THE GLOBE. MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1774, 27 October 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1879.

Surely the stand taken by our morning contemporary the Lyttelton Times respecting Sir Goorgo Grey’s now historical telegram to Sir M. Hieks-Beach is hardly worthy of that illustrious journal. The purport of that telegram is of course well known to our readers. At a time when the colony was laboring under severe depression and when the unemployed from the North Capo to Stewart Island wore sending in petitions to Government to relieve their necessities Sir George, out of the fulness of his philanthropic heart, wrote to the Homo Government stating “ that six thousand able-bodied emigrants would at once find permanent and profitable employment in Now Zealand, in addition to the largo number whose passages are being paid by the colony.” The reply of Sir M. Hicks-Beach was to the effect that he would have the guardians of the poor applied to for emigrants. The unearthing of the correspondence was one of the effects of the Hall Government being enabled to rummage in the pigeon holes of its predecessors, where the record of this singular transaction was calmly reposing, and would have continued to repose had not the wholesome light of day been suddenly thrown into the aforesaid pigeon holes. The correspondence was laid on the table of the House, and was duly telegraphed by those whoso duty it is to forward, as occasion may require, such intelligence to the public Press in the various parts of the colony. The correspondence was treated in a manner exactly similar to all other correspondence, and the “Lyttelton Times” correspondent in Wellington might have sent it to- that journal without let or hindrance. Now how does our ingenuous contemporary act in the matter. A letter is published in its columns on the 20th instant signed by “ A Constant Header.” This gentleman, whose digestion is evidently of the strongest order, says that he was looking over the columns of the “ Press” a few days ago and he saw there what purported to be a despatch from Sir Grey to Sir M. Hicks-Beach, inviting the Home Government to send out to this colony 6000 paupers, but as he—" the Constant Reader” —had not noticed any allusion to the offer in the “ Lyttelton Times” he assumed that the statement made by the “ Press” was incorrect. No wonder this gentleman is such a constant reader and that, as ho states lower down in his letter, ho relies principally on the “Lyttelton Times” for public news, for as, apparently, he never behoves anything he sees in any other paper, it is hard to see what option he has in the matter. But what does the “ Lyttelton Times” do on receipt of this letter ? It places below it the following foot-note: — “ The Government have not extended to us in this matter the courtesy they appear to have shown to some of our contemporaries. As to the truth of any reports circulated in other journals, we must refer you to the editors of those journals. They will hardly tell you that any “ paupers” have arrived in the country, or that any are on the way,” Surely the “Lyttelton Times” must know that the Government are not in the habit of telegraphing the correspondence that is laid on the table broadcast over the land. If the correspondence had redounded to the credit of Sir G. Grey doubtless it would have appeared next morning in that journal with a proper flourish of trumpets. The management should really consider the sad case of the gentleman signed ‘‘ Constant Reader.” Apparently this individual means well. He seemed distressed at not finding an important telegram respecting Sir G. Grey in the paper to which ho so implicitly trusts. It gave him a species of shock that forced him immediately to write to the editor. The discovery of the telegram cut him in two ways; it shook his faith in the impartiality of his favorite journal and his [faith in his idol, Sir George Grey. The tension was too great. Nothing but a complete eclairissement could save his brain, and he wrote to the Editor. And how does that gentleman treat his confiding correspondent P He leads him to infer that the Government telegraphed the intelligence direct to the journals that favor its politics, and loft the others out in the cold. It takes advantage of the viridity of of “the “Constant Reader” to ignore the manner in which the contents of papers which are laid on the the table of the House are transmitted to the various newspapers, and glides off into comforting fact that no paupers have arrived. This was eortainlyuotthefaultof Sir George Grey, but wo quite agree with the “ Lyttelton Times ” that it] is comforting. But what must the “ Constant Reader ” think of his guide and friend if he is enlightened by any well meaning acquaintance on the facts of the ease ? We do sincerely trust, for the sake of the peace of mind of that well meaning gentleman, that he will accept the explanation of his favourite journal, and ask no questions, and that no one will disturb his faith. It must bo a pleasant sight to see him with his large intellectual appetite, and possibly physical ditto, sitting down evoiy morning to eggs and his “Lyttelton Times.” We should feel as sorry that his

trust in tlio soundness of Ills journal should bo shaken as that his trust in the soundness of his eggs should be disturbed. “ Where ignorance is bliss ’tis folly to bo ■wise.”