PASSING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1974, 19 September 1889, Page 21

PASSING NOTES.

After nearly three months' battling with winds and waves, Sir Harry has at last brought the Ministerial bark to harbour and laid her up. The voyage has been disastrous. One officer was discharged, another was lost

overboard, and the greater part of the cargo has been jettisoned through stress of weather. The crew, too, have been more or less mutinous all through the trip, and on several occasions they rose and nearly succeeded in taking the ship. The vessel herself is so battered about that it is doubtful whether she oan be made seaworthy again ; the better

opinion seems to be that she will be broken up. Sir Harry himself has had a peculiarly trying time of it. What -with incompetent officers and a disaffected crew, he has virtually been forced to keep night, day, and dog watch himself. He has straggled with the Fates so gamely that even his enemies cannot grudge him the few months' rest before the trouble begins again. He has earned it well. Just at this present moment he must be one of the most light-hearted men in the land — frisky as a young kid, so to speak. Mr Ballance and Mr Seddon, Mr Scobie Mackenzie and Mr Menteath have all been seen safely off the premises, and won't be seen again for this year. The doors of Parliament are locked and the keys are in his pocket. The burden of everything is off his back, and the big boots are off his feet. What more can he want to make him happy

It was the Shah, not the Czar, who was wrecked by a railway collision in Russia. This shows the impartiality of the Nihilists and their superiority to national prejudices. The Shah is nothing to them — never did them either good or harm, — yet they favour him with" precisely the same delicate attentions that they would offer to their own Czar. I assume, of course, that the accident by which the Shah came to grief was arranged by the Nihilists. Whenever a railway smash occurs in Russia and a prince or potentate is discovered among the debris, the causes of that smash are political. As the Jew in the " School for Scandal" persistently remarks, " you may take your oath of that." In organising a railway collision, the Nihilists would have preferred, no doubt, that it should be for the benefit of the Czar ; but failing the Czar, why not the Shah 1 If it had been bhe Prince of Wales and circumstances suited, they would have said : Why not the Prince of Wales 1 When -it is a question of the taking off of princes there is nothing narrow or exclusive about the Nihilist. The Shah, so far as appears, escaped without bodily injury. But he must have been frightfully injured in his dignity, and that is something. It is open to the imagination to picture him jostled, punched in the ribs, flung sprawling; finally, hoisted out of the window of a broken carriage by the seat of his baggy trousers. These ignominies, inflicted upon one of their number, are damaging to the cause of kings everywhere, and in this fact the Nihilists have their reward. It would be interesting to know the nature of the Shah's remarks as soon as he recovered breath after the smash ? and how many heads he wanted to cut off.

The " oh " and "ah " style of rhetoric belongs more properly to the pulpit than to the forum, goes better with " dearly beloved brethren" than with "Mr Speaker, Sir." Yet they get it sometimes in the House of Representatives, and I find it duly preserved in the pages of Hansard. Here, for example, is the peroration of a discourse by Mr Monfc on the property tax™

Oh New Zealand, poor New Zealand ! if you could only get men to conduct your politics regardless of merely selfish considerations, and with that loyalty of spirit, .that would disdain to substitute trickery for politics, in which unscrupulous intrigue oould have no place ! Oh, if but men were sent here to conduct your business with a true regard to your honour and to the welfare of the people, well would it be for you ! The high poetic mood, Mr Monk may be reminded, requires "thous" and "thys" in an apostrophe of this kind. Thus, the first sentence should read, "Oh, New Zealand, poor New Zealand ; if thou couldst only gget"t t " — and so throughout. It is no use half doing a thing of this kind. If the orator could shed a tear or two the effort would be enhanced, — an onion in a pockethandkerchief may be recommended ; its use for rhetorical purposes is at least as old as Horace. Possibly the Hon. Monk did " cry here," though no trace of his tears is discoverable in Hansard. The official reporters do not note even cheers or laughter, much less may they be expected to chronicle other signs of emotion. Pity 'tis that they don't I If it were permitted them to tell us that such or such an hon. member after the 5.30 adjournment appeared to be suffering under some unusual excitement, and had difficulty in expressing himself coherently, Hansard would be more interesting reading than it is. Properly reported, Mr Monk's speech shoufd read thus : — '.' The hon. gentleman here buried his face in his hands and sank feito his seat OTerwhelmed with emotion."

The souls of both" saints and sinners in Ohristchurch are being sorely exercised over Mr G. T. Sullivan, an evangelist who has been holding revival services there with great success for some time past. He called himself a "converted athlete" and "own brother of the American prize-fighter, J. L. Sullivan." Moreover, he claimed to have converted the chief reporter — not one of the rank and file, mark you ; though that were much — but the chief reporter of a Wellington paper. With such credentials and the aid of photographs showing himself as he used to be before he was an evangelist — to wit, stripped to the waist and in a fighting attitude — he speedily became the rage, and his meetings were thronged. Gradually, however, disquieting rumours got abroad. His name wasn't Sullivan, and he wasn't a brother of the great J. L. S. He had forgotten to pay his debts at his last mission field. Then the chief reporter, probably moved thereto by fear lest he should be injured in his trade or calling, publicly denied that he had been converted — " the statement was absolutely without foundation." Thereupon the Ministers' Association took the matter up; and invited Mr Sullivan to explain sundry things that seemed to need explanation. Mr Sullivan first said he would, and then said ihe wouldn't. Then a deputation of ministers waited on him, and though details of the interview have not been published, the proceedings must have been somewhat lively,

Mr Sullivan's friends denied that he " gave one member of the deputation two minutes to clear out," but in a letter to the Press, he oays:

I confess to have been indignant, and under a furious impulse looked fiercely at him, and gave him to understand that only for the grace of God I would use violence, and gave him two minutes to go. I found thac my muscles were swiftly becoming like flint, which made me

afraid of myself, particularly knowing 'my own nature. The member took the hint and went, as well he might, and his fellows speedily followed. Some adventurous members of the Primitive Methodist Church waited on him for an explanation of the phrase, •• God strike me dead," which it was said he had used to- a reporter, and they appear to have had a narrow escape— as also had the reporter himself— if we may judge from what Mr S. says on the point in the same letter: —

With regard to the expression, " God strike me dead," I have no recollection of using such words, but I must say at times during the reporter's interview at the Y.M.U.A. Rooms I was tryiug to suppress the natural man. Had I not the grace of God to sustain me, they would not have bean in my presence very long. Subsequent communications appear to have been made through an assistant, and finally through the newspapers. This, for instance, is what Mr Sullivan says in another letter : —

The committee informed my assistant, Mr M'Gregor, that they could waive all points except that in reference to my identity. There are Freethinkers' associations all through America, who are bitterly opposed to Christianity. My_ brother being in sympathy with them, I believe would sacrifice any principle to sustain the above associations in their persecution of my active Christian work. Hence I could not, nor cannot now, see it possible to satisfy them or the public. And so matters stand now. The ministers have been beaten off the field, and Mr Sullivan—emphatically a member of the Church militant — is still drawing crowded audiences. He will probably come to Dunedin when he has completed the conversion of Christchutch.

The Queensland papers are discussing the rabbit question, although the rabbits in Queensland are like the snakes in Iceland ; — there are no rabbits in Queensland. The rabbit question there is mainly a question of rabbiters from New South Wales who are suspected of attempts to introduce the rabbits. The other day a customhouse officer in one of the ports discovered a pair of bunnies in the possession of a steerage passenger from the neighbouring colony, and instantly killed them, for which prompt service to the State he has been commended and rewarded by the Government. Other anl previous attempts to import the rabbit seem to have been more successful. Here and there in the heart of Queensland the tail of a rodent has been seen twinkling where — unless he had dropped from heaven, or arrived on wings — he must have been placed by human hands. These facts are instructive. There are evidently people in Queensland who look upon the rabbit as the poor man's friend, and are desirous of seeing him acclimatised in that capacity without delay. We have the same sort of people here, where the rabbit is already an established institution. Who are they ? Why, the rabbiters, of course. The rabbiters get their living by the rabbit, and it is not in human nature that they should wish the rabbit exterminated. As long as we have rabbiters we shall have rabbits. Of course the view that the rabbit is the " poor man's friend," sent by Providence to promote socialism and a more equitable distribution of goods, may be the sound view. I say nothing against that. But it requires supplementing, as thus :

The rabbit is the poor man's friend.

The rabbiter is the rabbit's friend. The latter proposition, once grasped, simplifies the whole political economy of the rabbit amazingly.

The long series of wrongs suffered by English authors at the hands of American publishers has been capped by a ludicrously impudent proposal addressed by the Boston publishing house of Ginn and .Co. to Mr Thomas Hughes, author of " Tom Brown's Schooldays." "Tom Brown" has been pirated in America again and again, but of that no matter. The Boston publishers think there is money in it still if only the author can be induced to touch it up a bit, and adapt it to " the moral atmosphere of America." These are the very words of their letter to Mr Hughes — they want a Tom Brown " adapted to the moral atmosphere of America " 1 Poor Tom is not good enough to serve as a type for his Boston cousin ; it is doubtful whether he ever gets religion, " and he engages in a desperate and most unregenerate fight with 'the slogger' and whops him." What is wanted to suit the moral atmosphere of America is a Bowdlerised and emasculated Tom Brown, who will go to a camp meeting, get converted, and turn Methodist. The Boston publishers may possibly be right in this view, — they ought to understand their own business and the nature of their own countrymen — but nobody familiar with American newspapers, their brutal sensationalism and reckless irreverence, would have supposed that the national tastes lay that way. Perhaps it is only in Boston, the "hub" of culture, thab the religious priggishness for which Ginn and Co. cater is to be found. Mr Thomas Hughes — much-enduring man ! —replies politely that their proposal is " distasteful" to him. In his own Tom Brown days he would have described it straight out as "beastly," and would have informed Messrs Ginn and Co. that it " made him sick." GIVIS.

A pro re nata meeting of the Presbyterian Synod was held on Monday evening to consider the appointment by the Church Board of Property of Profeß3or Thomas Gilray, of University College, Dundee, to the Chair of EDglish Language and Literature in the University of Otago. After an objection to the formality of the meeting had been disposed of, a communication from the Board of Property was read' notifying the appointment of Professor Gilray, "subject to the concurrence of the synod." The Rev. Mr Will explained the attitude adopted by the synod's commissioners with regard to the appointment ; and Dr Stuart, in support of the board' 6 communication, quoted from testimonials as to the academic training, ability as a teacher, and general qualifications of Professor Gilray. Upon the Bisggestion of Mr Will, the synod went into committee to " converse upon the subject," but the discussion in oommittee 6peedily degenerated into a wrangle upon the old point as to whether the Church Board of Property "appoints" or "selects" a candidate, and a great deal of time was cub to waste — Mr Will ia particular speaking at suclj

length that he was charged with introducing stonewalling tactics. As soon as Mr Will had resumed his seat a proposition that the synod should resume was made, and cheerfully assented to. The Rev. Mr Ryley then moved that the appointment of Professor Gilray ehould be concurred in, and this was seconded by the Rev. Mr Clark. In view of the lateness of the hour the Rev. Mr Gibb moved the adjournment of the question till the regular meeting of the synod, and this amendment was seconded by the Rev. Mr Waddell, who mentioned as an argument in support of delay certain rumours that have been current with regard to Professor Gilray's qualifications. The mention of that brought Dr Stuart, Dr Dunlop, and Mr Ramsay to their feet, and Mr Gibb also denied their correctness. Ultimately the amendment was lost by two votes — a number of the members having previously left — and the synod agreed to concur in the appointment.

Our cablegrams announce the death of the Right Rev. John Fielder Mackarness, D D , late Bishop of Oxford. He was born in 1820, and received his education at Eton and Merton College, Oxford, where he obtained a "postmastership." He took his B.A. degree in 1844, and was shortly afterwards elected to a fellowship at Exeter College. A year later, after taking priest's orders, he was presented to the vicarage of Tardebigge, Worcestershire. Ten years later he was presented to the rectory of Honiton, Devonshire. He was elected one of the Proctors in Convocation for Exeter, but failed to secure re-election on account of his approval of Mr Gladstone's measure for the disestablish meut of the Irish Church. In December, 1869, he was appointed, on the recommendation of Mr Gladstone, to the Bishopric of Oxford, vacant by the translation of Dr Wilberforce to the see of Winchester.

In connection with the meeting held on Monday evening in the Presbyterian Church, at Ravensbourne, to moderate in a call for a minister, the Rev. Mr Mackenzie's name was proposed in addition to the Rev. Mr Todd's. Mr Mackenzie's name is not . mentioned in our previous notice, as it was not at all clear that the motion including Mr Mackenzie's name was seconded, and if seconded, it was not uutil after a vote had been taken that it was.' The voting was— For Mr Todd, 21 ; and for Mr Mackenzie, 15.

An Auckland paper says that Sir Julius Vogel has secured the lease of about six miles of the foreshore extending from New Plymouth town right down past the breakwater, and round the Sugar Loaves for three or four miles, and that he is at present endeavouring to float a company in England to be called the New Zealand Mining, Smelting, and Manufacturing Company ; and, from letters received from Sir Julius, it appears as if the company is in a fair way of being floated.

A tea meeting was held in the Athenseum Hall, Greytown, on Friday last, in connection with the Sunday evening evangelistic services The meeting was a thorough success, over 200 being present. The tables were filled with everything of the best. The ladies, who must have gone to a considerable amount of trouble to have laid them out in such a manner, were : — Misses I. Ford, C. Hollands, E. Brochet, L. Newman, M. Williamson, E. M'Kegg, and M Ford. When everyone had done justice to the eatables, the hall was cleared for the after meeting, Mr Tatham presiding. The following ladies and gentlemen then addressed the meeting :— Mrs Stevens, Misses Ray and Butler, Messrs Latham, Kirk, and M'Mullan. During the evening Miss Didham sang two pretty songs, and her singing was greatly appreciated ; the choir saug several hymns ; and Miss C. Hollands officiated at the organ. The Hall Committee having given the hall free of charge for the evening services, the funds are to be handed over to the Hall Committee after all the expenses are paid.

A deputation of citizens waited on Mr John Roberts on Wednesday and presented a requisition, bearing 878 signatures, urging him to consent to be nominated for the position of mayor of the city for the next ensuing term. Mr Roberts intimated thai; he would comply with the request.

A meeting of subscribers to the Macandrew memorial fund was held on Wednesday, when itwas decided to devote £50 of the sum remaining available— £236 5s 4d~to the erection of a monument over Mr Macandrew's grave, and to allocate the balance to the erection of a fountain or other suitable memorial in the city.

The Mining and Metallurgical Committee of the exhibition desire it to be widely known that it is necessary that intending exhibitors should intimate the nature and pxtent of their proposed exhibits without delay, in view of the necessity for making due provision for them, and of the greatly enlarged area and scope to which the mineral court shows signs of expanding. We understand that it is in contemplation to invite mine owners to forward quantities, say half a ton each, of ores, for the purpose of being treated by the machinery which it is expected will be gladly provided by those interested. It is believed that such an arrangement would be ■welcomed, and there can be no doubt it would greatly add to the practical value of the mineral court.

The North Otago Times reports the death of Mr Wm. Hay, ab the advanced age of 83 years, 29 years of which he had spent in New Zealand. Mr Hay went to Oamaru in the early days in charge of the hulk Thomas and Henry aud afterwards joined the boating service. After serving with Messrs Dalgety and and Co., Anderson and Mowat, and Mr H. Aitken, he joined his son, who had started business in Oamaru, remaining with him until he met with an accident some three years ago.

Further orders hare been received at Auckland by cable for considerable quantities of flax for London and New York.

Our obituary columu this week contains intimation of the death, at the ripe age of 80 years, of Mr John Barr, well known by his territorial appellation of " Craigielea." The deceased gentleman was born in Scotland, and was for some years a member of the firm of Barr and M'Nab, engineers, Paisley. In 1852 he emigrated to Otago, "in order," to use his own words, " to hew out a home for himself and his family in the wilderness." In those early days of the settlement the figure of Mr Barr was well known, aud not less widely than his genial humour and his talent for composing songs and poems. The fruits of his efforts in this direction he published in book form in 1861, and many of the pieces contain fine specimens of humour and satire. He settled at the Half-way Bush on his arrival, aud afterwards removed to Kaihiku, where his farm was subsequently bought by the late Mr Kettle. Mr Barr then lived at the Water of Leith, aud some few years back became the recipient of a considerable legacy, sinca which time he has lived a somewhat retired life, latterly at Ravensbourne, where he died yesterday. He is survived by Mrs Barr and two daughters, one of whom is married. There is no doubt that when the early history i f Otago' comes to be fully written, Mr Barr'b i,.ini ; will Isa found prominent among those of the early settlers.