NOTES BY THE WAY

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 155, 26 January 1871, Page 6

NOTES BY THE WAY.

[By our Vagabond Reporter.]

Qcteenstown, Jan. 11.

I despatched my last letter in a great hurry, just, 1 believe, succeeding carefully in missing the mail by about half a minute, so I suppose what may elegantly be called my laches have provoked editorial comment in language suited to the latitude, hi blissful ignorance that my valuable contribution to the literature of my country would remain for a week in the box, I proceeded "to take mine ease in mine inn." I remark here, passim, that T like quotations : they give a kind of sparkling to the style, and, entre nous, they fill up a deal of space, and save trouble. Well, then, "to return to the subject." I have written this without thinking — for what was the ' subject,' or was there any ' subject V Is my brain softening ? Is the climate telling on me 1 The political fomentations reacting upon the mental powers ? No, I grasp the main idea. I have instructions to examine and report upon the political situation . I take up my narrative, allowing for an imperfect memory, at my return to my hotel after receiving your telegram — anxious, you will observe, not to loose a minute, especially in the disbursement of the funds available for deglutition (that's a good word, I fancy, and new in your parts !) The bar was crowded ; the stalwart landlord, inside and outsice, busily employed in filling up with stimulants some dozen bona Jicle miners and a few citizens of this ' important municipality.' This is what they call it, and the local journal, and it ought to know best. ' Sam,' says a citizen, just as I got within hearing, addressing a dirty-faced man with a melancholic expression of countenance, ' Sam, old man, did'nt Shepherd warm 'im. last night.' 1 brightened up at the sound of that familiar name. Shepherd, thought 1 : and have £ come to tlie Ultima Thule of the province again to hear that gentle voice, to sun myself in that sweet smile — can it be the same ? Shall I again listen to the charmej.* of the Provincial Council, the popular, the only popular member. This thought, I may explain, took up no time, and I bent my ears to listen to what fell from the lips of the local sages. Sam, who was further addressed by the euphonkras and Homeric appellation of 'the tacker,' did not apparently respond in the entirely concurrent manner expected by tho question, but murmured sotto wee something about a ' pig-headed ass ;' but being asked to drink, subsided into imbecile assent. A hardy miner having generously asked me ' what was mine,' 1 opened conversation with him, and having stated my rooted objection to the Chinese and my firm opinion that all taxation was objectionable, especially gold duty and miners' rights, he was good enough to take me into his confidence. Says J, 'Is the Shepherd spoken of the great M.P.C., the admired of Dunediu, the noted of Melbourne ? can he be wasting his fragrance on the desart air of this outlandish and onlakish township V Says he, ' Mate ! where on airth have you been of late 1 don't you know he is our member in the Council, and sure aint we going to put him in the Assembly, sure we are, and a right good 'un he is.' Says I, ' I've seen him before and know his points ; but name his qualities.' 'Hush,' says he, 'don't say a word ; its paid I am to sit here and blow about him ; but (here he hicenped) he's a skunk.' Seeing a chance of further and valuable information, I proposed further imbibations — readily accepted glasses, emptied, and, to use a parliamentary phrase, ' laid upon the table.' 'Now,' I said confidentially, ' tell us something about politics — local politics, I mean. What are the views of the electors of this important district upon the financial policy of the Government ?' [Here was a chance, you will see, of obtaining information for you from the fountain-head, from a veritable elector, uncontaminated by the corruption of towns or the jobbery of Provincial Executives.] ' Policy be d d!' says the veritable elector. 'We knows noth.ing"!ibout ' policy.' I and my mates does what we are told ; do you see, mate ?' Thinks I, a convenient code. We Avill probe oar cheerful friend further. ' Told ! is there not freedom of opinion and freedom of election in this blissful colony?' said 1. 'Not 'told,' he whispered in a sepulchral voice, ' sold.' Here he paused, rapped mechanically upon the counter, drank, and resumed, this time in a stage whisper — ' You must know, stranger, that in these part 3 you can't call your soul your own ; unless you've lots of money, you fall sooner or later into the tail of the ' big firm,' and then you're one of the family !' Here he drew himself up, looked very wise, and lighted his pipe. A wink is as good as a nod. I saw how matters stood, so protest a little further. And xvhat said I in a confidential manner 1 ' What are the family going to do about the for .hcoming elections V 1 Well,' he says, 'we go in for Shepherd ; he's d — d useful to oiir chief. Land question — eh ! d'ye see ? Opening of the land ; early information ! You see we get the first pick ; grand idea, but must not be talked about.' We were unfortunately now disturbed by an altercation in our immediate neighbourhood, of which particulars anon. The argument waxed loud, the principal Bpeaker evidently belonging to that order of orators — not very uncommon, by-the-bye — who believe in what one may call the ' logic cf noise,' who in proportion to the weakness of argument,

raise the voice in anything bu^aifcJcal crescence, until it culminates jjf\ howl. Lo ! one of the local celebriti^ I said to myself, and at once was all attention. 4 Look what he has done for the town/ quoth he whom we will call Boanerges — ' the wharf, the breakwater, the avenue of gum trees.' ' Yes,' sneered a stout, determined-looking little man, 'the wharf to land his own goods, the breakwater to protect his own premises, and the avenue of palings from his own saw-mills, round dead gum-tree plants which cost 7s. 6d. each. The whole thing's a humbug — municipality, corporation, and mayor, and the Mayor's the biggest of the lot !' ' Tou're an adjective little humbug youi'self/ shrieked Boanerges. The audience tittered ; a row seemed imminent. I interposed with an offer of refreshment generally, carried nem. con. B. took brandy, his quasi antagonist gingerbeer, and they scowled fiercely at each other over the friendly glass. The little man walked into an inner room. T followed, and opened conversation much in this wise — ' My friend, lam a philosopher travelling to acquire all and every information for a great work to be entitled ' Human Nature in its ratio-cynical development.' You follow me V He sagely shook his head. 'Being much struck with the broadness of your views upon everything in general, I venture to request that you will enlighten me as to the social, moral, and political state and condition of your town and locality.' Says he, ' You speak like a book, mister. You could not have come to a better man ; I am up to all their little games. Bless you they're deep 'uns, some of them.' Now 1 am not going to report him -verbatim. I did not take notes, and his vocabulary was especially rich in adjectives, but here's pretty well what he told me : — Queenstown is happy in the enjoyment of municipal institutions, which consist corporeally of a Mayor and Council ; edificially, of a very seedy-looking booth, which is labelled Town Hall. The rates are very small, but the thing is kept alive by a subsidy from Government, which is spent as near as possible to the property of the Mayor, if not actually upon it. The present holder of this high office is a Mr Hallenstein, well known in the district for his liberal dealings as a storekeeper, and for the cheap price at which he supplies the requirements of the citizens. lie has a great objection to land jobbing, and is particularly remarkable for never having taken advantage of the agricultural lease system in order to get large blocks into his own hands. On the principle of noscitur ex soctis, it may also be remarked that he is the bosom friend and vehement supporter of the ' popular member,' Mr. Shepherd, whose great political influence he is said to avail himself of, solely, however, for the general good — not, as is averred by liis enemies, in order to get snug little jobs carried out with the Government. There is no limit to the malico of some people who say that the ' popular member' is a convenient tool, and not always used for the cleanest wi^k. Tho Council meet occasionally wlictFhioi-o is any money to vote away, otl^rwiae they let things slide. The present works in progress are the construction of a bre.a?' water in tV -ear of Mr. Halle" i store. Tae ua?' :Ijes=s"f -lvi ' , .•• j ; r r: 1 acknowledged. ?i- Ip i ■■'' '^- i '•• v ' •»< damft^ii-l i.« wv aws-wUifi.iv' n ' > ,-.. rr l > • more for what was left, and this is thought not to be necessary. VJLTien there are some problematical trout imported at a considerable expense, housed in a covered pond, which presents ocular demonstration of containing nothing, but in which the trout are seen daily by the Corporation, who are endowed for the nonce with microscopic vision. The black swans, also costly imports, have disappeared. The wicked say they were killed and eaten by the late Town Clerk, but as his taste as a bon vivant is acknowledged, this is more than probably untrue. So much for matters municipal. When the Government withdraws the subsidy the institution will die a natural death, so it is well to make hay while the sun shines. The great idea at present is to tike up land, and thousands of acres, if available, would be applied for at onee — not in all cases by men intending to settle upon it, but by a few who, by a judicious application of the dummy system, are acquiring large landed estates, which will eventually render settlement impossible. This is the way it is done. A gets Bto apply for a lease of 200 acres. A fences and improves. At the expiration of three years B applies to purchase, obtains Crown Grant, and conveys to A. The worthy Mayor is supposed to have played this game pretty successfully, and to be prepared to do it in the new blocks upon a still more extensive scale. This is in my informant's opinion a much greater evil than the much abused squatting tenancy, as in a few years the poor mau will hardly have room for the sole of his foot. 'Politics,' said my friend, 'are little heeded in the district. Elections have always been personal matters ; certain crowds follow certain men. Shepherd, late M.P.C., has the Hallenstein mob, and is generally supported by the Hebrew influence. Haughton will have the farmers and the Scotch interest generally. With regard to the miners/ the number qualified is very un-: certain; equally so how they will vote. For the Superintendency, no steps whatever are being taken on either side, but thei - e would appear to be great differences of opinion even between friendly and business connections. Something in the shape of public opinion may possibly be evoked when the candidates have addressed the electors. It !ia3 always been difficult to stir up the people here : they are too much for ' men, not measures.'

Of course I was favoured by man} r choice anecdotes and nice little bits of scandal in addition to the above valuable information, but in most cases the particulars are not suitable for publication, and I do not wish to be- drummed out of the town should I ever visit it again. I evidently hit thetight man Avhen 1 bagged my little friend, who kept the steam up, I may add, by the continual ginger-pop, of which he certainly, at a moderate computation, poured down a stable bucketful during his narration. I loath the very sight of a horse, and am always afraid of falling off, but in the cause of duty I shall not flinch even from that, to me, disgusting quadruped, but shall date my next letter from Arrowtown, the second metropolis of the Lake district.