WOODEN WISDOM.

Auckland Examiner, Volume 2, Issue 53, 17 December 1857, Page 2

WOODEN WISDOM.

Do you seo any.light vet, Joe !” “ Not the least specie that ever was made, except tho lightning, and it’s gone before 1 can turn iny head ’’ What lightning was to benighted “Joe” the wisdom of Wood, or Wooden Wisdom, is to us. Wood’s Folly can be seen any day, or any not quite pilch dark night either, but t( the least speck” of that Job-defending gentleman’s Wisdom escapes us. No sooner do we fancy it visible than it s gone before we Can turn our editorial head. Let us confess, however, that if the Wisdom of Wood is not palpable to every eye the fault cannot fairly be charged upon him. No Provincial Councillor takes more pains than Reader Wood. “ lo scorn delight and live laborious days” is accounted greatly virtuous. The prime thinkers of this age agree in few things. One of the few is that the Battle of Life cannot be fought well unless w r e are always figthing. They do not believe in peace, or in taking things easy. Like the philosopher who admonished to

take repose, exclaimed— Shall I not have a whole eternity to repose in— they rush from labor to labor, excitement to excitement. They are embodied proofs that “ quiet to quick bosoms is a hell and are no less impatient of a quiet, staid, decent, unexciting life than was stern Gloster when he said—Heaven taken the weak King lildward to its mercy, and leave the world for me to bustle in. In this ever active class we venture to rank the Wood whose Wisdom plays such tricks with our seeing sense. A few days ago, while denouncing Captain Daldy and objecting to inquiry into the Harbor Piles “ dodge,” he for aii instant dazzled us; but as usual before we could turn our head all was blank, dank, darkness visible. His Wisdom upon that occasion reminds us of a dirty dog story worth relating : — Two boys fell out. The bigger of the two said— Get away you dirty dog. The lesser made no attempt to show himself dean, but wrathfuliy exclaimed— You’r dirty-dog too. Captain Daldy charges waste of public money, and conniving at breach of contract, upon the Provincial Government of which Reader Wood is humble servant, and paid according to Specification coadjutor. Beyond measure indignant he answers Captain Daldy’s charge of dirtydogism by saying—You’r dirty dog too. Now this tu quoque, or you’r another, style of meeting serious charges will not do. We believe the charges made against Captain Daldy are false—mere out-bursts of spleen and malice. But suppose them true. What then ? Is Reader Wood to humbug the public noio because Captain Daldy did so formerly. Is Contractor Cochrane to be paid for Piles he does not, and according to his own confession cannot, furnish because Captain Daldy a long time ago failed to complete his Contract. Does Reader Wood imagine Auck'anders such fools as not to see that his charges against Captain Daldy are got up and paraded for the purpose of diverting public attention from a scandalous job?