THE LOITERER IN KUMARA.

Kumara Times, Issue 492, 25 April 1878, Page 2

THE LOITERER IN KUMARA.

“ PESTINA lente,”

Perhaps one of the most striking illustration of how " not to do" a thin« has been furnished by the late Commit tee of the Kumara Hospital Ward. As a body it resigned in fear and trembling because it found its liabilities exceeding its assets by some £2O. Within a fortnigh it is succeeded by another set of men who manage to start with nearly £7OO to their credit. A well-known and popular official of the R. M. Court is much exercised in mind in consequence of the receipt of the following letter • " Kumara, April 24, 1878. '• Sir—Having heard that you are well versed in beetleology; I forward the enclosed specimen, supposed to be (by those who have seen it) the true Colorado (extriordus). It was discovered in the bedroom of a disciple of Esculapius. From my own slight knowledge of natural history, I have named it the Kumario-Diabolo-Croum-bie-Browneo - Terrorins - Itinerant-Divi-nio-Virtus-Theologales; but, before finally deciding as to its genealogy and proper classification, I am under the necessity of applying to the only recognised authority in Westland, and second only in the Colony to Pr Haast, which is yourself. An early reply will oblige—Yours truly, "F. 8., M.R.R.P.S. "To P. A. B h,Esq. " P.S.—At your l discretion you may refer this to the Editor of the Kumara Times." The awful insect with the terribly lon<* name is a remarkably fine specimen of the tnipo (Anglice,,, devil) ; although why Mr B——h should be supposed to be more conversant with Old Nick than anybody else passes my comprehension. " Mustard and Cress" a writer in the Referee, indites as follows: I am grieved to say that the prevailing methods of wife murder in this country are marked by a barbarity and purposeless cruelty which are generally absent from the best knowu Continental systems, and are quite unknown among the Orientals. The kicking, gashing, chili viuegaring, pokering, bludgeoning, throat-cutting, and stomach-jumping ' plans pursued by the English husband I are entirely devoid of-scientific merit, j and by their cold-blooded brutality in- j variably deprive the murderer of the j sympathy due to him. Great questions i require looking sternly in the face. It j is useless when we meet a social bogey i to say, " Get thee behind me, Satan," ! and dive up a court to get out of the j w . a 7' ne fc * me nas come when, recog- i nising wife slaughter as a habit of cer- j tain sections of English society, we j must endeavor to make it as humane as ' possible. For this purpose I venture to | propose the establishment of a " Society ! for the Encouragement of the more i Merciful Killing of Women." I shall j be glad to hear from any gentlemen in- i terested in the subject. \ Frank Truman. !