POSTS OF HONOR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1004, 20 November 1883, Page 4

POSTS OF HONOR.

Two appointments writes the London correspondent of the New Zealand Times, just filled up have created considerable discussion; one of these- is that of Lord Mayor of the City of London and chief Magistrate, the other is that of Her Majesty’s Executioner and Hangman in ordinary. In the former case, the alderman eligible by rotation was Mr Hadley, whose only disqualification appears to be that he is a bachelor, inasmuch, however, as many of bis predecessors have been in a similar position it formed no valid as his neice had agreed to «€t the part of Lady Mayoress for him. , He is, hdwever. also a Liberal in politics and a Wesleyan in religion, and perhaps these circumstances weighed in the minds of the worthy aldermen who have rejected him. From time ■ immemorial, the liverymen of the city have exercised the right of selecting two candidates for presentation to the court Of aldermen; they, therefore, chbse Mr Hadley and, Mr Fowler, M.P. The lovers of turtle thereupon retired and- consulted with closed doors, ultimately, it' seems,* selecting Mr Fowler, much to that gentleman’s astonishment. On entering the Guildhall, directly the announcement was made the indignation of the liverymen became very great, some violent speeches were made, and the. Lord Mayor both actual and elect, together with .the group of aldermen present, were greeted with hissing and other eanifestaiions of disgust, a general elinjSf.being expressed that the Corporation, by this unjustifiable act, have driven one more nail into their own coffin. The transition from the office of Mayor to that of hangman is not so inappropriate as may appear at first sight, inasmuch as the sheriffs of London and Middlesex me generally chosen from the CommopiCouncil, and with them too rests i-tfie appointment of hangman ; indeed, =jf no one is found capable or willing to perform the duties, these gentlemen have themselves to undertake it. The death of Marwood rendered it necessary to choose his successor, .and . directly, it became known that the vacancy had occurred it will hardly be believed that no less than 1,200 applications 'were received at the Home Office. Out of this number a man natned Bihns, of Deiwsbufy, in Yorkshire, has been accounted worthy to adjust the rope, but really it does seem extraordinary that such a number of persons could be found in any community who are'willing to do their fellow-creatures* to death for a given head. Of, course, some one must execute the sentence of the law, and there is nothing actually derogatory in being its instrument, but few rightminded'men would- voluntarily come forward to do that which only a strict sense of duty could necessitate with most. Anent the matter a very sensible suggestion has been made in the columns of the Nineteenth Century, .that iq every great prison the warders should receive instructions and be chosen by rotation for the duty of banging iany criminal who may chance to be condemned in that particular gaol for thb of murder. By this means : : .bf public execution would fall on no one . particular man, indeed, the name of the warder detailed for the duty need never be known to the outside public