EXTRA ORDINARY SCENE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S ROOM.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 81, 5 April 1880, Page 4

EXTRA ORDINARY SCENE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S ROOM.

(Wellington Chronicle.) A: couple of days ago a reporter of a Wellington paper called at the Government Buildings* to inspect some maps. He was courteously taken in hand by an Under-Secretary. They had to pass through the Prime Minister's room, •where our journalistic friend stared aghast at seeing the secretary of one of ", the Royal Commissions comfortably, seated on the " throne "of the Premier, cheek by jowl with him was the shorthand, writer to the Commission, who is known amongst press men as a " regular cure." The reporter said to his quondam •associates," What the deuce are you "doing-Hofe ?" Secretary R.C— " lam Ahe premier/ pro tern Shortland writer *—" And lam his secretary." The reporter -was rather flabergasted, but. he passed on and did his work. Twenty minutes later he returned, and found the Prime Minister pro tern. and his

private secretary still occupying the. same positions. He said to them, " Gentlemen, as a confrere, I would warn you that you are standing, or rather sitting on dangerous ground. Beware of the private secretary to the Prime Minister." Scarcely had these warning notes been sounde*d, : when the 'door opened and. a grey head was cautiously inserted " Messieurs," said the owner of the head in question, " Do you know where you are ? Are you aware of the fact that this is the prime Minister's room. Do you not see private papers of the Hon John Hall lying about ? Are you aware of the State secrets to which you have access?" Shortland writer — "Why, Mr Blank, you might have told us some- [ thing we did'nt know. We have the fullest knowledge as to our present location, and all the august surroundings connected therewith." Secretary R.C. Mr Blank, we are really not to blame. The Colonial Secretary, beloved of the Loftiis Troupe et hoc genus dmne, sent . us hear as servants of, the Crown, and ; we had to do as we were bid, or stand the chances of a drum-head court mar- . tial. I have previously occupied a po- : sition in.which I dictated to thePromier i and his. officers,;. but let that pass. j Temppra mutdntur nos et mutamur 'in ; illis" This seemed like having a dici tionary of Latin quotations flung at his i head, and- the, grey-headed gentleman : left incontinently murmuriag . as he backed out," The whole -affair is too terrible, attd I wasji my hands of it." The moral of the whole "affair is: When Government appoint Royal Commissions j almost innumerable they should provide 1 proper accommodation and not compel I the whilholm occupant of a fourth esi tate throne to perch himself on the throne of a third estate, man. Such a course must be demoralising to the fourth-properly : /theijfirstv, estate, and humiliating to the present leader of the third estate.