PASSING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2207, 18 June 1896, Page 38

PASSING NOTES.

Time stands not still for prelate or peasant, and quarter of a century has gone by since Bishop Nevill's gaiters first took their place among the institutions of Dunedio. I take it that 20 years earlier, in the day of the genuine old identity — day yet looked baok to with fond regret by a faithfal remnant— the appearanoe of a pair of prelatioal logs "within the bounds" would have oreated no slight turmoil. Trfe infant presbytery would have been up in arms, and the right' reverend limbs perchance in durance vile. Bat fate and the sixties brought the new iniquity, and by-and-bye the Anglioans of Otago ,wazed proud and cried out for a bishop to reign over them. By way of response they were given the Jonner controversy, and were still studiously nursing it when Mr Nevill chanced to come

Sailing by — Bound the world with unshut eye.

Ho losked in — " in a promiscuous manner," just as Mrs Clapping looked in at Mrs Bardell's on that fatal day when Mr Pickwick— but that is another etory. Oar Arglioau friends regarded this interposition as a special' providence. ' I must; suppose that they did not. fail to note the reverend stranger's one obvious deficiency, from an episcopal point of view. 'Bat (to their credit) they thought it a small matter to delight in any man's legs; and, besides, there were compensating advantages. If in one sense the providential visitor bad bat slender visible means of support, in another and more vital seme he was amply endowed. The Apoßtle had directed that a bishop must be " not greedy of filthy lacre," and was there not every reason to believe that this requirement would be religiously fulfilled ? Accordingly cash was held to supply what might be tackle g in calves. Mr Nevill was duly approached— l think that is the term, — and he was not disobedient to the synodic call. And implicitly believing as I do in the disinterested sincerity of the Bishop's motives, I trust it will not be counted to me for cynicism if I venture to tell a pleasant little story anent epiicopal " calls." Once upon a time, a bishopric having- been offered to a prominent clergyman, a son of the family was nocosted in the street by a friend with the query, " Well, Tommy, is it decided that yon go to Blanktown?" To which Tommy, terrible child that he was, made reply—" Pa is still praying for light, tut all the tilings are jtaokei." Tbere was probably a Mrs Proudie in the person of " Ma." I owe this yarn, if I mistake not, to Mr Labouchere ; and you are to understand clearly that I don't mean what (there is too much reason to fear) Labby meant.

The Choral Hall was " densely crowded,"' as the report say yon Monday night; and consequently the temperature was • not suggestive of H9aven, whatever else it may have been. But the proceedings were not wanting in edification. Confession is said to be good for the soul, and certainly there was a soul-3atisfying thoroughness in Mr Hsggitt's way of confessing the shortcoming* of a grateful laity, Indeed, one is tempted to suggest that gratitude appear* to be ' the main virtue of lay Anglicanism in Ooago. The learned chancellor made a clean breast of the business. With painstaking fulness he recounted the various Denefactions of the Bishop, — paused — and then asked with awful emphasis (in the words of a hymn, wasn't it ?) " What have roe done for thee 1 " Perhaps the humiliation was just a shade overdone. The most approved penitence does not take a melodramatic form. Besides, Mr Haggltt's abasement (on behalf of self and others) pat the Bishop at an obvious disadvantage. Under such circumstances, what could a tender - hearted shepherd do - but gently deprecate the self-reproaches of his flock and try to restore their good conceit of themselves 1 Anyhow, the Bishop did try to effect this restoration, and I have a suspicion that he sneoeeded pretty well. But I for one- should not have blamed him if he had mingled a little judicious irony with his tenderness. "Beloved," he might have said, "your penitence has a sweet savour, and far be it from me to remark upon its somewhat belated manifestation. Moreover, I am satisfied that it i« quite unnecessary to remind yon that good works are the seemly fruit of trne repentance, and that it is never too lats to mend. I doubt not that in future the spondulix" — but there 1 See what comes of a graceless journalist essaying the task of putting worda into a bishop*s mouth 1 Enough said. When the Bishop celebrates his golden jubilee, may Mr Haggitt be there to recount a long Hit of benefactions—on the part of the laity 1

It iB a long stride from the episcopal bench to the agricultural show, and not without diffidence do I attempt to take it. Like Mr Haggitt, I am in a confessing humour; so be it known to all men that, though I don't pretend to know muoh about episcopaoy, I know still less about agrionlture. My practical notions of the subject are limited to vague memories of Virgil's "Gsorgics," as read at school; and, seeing that the "Georgics" were given to the world more than 1900 years ago, it is to be feared that their information cannot be regarded as quite np to date. The bucolic Mr Chaplin, before he himself became a Minister, thus delivered himself on a certain occasion in the House of Commons: V The state of the agricultural interest is the most pressing question of the hour; yet I glanoe along the Treasury bench and fail to observe a single Minister of whom It oan be confidently affirmed that he knows a horse from a cow." My own ignorance does not attain to that inperb pitoh of completeness. Nevertheless could I hare sympathised with the predicament of a distinguished New Ztaland polMoian (now In retirement), o! who© S& JaUsi Tog«l one, trig % tUhn

unkindly tale. The quotation Fa from fifan« sard (October 31, 1884):

I have heard that it struck the hon. gentleman that ib > would inarea.se hit importance Jtj the country if he came forth in the shape "of a farmer and settler. On those occasions when he was in Ohri»tchu>cu and its neighbourhood, especially on market days, he found that it was a common pr&obice for farmers to carry about samples. . . . So he went to a friend, and that friend supplied him with three papwrs — one containing eats, one containing wheat, and one containing barley ; aud the hon. gentleman next appeared on the scene in an attire whioh partook of the country squire and the farm labourer, , . . " Samples of wheat), oats, and barley 1 " said he, " I ihould like to see if you can beat these." Bub his friend, unfortunately, had not written upon the samples what they were j and when the hon. gentleman came to produce them he could not tell which was the wheat, which the oati, and whioh the barley. That's me — in defiance of grammar and selfesteem. But courage! I dare do all that doth become a writer of Passing Notes. Mark Twain knew nothing about farming matters,, yet " he 'edited an agricultural, journal. -Moreover, he gave the farmers of the district some exceedingly interesting and original counsel. The result was that they came in a body and wrecked., the office. Surely I oan produce an agricultural Note without bringing ruin on the Daily Times office. Presto 1 it is already done.

The following epistle speak* for itself t

Dear Civis, — A few weeks ago you had a Note on correspondent! who were continually troubling you with their effusions, and whose greatest desire" was to sea same effusions in' print. Now, Civis, I confess that (though not troubling you heretofore) nothing' would give me so muoh satisfaction as to see' an article of mine published in Passing Notes. This would bo fame, indeed. But I have a proposition to make, Civis, which I hope you will impartially consider. It is well known that you and the paper with which you are connected are really anxious in encouraging the growth of Liocul Literature. Well, you should give the country people a show by allowing them to send in an occasional Passing Note. This would give a rest to your overworked brain, and your able oritism would have the effect of forming a good wholesome style of literature for the country disfcriofs — for I suppose you well know that all through Central Ofcago you are considered one of the literary lights of this oentury. When the Obago Witness arrives the first glance is to see what you have too say on matters Public, and if an unfortunate were to mention o>>nan Doyle, Rolf Bolderwood, or even Thaokeray, in the same breath as •' Civis " he would receive a snubbing which would cettle him entirely. Hoping you will favourably consider this, — I am, A Would«bb Coming Civis.

I have printed this gem just as I got it the other day from the wilds of Hawea, not daring to interfere with the style or «yen the spelling ot such a wild, untutored genius as my correspondent eaems to be. . For his complimentary references to myself I return to my bucolic friend my sincerest thanks. I receive bushels .of suoh complimentary references in the oourse of the year, but they do not pall on me. Flattery — even ironical flattery — never wearies or disgusts me. Far from it. I rejoice in batter of all kinds — more especially during show wepk. My correspondent, however, is under a strange delusion on one point— i.e., that bnsh poets and othen who write to" me from the back blooks succeed in " continually troubling me with their effusions." This is a huge mistake. I rejoice at the receipt of suoh effusions as that of "Hawea." As he astutely points out, an occasional Passing Note from an outsider gives a rest to my " overworked brain," and I shall be pleased at any time to " give the country people a show " by allowing them to send in a whole column of Passing Notes so long as my able and relentless editor does not object. I fear, however, that my modesty forbids me almost to aim at forming (or does " Hawea " spell it " farming ." ?) " a good wholesome style of literature for the country districts." I am afraid that even my " able critistn. " will hardly be able to achieve this heroulean task — at all events, within the present century. Possibly during the next decade, when some of the other "literary lights of the century " burn dim or are extinguished, Civis may remove his light from under the bushel of anonymity, and devote the remaiaß of his ;■ overworked brain" to the saored cause of " enoourjiging the growth of looal literature."

The next letter with whioh I have to deal is one of, a different type, a city type. It purports to come from a " Dazed Batohelor " (sio), who adds the' gratuitous information that he is "engaged." What Mr "D. B.''is "engaged" in doe*- not appear from his letter. My " batohelor" correspondent sends me a clipping from a local daily announcing the recent wedding at the Cathedral of a happy couple. So far, so good. Unfortunately the marriage notioe winds up with the mystic letters " R.1.P." This seems to have puzzled the " overworked brain " of my correspondent, who writes to me as follows i —

Dear Civis, — Can you inform me why it is necessary at this early period of married life to warn this young couple to " rest in peaca " P Answer me this urgent appeal, and calm my unworthy uneasiness I entreat of you, dear Civil.

Yours most anxioußiy, &c., &c. I really must give it up. It is no business of mine to pry into the wedded existence of my fellow citizen* who desire to " rest in peace." If the marriage^ notice is entirely genuine, then it it dear that the bride and bridegroom are curious bat sensible people, determined to start.in matrimony on a business footing. If the letters " R.1. P.," however, form part of a Joke, then, all I can say Is that to my mind it is a malicious and foolish joke. lam afraid my " batchelor" friend is not oo " dazed "as he would have ub believe. I trust that he had no part in inserting the newspaper notice referred to, bnt, if he had, I mast say that I agree with him that hi* alleged uneasiness if" unworthy " of any bachelor, engaged or Cms.

Otherwise.

The choir at St. Joseph's Cathedral wm on Sunday strengthened by the pretence of some of the members of Meisrs Williamson ana Muigrove's Company. l& tho njoralag. Webe/i