THE MINISTER OF MINES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3789, 29 May 1885, Page 3

THE MINISTER OF MINES.

Mr Larnacb, so we hear (says the “ Evening Press ”) has given dire offence by the strict economy he insisted on having observed during his recent tour through the Otago goldfields. It seems that a prominent member of Parliament, prominent both politically and corporeally, whom we dare not allude to more particularly than to mention that bis initials are Vincent P., accompanied tbe Minister part of the journey, but getting pretty sick of playing bear leader, left him at an early stage. Imagine his indignation and contempt on receiving a bill for fifteen shillings for fluid mendicaments consumed by him as a remedy for the gout during his attendance in the Ministerial suite 1 There is also much growling down there because a “ Daily Times” reporter, who made the tour with Mr Larnacb, and wrote voluminous and mellifluous rereports of each day's and each hour’s proceedings, has been dunned for 25a for soda water and other tonics ordered by the doctor to sustain him in his labours. Fancy a reporter being compelled to pay for the necessaries of life —and travelling with a Minister too! Why, Johnny Sheenan always used to shout for the whole country side as he went along, and stick it np to native contingencies. “ What are we coming to ?” asks J. C, Brown with a sigh for the degeneracy of New Zealand politics. The best point of the joke is that in private life the present Minister of Mines is about tbe most open-fisted fellow living, with extremely liberal ideas regarding creature comforts, and always ready with the needful whenever be has people with him who don’t happen to bo as well off as himself. Hence his friendi and followers in Otago naturally supposed he would be doubly generous with public money, and stand Sam for all hands- But “ No," says Mr Larnacb, “ what’s mine’s my own, and I can chuck it away as I like. The money of the taxpayers is another pair of shoes and gentleman travelling with me will be kind enough to find themselves in liquor or else go dry.” Rather rough on genial souls like Messrs Pyke and Brown but honest and right for all that I