to be /lone 1 Is each man to take vengeance on the offending monster for himself, like the old blacksmith in one of theErckmannChatrian tales, who vigorously attacked the first engine that passed through his land and perished in the fray 1 It is getting past a joke, and the Commissioner of Railways, on his return from the West Coaßt, is likely to be warmly interviewed upon the subject. It is said that sparkcatchers interfere with the draught, and are some trouble to clean, but a single day's "burning" would pay for a little extra expense to adopt the engine chimneys and render them safe ; or perhaps a change of fuel might do it. Anyhow, the farmers won't long stand still and see their crops destroyed by irresponsible catawampuses like these " fast" engines. How is it managed in America, where prairie fires are not 'uncommon, and are pretty considerably dreaded 1

Poor Mr Fitchett ! it is well he is away, but on his return he will be almost dismembered (mentally) by conflicting feelings. First comes his own acknowledged pain and grief at leaving a Church and a flock with which he had so long been associated ; then, as the hawk-eyed public became aware of his future destiny, he is , confronted with the suggestion that he would never have changed his Church unless something good had been ready for him to drop into ; and now, finally, Mr Gifford andone ortwo more insist on knowing something about his "convictions," and imply that as he couldn't tolerate the " discipline " of one church he is not likely to tolerate that of another. This is really too much. We can quite understand that the Episcopal clergy may feel somewhat piqued that one of the best churches here should be offered to an outsider ; but to object to him on the score of probable want of conviction on such highly theoretical points as, for instance, Final Perseverance, Election, and so on, seems to be straining at gnats. How can we tell what are the convictions of nine-tenths of the men who occupy our pulpits 1 or whether, as Mr Stout says, they are " soond i' the faith 1 ?" It is a common enough thing for some of the Episcopal clergy to mingle freely with Wesleyan3 and other sects in their services ; there cannot, therefore, be any radical differences in their convictions on important points. But there are a few matters on which Mr Fitchetb is evidently " convinced." He has no doubt that he does not like breaking up house and home, and saying good-bye to his friends, and selling off his furniture at a loss, and starting for a fresh place once in three years or so ; and he is probably satisfied, as are the majority of those interested, that ho can teach the Church of England folks as much as auy other likely man. As fur "discipline," of course we can't tell

how aoon Mr Fitchett may find it necessary to fast on Fridays, and wear an occasional hair shirt ; bat when that time comes, depend upon it he will be equal to the occasion.

There's another church in hot water. No one can say that religious zeal has died out, even in these "degenerate" days ; for though our civil polity will not allow men to burn and torture one another on the score of their creed, they "bite and devour," and generally hash each other up in religious matters with an ardour worthy of a better cause. When the vestry of St. Matthew's opened its doors to Mr Fish, it admitted an individual who is not too modest for plain speaking Such a man is useful occasionally, and in this case Mr Fish has done good service. The style in which he " wiped down" the perpetrators of the pious fraud by which the music-lovers of the congregation were done out of their organ fund, wa3 quite refreshing. It isn't likely anybody connected with that church will try on anything of the sort again. The organist and choir have made an admirable display of Christian resignation and devotion in sticking to their work as they have done under all the circumstances. It is a great pity they cannot get their pastor to yield them that little point of the Sunday evening choir practice. These "conscientious" scruples are often carried too far, and serve sometimes to cover what, if fairly analysed, would be found to bo but a narrow prejudice. However, they are going to have a grand organ at last. It is to be hoped it won't prove too powerful for the building, though, as the organist asserted that the choir had before now "held the church together," there will be a counteracting influence if the tendency of the new instrument is to blow the roof off.

Thi3 suspense is becoming intolerable. If Councillor M'Kinnon cannot endure remaining under the " lash," neither is the public inclined to put up calmly with these repeated disappointments. A week ago we were delighted to see that the injured councillor had moved for a commission of inquiry, and there was every prospect of a solution of thia "hulk" mystery. It perhaps struck people as strange that the party most directly interested should himself be the mover and should include himself in the committee, the ordinary result being that, according to parliamentary usage, he would be chairman. Now, Or M/Kinnon enthroned as president of the august body assembled to sit in judgment on Or M'Kinnon's proceedings, would indeed have a glorious opportunity ; whichever way things went he would come out well. Cr M'Kinnon acquitted, we need scarcely picture ; the beaming humility and triumphant forgiveness which lighten up his countenance and carriage, would but be pardonable ; but imagine Or M'Kinnon called upon as chairman to give his casting vote for acquittal or condemnation ! — there would be no option ; and, with a visage fired by patriotic ardour, the moribund councillor would have to vote against himself, avowing, like Brutus of old, not that he loved M'Kinnon the less, but Dunedin the more.