And the Unpaid Printer's Bill

Observer, Volume XV, Issue 895, 22 February 1896, Page 2

And the Unpaid Printer's Bill

There was the deuce to pay in the City Council offices last Thursday morning when the Observer made its appearance, with its highly-flattering notice of the goldlettered and splendidly - bound volume issued with the seal of the Free Public Library to immortalize the colossal abilities, the beneficent services, and the personal worth of Dr. Laishley, L.L.D., Ph. D., and so on- "Who could possibly have betrayed the secret of the great surprise that was in store f or the thrice-fortunate ratepayers ? The Town Clerk blamed the Librarian, the eminent Doctor accused the councillors, and Printer McCiillough piously declared that the devil himself must have been at the bottom of it, though he was open to swear an affidavit that the printer's devil had no hand in the inopportune disclosure. Troth, as McCuliough himself declared, it banged Bannagher to know how the Observer got hold of that book, and we all know that Bannagher bangs the bush. Mayor Holland was in despair. What could he do but wring his hands? The fat was in the fire, and when it gets there, it is certain to blaze.

But why this great concern of the parties concerned in the execution of the immortal monument of brass lest the glorious work should be seen by the Observer. Did not Dr. Laishley distribute copies of the immortal volume to his ' dear and valued ' friends in the community? But thereby hangs a tale. It is true that the eminent and learned Doctor did distribute the volumes freely to his friends and admirers. Why he was enabled to do so is not easy to conceive, if the books were published at the public expense, but that is neither here nor there. But the volumes sent by Dr. Laishley to his ' dear and valued ' friends were not similiar in all respects to the goldlettered production which so completely commanded our admiration last week. There was, for example, less of that precious diploma about them, and not so much of the crest, with its rampant donkeys and suspender buckles, nor was the brazen motto so persistently thrust at the unconscious reader from the foot of every page.

But why the expurgation ? Is it possible that there was one copy intended for the august eye of the Marquis of Salisbury, and another for the perusal of Dr Laishley's dear and valued friends in Auckland ? If so, I have indeed put my foot in it, and I am very, very sorry. Unquestionably, there is a difference of a good many pages between the fat, handsomelybound, gorgeously - prepared volume I reviewed so eulogistically last week and •the thin, mean - looking, paper-covered production that lies before me at the present moment, and that is addressed by Dr. Laishley to his ' dear and valued friend ' So-and-so. And in view of the singular discrepancy between the two books, I can well understand the dismay and chagrin of the diplomatic Town Clerk, and the eminent Laishley, and the distinguished McCullougb, and the appreciative Holland when they discovered that the Observer had got hold of the copy that was not intended for circulation.

But I cannot understand why the now famous account for £130 did not come up for consideration at the meeting of the City Council last Thurday evening. The printer had done his work, and he had done

it well. He had sent his account in to the Council and was entitled to get his money. Moreover, he (McCullongh) is leaving for England on Saturday next, so that an urgent reason existed why he should be promptly paid. Why then the delay? It is not usual to hold back accounts presented for payment ? Is it possible that Printer McCullough has decided to do the work gratis for the good of ' the cause,', or that Mayor Holland is going to demonstrate his appreciation of Laishley's great abilities and beneficent services by paying the £130 out of his own pocket? Laishley declares he will not pay the account, and he has fully protected himself by a note on the fifth and last 1 revise ' of the work, in which he srtys the book must not go to press without the express sanction of the Mayor or Town Clerk. Was this express sanction given ?

The councillors are not by any means so appreciative of the eminent abilities and beneficent services of Dr. Laishley as is Mayor Holland, for they are resolved that if they sit in their seats till domesday they will not pass that account. But, assuming that they repudiate it, what is to become of the books ? Are they to go abroad with the seal of the Free Library and the imprint of the City Council upon them, to plead in distant lands the claims of Dr. Laishley to the distinction of knighthood ? This is a nice point for consideration. These books purport to be issued by the City Council of Auckland. Every word contained in the volume carries the same weight as if the sentiments had been embodied in resolutions passed by. the City Council. Now, if the Council declines to pass that account of £130, what steps will be taken to repudiate the fulsome narrative of Dr. Laishley's claims to knighthood so adroitly placed in its mouth and unquestionably intended for ' transmission abroad.'