THAT "JACK-IN-OFFICE " AGAIN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 45, 21 February 1879, Page 4

THAT "JACK -IN -OFFICE " AGAIN.

As a sample of the style in which the Wellington Evening Chronicle endeavours to secure Government advertisements, the following article is worth perusing : — That cantankerous, ill-bred ill-tem-pered, and very poor creature, Mr Ebenezer Baker, Clerk of the ResidentMagistrate's Court, and Marshal of the High Court of Admiralty, is "oc 'the rampage" again. One of our clerks waited on " Marshal Ebenezer" to-day, and politely asked an order for the insertion of a short advertisement concerning the holding of an Assessment Court of the Borough of "Wellington, the sittings of which take place no Thursday, 20th February, at the Resident Magistrate's Court, "Wellington. Now the Evening Chronicle has always had this particular advertisement sent to it. It is a matter of right. It refers to a matter concerning the Borough Council, and as we go to much expense in reporting the proceedings of that body, its advertisements have ever been given to us as a matter of course. But this petty official, Mr Ebenezer Baker, to-day thought proper not only to refuse to give the advertise, ment, but also to grossly insult our employee. "No 1" shrieked Ebenezer, spitting forth his words, accompanied by small jets of saliva, " I shan't give any advertisement to the Evening Chronicle. I will only give public advertisements (paid for with public money, by the way) to such papers aa I please. I, being Clerk of the R. M. Court, will do exactly ss I like in the

matter of advertisements." And then " Ebenezer" scowled and " girned," and put on an expression of couutenance so utterly demoniacal as to convince all | on-lookera that " the old Adam " had got completely the mastery of the Plymouth Brother. This is inexpressibly j sad, and as we write our hot and bitter tears are dropping upon the paper to think of the grievous fall and terrible I backsliding of the immaculate " Baker." However, we do not despair of " Ebenezer" even yet. "We shall yet re-con-struct him, raise his moral* tone, and cure him of practising hia mean, spiteful, and altogether unwarrantable practices in respect to acting unjustly and partially in the manner in which he sends advertisements to the newspapers. Because Ebenezer Baker, a paltry clerk in a public office, happens to have a personal hatred of a particular public journal of large circulation and influence like the Evening Chronicle, is it not monstrous that he should be permitted to gratify his malice by withholding, an advertisement from its columns which it is essential for the public interest should be published therein ? On the broad principle of fairplay, and of the public interest, we shall bring the conduct of Mr Ebenezer Baker, clerk of the R.M. Court, under the notice of the political head of his departmentMinister of Justice.