IN THE STIRRUPS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 165, 15 February 1878, Page 2

IN THE STIRRUPS.

To the Editor of the Akaroa Mail,

Sir, —My fancy was rather tickled by a letter published in your last issue purporting to have been written by John H. Baker, Chief Surveyor, and addressed to the Chairman of the. Akaroa and Wainui Road Board. He (the said J. H. B.) threatens the Board that, if they again presume to address him in such a tone, condign punishment will follow. Well, thinks I, this J. H. B. must at least be the Lord High Admiral of all the known seas, with a residuary right to the unknown ones, and for some reasons of modesty writing under a disguised name. However, let us overhaul the letter that has given such mortal offence to his Lordship. These are the words that appear the strongest —"The ! Board feel much surprised that, under the new order of things, what is called an iin- , proved system of survey, is more in term than reality." Yes. this is doubtless the challenge that has called forth his Lordship's crushing reply. Now, Sir, whatever his Lord High Admiralship may be made of inside, the outer cuticle, enclosing it, must be of the very finest texture. Only to think that a person holding his exalted position is to allow his covering to be miserably pierced by a clerk to a road board! It really is too dreadful to think of. The clerk evidently does not know the depths his charges penetrate to. My parting advice to him is—Don't do it again. The Admiral—now, what am I to say to the Admiral ? Well, first and foremost, don't again loose your temper. A person in your high and mighty, position should, above all things, be able to stand fire. To have all your angry passions let loose by a charge from a choke-bore, aimed by a clerk to a road board, is to admit that you are composed of soft material. Look what a position you have placed yourself in! To use your own words—"With this prefaratory remonstrance," I quit the subject, giving your Lordship the same advice I gave the clerk—Don't do it again. Yours, &c, CUTIS.