“OLLA PODRIDA”

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 139, 9 July 1872, Page 6

“OLLA PODRIDA”

In the absence of any very exciting topic, 1 maybe excused giving a few stray thoughts which have occurred to me lately. As the ■composition of this article will be various, t have given it the above title, which, I may state for the benefit of the unlearned, is the name of a Spanish culinary preparation, in the shape of a pudding, made up of a variety nf odds and ends and household scraps, and is, or was, a very popular dish in many Dunedin hotels under the homely title of “dry hash.” 1 have partaken of it, but generally under protest; and if your readers disagree with any of the following ideas, the same course is open to them. If a miner finds a Chinaman prospecting in his claim or tail-race, and expostulates with him, he is met with the eternal “No savvey” ; the suaviter in modo is thrown away upon “ John,” and any attempt at fortiter in re, in trying to illustrate the explanation, is promptly met by the terrors of the law, and •an interpreter is rendered necessary to make the cause intelligible. Now it may be narrowminded on my part, but I do think, and I daresay many of my fellow-miners will agree with me, that it is unfair that we should be taxed to pay the aforesaid interpreter, who is an institution solely for the benefit of the '“ Heathen,” who, so long as they can get along comfortably with his assistance, will never make any attempt to master our language. If the Chinamen themselves had to pay for the convenience, it is probable that many of them would turn their attention to learning the English language; and as this would be a step towards civilization, they might begin to view the Colony in another light than as a mere vehicle for amassing money enough to spend the remainder of their days in the Flowery Land, and might eventually settle down into useful colonists. It is the duty of our legislators to leave no stone unturned to compel them to return some equivalent for the wealth they are continually draining from the country. I see that Mr C. E. Haughton is criticised in the North Island under the name of the “ ingenious barnacle.” Not a very flattering title for this astute official; however, lie is likely to be a long-lived “barnacle” if he “ sticks” to his billet until the grant for Water Supply is expended, judging from its present rate of appropriation. Why does he not visit the localities where unlimited and permanent water is available ? —this district for instance. He has, it appears, power to recommend the inauguration of works for water supply, Ac. : if he were to have a look :at the heads of our rivers, and the adjacent auriferous areas, he might perhaps be induced to convince us that he is not the nonentity the Northerns would make him out to be.

Have any of your readers given a thought to the possibility of the expected great comet coming into collision with our sphere'? Learned authorities tell us to expect the ■dangerous stranger on the 10th of August next. Monsieur Arago states that the chances of its striking the earth are 1 in 289,000,000. Well, the long odds are in our favour ; still, there is a remote possibility of the accident, ■and we ought to be prepared. As the consequence of the earth being checked for an instant in its revolution would be to project all living bodies, and things movable, into

space, they retaining the momentum, it might be as well for all people to tether themselves out for the day. The Cromwellians are highly favoured in this respect, having a long line of iron telegraph-posts at hand to which they may attach their ropes ; or, —a better idea has struck me,— get “upin a balloon, sir ; up in a bal-loon.”

1 mentioned some time ago the immense increase in the number of wild cats in Otago, and really the nuisance is assuming formidable dimensions. I live at some distance from “the busy haunts of men,” and speak “ felinely” in more senses than one. The inclement weather on the lulls has driven the tabbies of every degree to the lower lands ; round my habitat they are as numerous as rabbits in a well-stocked warren, and are literally starving. They are not at all fastidious as to esculents ; nothing comes amiss, from a candle to a “murphy.” Night is an awful time for strange noises and secret doings ; the row kicked up by this Walpurgis gathering convinces me that the stillness of mght is a vulgar error, as the sweet voices of the

motley crew strike upon the ear, “ Witlx quivering peals, And long bailees, and screams and echoes loud, Redoubled and redoubled,”

A friend of mine saw one of the animals chasing a lamb a short time ago ; so the squatters might—as there is a law against dog-poisoning —expend their venom on these incipient tigers, and so confer a benefit on the community.

So Mr Hickey is to be requested to resign bis stewardship : he has been tried and found wanting. Knowing this, he should gracefully make room for a titter man. “Blessed arc they who expect little” : I am one of the number, and never having had a favourable opinion of our member's political possibilitios, am not greatly disappointed. His laches will teach the mining community to be more careful in the selection of a representative, and it is strange if among that “ intelligent body,” as we are sometimes flatteringly called, there cannot be found one to make known the wants and wishes of his constituents and command the attention and respect of the House. Tim flow of popular sentiment carried Mr Hickey into the Provincial harbour : lie wall show his good sense by allowing its ebb to float him out again. Bendigo, July VIATOR.