The Globe. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1879. CLEVER CAPTURE OF TELEGRAM PIRATES.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1614, 23 April 1879, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1879. CLEVER CAPTURE OF TELEGRAM PIRATES.

We wonder if the “ Lyttelton Times” is given to blushing? After pirating our special telegrams for an unlimited period it has, at last, come to the most signal grief, as all potty thieves must in the long run. In this morning’s issue it publishes a “ special” cablegram from London to the effect that it is understood that Sir J. Vogel retires from the agency for the purpose of joining a commercial firm,and that Mr. G. M. Reed will administer the affairs of the London office until a permanent appointment is made by tlie Now Zealand Government. This marvellous nows purports to have boon sent at a largo cost specially to our contemporary. The whole thing is an utter hoax. The cablegram was concocted in the office of the Auckland “ Star,” and sent to Sydney a fortnight ago as a trap for the cablegram pirates. Into this trap has the “ Lyttelton Times” fallen in the most egregious manner. Not only has it published the cablegram and marked it “ special,” but it has given its views on the new situation with its usual affability. It commences its loader on the subject with—“ The announcement of the probable retirement of Sir Julius Vogel from the Agent-Generalship ought to take no one by surprise.” That is the matured opinion of the “Lyttelton Times.” Having thought over the subject deeply, having exhausted its journalistic brains and consumed the midnightoil in poudoriug over the matter for months, it at least receives really trustworthy information that its conclusions have proved to be correct. Happy journal! The time and money which it loads the public to infer has been spent in gaining special intelligence for its columns straight from Loudon have not been thrown away. Singular that its ideas should so tally with the practical jokers who hail from Auckland. But perhaps the “Lyttelton Times” was after all behind the scenes. Perhaps its loader on Sir Julius’ retirement is a joke of a recherche description. Perhaps all its loaders aro jokes. Who knows? It lias humbugged its readers about its “ special ” telegrams for months, why should it not carry the same principle into its other matter ? And so Sir Julius will road his epitapth in the pages of our contemporary. Delightful sensation ! A little good advice will do the “Lyttelton Times” no harm. Honesty is the best policy, lot us inform it. When journals aro guilty of gross commercial immorality they cannot expect to run on unpunished. Straight running always pays in the end. The broad way is flowery, and it is pleasant to appropriate what you do not pay for, but there are drawbacks to the operation, and a tap on the shoulder from a gentleman in blue is apt to take the cream off the enjoyment, The same advice may bo advantageously offered to the Government journals, who have acted in the same dishonest manner, and who have, as to-day’s telegrams inform us, also swallowed the bogus telegram with such avidity.