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Globe, Volume VII, Issue 770, 8 December 1876, Page 2

Ms. Macandsew is evidently determined to make himself ridiculous in the eyes of the colony at large to the very last. His attitude in connection with the recent Convention was not such as to add to his reputation as a statesman and a patriot. But people would have all but forgotten the Con-

vention and its resolutions already but for the extremely ridiculous letter which Mr. Macandrew has just thought fit to publish. It is addressed to his Excellency the Governor, and is headed “ Superintendent’s Office, Dunedin.” It begins by complaining that all letters addressed to him as Superintendent of Otago have not been delivered by the Post-office officials, but have been forwarded to his Excellency or some of the servants of the Crown in the colony. He then goes on to say, “ I am not aware under what “ authority this has been done, unless “ it be under the Abolition of Pro- “ vinces Act, 187-5. I need hardly “ point out that if that Act is law “ there is no such office as the Super- “ intendent of Otago, and consequently “ those who addressed the letters to “ his Honor the Superintendent of “ Otago must intend them for me per- “ sonally. Clearly they could not be “ meant for your Excellency or any of “ his advisers, otherwise they would “ have been properly addressed. “ JNo doubt there are many who “do not recognise the power “ of the Assembly to pass the Abolition “ of Provinces Act, 1875, and if the “ senders are of that opinion, then “ again the letters must have been in- “ tended for me personally. Any “ letters which have come to me upon “ provincial business I have at once “ forwarded to the Hon. the Colonial “ Secretary. But £ can scarcely think “ that your Excellency will sanction “ the opening of my private letters, “ whatever political opinions I may “ hold.” Most of our readers are, we suppose, more or less acquainted with the melancholy sights which are to be frequently witnessed in our Lunatic Asylums. A common form of mania is the imagined possession of high dignity and rank. The unfortunate victim is firmly convinced, perhaps, that he is the ruler of a mighty nation. He issues his commands from day to day with as much satisfaction, as if they were really being carried out to the very letter. He is happily oblivious of the fact that he is to all intents and purposes a prisoner, and has to obey the daily commands of his keeper. The position which Mr. Macandrew has lately taken up forcibly reminds us of the conduct of the lunatic. He still styles himself Superintendent of Otago. He daily makes his appearance in his former office, and carries on his correspondence as before. As Superintendent of Otago he receives the visits of those whose mental constitution resembles his own. Oblivious of the fact that the provincial district is adapting itself to the new order of things without any opposition, he continues to act as if no change had taken place. The correspondence which we have quoted above is another proof, if such were wanted, that on the question of abolition Mr. Macandrew has parted with his usual common sense. We regret that a gentleman who has in the past done good service to the colony, and shown himself capable of serving her in the future if required, should not make up his mind to accept the new order of things, and aid, instead of thwarting, those who are endeavouring to carry the law into effect.