Untitled

New Zealander, Volume XXII, Issue 2393, 1 April 1865, Page 2

Wk scarcely think that the result of the meeting held in honor of Captain Levy was worthy of the promise with which it was announced. The Remaps used to bestow a civic crowu on him who had saved the life of a citizen, but Mr. Levy has received as yet nothing but a laudatory resolution. Whether the promoters of the meeting intended by the meagreness of their testimonial to indicate their own estimate of the citizen who was saved w T e cannot tell, but we should have supposed that the merits of Mr. Levy rather than of Mr. Grace should have been the measure of the i reward, and that nothing short of a I medal could have relieved the feelings which have been of late flooding the newspaper; upon this subject. We must confess that we do not see that this meeting was in any way called for. A certain anxiety was felt to get at the truth as between Mr. Levy and Mr. Grace, but the slightest consideration would have shown that this could not be done by a public meeting. It was not likely that Mr. Grace would attend in order to explain why he objected to thank his deliverer. If he had done so, there would have been a great row, and nothing wonld have been determined. As it is, we have got Mr. Levy’s diary over again with embellishments, and those who before thought him a hero, have passed a resolution to that effect, while those who thought otherwise probably think so still. As it is, only one side has been heard, and most probably we shall not get the other. Very likely, if we were to hear it, it would not turn out to be worth very much. We can readily understand that Mr. Grace and Mr, Levy are not men who would be likely, under any circumstances, to get on very well together, and very likely under some circumstances they might manage to be very disagreeable to each other. Still, there is an old saying that hard words break no bones, and however expressive Mr. Levy’s expletives may have been, they might have been forgotten by the man whose life was unquestionably saved by him. In the face of the gross affectation displayed in his second letter, Mr. Grace would have great difficulty in removing the disagreeable impression which exists against him. With his part of the business we have nothing more to do, and of Mr. Levy we may say that without exalting him above all heroes ancient and modern, he did his part well and deserves the substantial recompense which we understand he is likely to get. So far as the meeting goes, we think as we said before —that it was a mistake, and a letter from the Superintendent to Mr. Levy would have answered every purpose. As it is, nothing more remains but for Mr. Levy to get his money, which wo hope he may do speedily. We cannot quit this subject without a remark upon the bad taste which has made any incidents connected, however remotely, with the Opitiki murder, a theme for travestie on the boards of a theatre. However clever may be the burlesque, and however fairly subject to ridicule may have been the conduct of any one concerned, it ought to be remembered that all these arose out of a deed which not many weeks since filled the inhabitants of Auckland with, horror. Nothing arising out of the murder of Mr. .Volknek can be a fit subject for a theatrical burlesque, and much as we desire to see a permanent theatre in Auckland, we do hope that the piece we are speaking of will not have a long run. The passion for the dreary burlesque of the day is in itself unworthy of a people who profess to reverence Shakespere, but the present performance is essentially a violation of good taste and fight feeling. It would only be tolerated in a low theatre in London.