The FRETFUL PORCUPINE

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 910, 6 June 1896, Page 9

The FRETFUL PORCUPINE

A Quill fop Everyone.

The escape of ex-Detective Kirby from Wellington, •where he was to have been tried on serious charges of blackmail in Timaru many years ago, is nothing more than many people expected. Kirby was well-to-do, and could afford to pay well for leg bail, and the odds are that nothing more will be heard of him in this colony. But what shall be said of the police system which allowed him to escape, for the blame for his escape must rest at the door of the police authorities, even though they had no knowledge of it Besides, this is not the first escape by a good many of accused persons from Wellington. It is not a very long time since a constable or Permanent Force man, against whom there was a serious charge pending, actually got away from the barracks with his belongings. And there a.re many more similar escapes from justice in Wellington. Either the system or the Department is grossly at fault.

The charge that Kirby was afraid to face has been a matter of scandal in the colony for years past. Eighteen months ago the story was published in the Observeb, and immediately afterwards was. inquired into by the police authorities in Wellington. The conclusion arrived at as a result of this inquiry was that Kirby was innocent. But presumably further evidence has since been obtained against him, as the Magistrate at Napier refused to allow bail, and Kirby himself was afraid to face the music. Kirby was well known in Auckland, having been stationed here for years. He is perhaps the wealthiest man in the police force, and has recently been investing his money in house property in the South.

The over-worked bank clerk is rejoicing with a great joy. Labour Inspector Ferguson has wearied of seeing the midnight oil burning in the local banking premises, and has descended upon the banks with business in his eye, and that shillelagh in

his fist; to know the why and wherefore. It happened that the Bank of New Zealand^ of all the bonks in the place, was the one chiefly dropped upon, and the Inspector is puzzled, as everyone else will be, why the Government - owned banking institution doesn't obey the Government Labour Laws. However, the laws are being obeyed all right now. The clerks will not be required to work such long hours, and more clerks will be employed. So that there is merit in our Labour Laws after all.

We hate fiunkeyisra in every form in which it displays itself. When the Hon. Captain Russell addressed the citizens of Auckland, there was not a policeman visible, and the speaker -was interrupted and hectored by some of our so-called Liberal lights from the beginning of his speech to the end. But mark the contrast when the Hon. John McKenzie spoke. There were police flunkeys at every corner, and at the very first sign of interruption the police interfered, and would have thrown the man out if the people had not called ' Shame.' Little things like this make one blush for the cause of Liberalism. But, in any case, the police have good reason to be' grateful to this Government. It screens them enough.

There have been ructions np at St. Andrew's kirk, over the call to the Rev. James Milne, of Sydney: The keen-nosed Presbyterians have scented out a flavour of heterodoxy about Mr Milne, and 'a heresy hunt ' is on the tapis Mr G. Mueller appears to be chief hustsmaß. At any rate, he took command of operations at . the public meeting of the congregation on Monday forenoon, when the parson underwent a considerable amount of heckling. And he means busi« ness too, because he boldly declared that • Heaven and earth will have to be moved before we will allow you to take charge of this church.' That is a large order certainly. And the parson also means business. Mr Mueller, according to the Rev. Mr Milne, is ' to be made to feel his responsibility in this matter — and he shall.' Af teT this there may possibly be an order for pistols and coffee. However, the affair has now gone before the Presbytery, and . this High Court of parsons and elders, having worked off a good deal of steam over it, are now taking a rest preparatory to donning their warpaint again on Tuesday next.

It appears that the North Shore Ferry Company is not at all to blame for the scene of hustling and shoTing, with women screaming and fainting, which took place on the Devonport wharf at the close of the races on Monday week. The Auckland Harbour Board is alone responsible. Time after time the Com-

pany has urged the Board to have the barrier and admission gateway removed to the shore end of the wharf in order to avoid just such scenes, and improve the facilities for transport. But the Board won't budge. Probably it will see its duty a little more clearly when one of its members happens to get hustled off the wharf into the water.

In our issue of May 2 we mentioned that a resident of Whenuakura had- made a curious complaint to the Wanganui Education Board. 'It seems,' we said, ' that the teacher of the local school had lately had the scholars photographed, and had compelled Edgecumbe, junior, to hold a slate over his head with the word " Dunce " written upon it, and then the photographs were sold to the public at one shilling each.' The teacher in question now writes to us from Patea to say it is true that a complaint was made, but that the rest of the details are a malicious fabrication by some person unknown. He also encloses a copy of a letter received by him from the secretary of the Wanganui Education Board, wherein that official acknowledges receipt of a communication from the teacher, and states : — ' Your explanation is quite satisfactory/ But the teacher does not tell us what his explanation amounted to.

A gentleman of our acquaintance, having been jilted by his lady-love, revenges himself by serenading her- every night with a cornet.

More stringent means are obviously needed to prevent the intrusion of drunken characters into places of public entertainment. One night last week,' a young fellow respectably dressed, but considerably more than half seas over, made his way into the orchestral stalls of the Opera House, and in the most free and easy manner stretched out his legs upon the back of the seat in front, which was occupied by a young lady. She moved elsewhere, of course. Then the inebriated individual, after hiccoughing a while, became sick, and about a dozen people, thinking they had had about enough entertainment for their money, left in disgust. Finally, two men had to carry the drunkard out of the building.