The Globe. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1559, 17 February 1879, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1879.

Fuller particulars respecting the Kelly’s raid on Borildirio will be found in to-day’s telegrams. As time goes on the grandeur of their operations increases. They now lock up Government officials, bankers, and policemen in the most promiscuous manner, and are introduced to the notabilities of the town with all duo formalities. The police are thoroughly outwitted, and have made themselves the laughing stock of the whole colony. The Melbourne Fundi has published a series of fictitious letters from Ned Kelly, in which that worthy repeats his eagerness to meet some of the 239 Victorian policemen who are supposed to he endeavoring to effect his capture, while on the stage and iu music halls the vain efforts of the force are the daily theme of satire. The police, foiled in their direct attempts, have, under the special Act passed by the Assembly, adopted the method of seizing all people whom they suspect of being favorably inclined towards the Kellys. It is obvious that the outlaws must have large numbers of confederates or that, at all events, people residing over a wide area of country must he disposed to conceal and assist them, for the police never by any chance catch sight of them, and they always turn up where their pursuers are conspicuous by their absence. Besides, they appear to ho in good case, and do not look like men who are hunted for their lives. The large sums of money they have lately secured will render them still safer among their friends. Apparently there is next to no evidence against many of the people who have been imprisoned, and the exigencies of tho case alono can justify such an extremely rough and ready mode of vindicating the majesty of the law.

Mr. Macandrew had a rather warm time of it during his stay in Christchurch in the matter of deputations, and yet there were numerous bodies who wore disappointed by his sudden departure. Still Christchurch has much to learn in the direction of properly working a Minister. But at the Thames the matter of doputationizing has been developed almost into a science. On the occasion of Mr. Sheehan’s recent visit there one deputation, being unable ,to ohtain an interview on shore, pulled out and fastened their boat to the Stella, so that Mr Sheehan was compelled to speak to them from the steamer’s deck. Tho story goes that the steamer moved away while negotiations were proceeding, that tho Minister was obliged to conclude his remarks through a speaking trumpet, and that the last words that were borne faintly on the breeze to the expectant deputation were: —« Gentlemen, the Government will, on

t-lio earliest opportunity, take the matter into their serious consideration.” The deputation rowed slowly back to shore, wiser but sadder men.

The Commission ou Higher Education are not the only people who prefer to carry on business with Venetian secrosy. At the last mooting of the Timarn High School Board of Governors, Mr. Howell brought forward a motion which would have had the effect of excluding the Press from the meetings of tho Board. Ouo of his reasons was that the public often gained wrong impressions regarding members’ opinions from newspaper reports, and why—because the public could not toll in what tone of voice remarks were made 'i

Insurance agents are a decidedly energetic and pushing race. At tho wreck of the Hydrahad, whore there was in reality no danger to tho lives of tho passengers, an agent on hoard, by skilfully playing on the uncertainty of all human things, is reported to have made a rich harvest. At Kaukapakapa tho other day Mr. McMurdo, the Government Life Insurance Agent, availed himself of a largo gathering at tho election of a school committee to make hay while tho sun shone. Ho was bent on taking “ lives ” nearly tho whole of tho time of tho meeting, and when at one time a dispute arose in reference to some disputed votes, ho proposed to take the life of tho chairman before it was too late !

The Victorian Executive have approved of regulations for the expenditure of £ISOO sot apart for the abatement of the rabbit nuisance in the north-western district. Rent will bo remitted to the extent of 30s. for every £1 expended by the pastoral tenant, the rents so remitted not to exceed the above-mentioned sum of £ISOO. The pastoral tenant will bo required to make a statutory declaration that his money has been spent on Crown lauds only, and his books, vouchors, and account of operations must always bo open to the inspection of the Crown lands bailiff of the district. Apropos of rabbits, the following peculiar appointment appears in a late issue of the New Zealand Gazette : —J. J. Fisher to be auditor of the rabbits of the district of Hokonui.” “ The little folk that dwell among the rocks” will find quite a now sensation in having their accounts audited by an energetic Government official.