OLD IDENTIANA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1903, 24 July 1890, Page 34

OLD IDENTIANA.

I)R BUMS, MR MACANDREW, AND Mil REYNOLDS.

Who can write anything under this head and not mention the old pioneers of the colony — the leading men of the first arrivals ? There was the Rev. Mr Burns (afterwards Dr), whom we irreverent people used to call the " high priest "—an austere man, and a grim was he, as nine-tenths of Scotch " ministers " are, "A churchman proud, a Presbyterian sour, a smart freethinker — all things in an hour." Anyone who is conversant with Sc itch 'folk will know that they generally worship the minister as much as anything else. He is their outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual life. How often do we hear the mother's expostulation, " Dinna do that ; the minister '11 no like it." I was not one of the ministei's fold. I never heard any harm of him, and I am not going to bay anything more about him I know his son better, and have had a few sails in his boat. Then there was

Mr Macandrew.

A clever man was he, shrewd and apt in business, and keen as a razor in politics ; but Macandrew was not a wise man, and with all, the will he bad not that peculiar talent necessary to make money. His heart and soul were in politics,— he was the Provincial Council, and he pulled the wires when he wanted his colleagues to dance. Not one of them could hold the candle to him ; but for all that I could not admire Mr Macandrew. His head was too full of schemes, and he never had any openness or candour about him ; but he was a good advocate for his adopted colony — or, I should rather say, his adopted province, for 1. is whole exertions, according to Northern critics at all events, were put forth to benefit Otago aud Otago alone. He was a clever man. I could tell hundreds of stories about him, but I do not want to, and it is needless was too great a man to require it.

Mr William H. Reynolds, though lacking the originality of Mr Macandrew, was in some respects a wiser man. He, too, even in those days, was devoted to politics. He had not the bold flights of bis partner, nor anything like his power of intrigue, but he was on the whole a better man of business. Mr Reynolds was always a great hand at smoking oigarettea, All the

time I knew him I do not remember ever seeing him without either one in his mouth or rolling one up in his hand. He always placed it right between his front teeth, and made them as black as ink, and he had a way of speaking with his teeth shut, as though he could not bear to take the tobacco out of his mouth. It was quite amusing to see him in a hot discussion at the " Eoyal " with poor Carnegie (with the wooden leg). Carnegie was hot in argument always, but Mr Reynolds never ; and then whenever you saw him "at the bridge " (at first I used to wonder where the bridge meant) talking to Mr Outten, there was sure to be an article on politics in the next Witness, beginning " Referring to a late conversation on the bridge," &p., &c. You see, when they were "on the bridge " they could both go at it ; but Mr Reynolds knew the value of pvint, for he could have it all his own way then, for Mr Outten was not like some of the editors nowadays, who do not print anything that they don't like. I don't myself care to discuss points with an editor ; the " we " comes down too heavy for me, and then he is sure to have the last word, like the Crown prosecutor, which is hardly fair in either case.

Old Oi'Ago.