THE INTELLIGENT VAGRANT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5010, 14 April 1877, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE INTELLIGENT VAGRANT.

(From the New Zealand Mail.)

Qni scit an acljiciant hocliernro crastina summse Tempora JDi Snpcri.—Horace. At the time the row about the plans for the Townhall was hottest it was noticeable that one paper was especially virulent as regards Mr. Turnbull. The other evening apropos of 'nothing, that same paper made the discovery that there never could, should, would, or might be another architect like Mr. Turnbull, and that he and no other should have the designing of the Townhall. Mr, Public Opinion accounts for these circumstances by saying that Mr. Turnbull and a literary gentleman once had some difference of opinion arising out of Mr. Turnbull’s being the architect of a house for the literary gentleman, and that more recently Mr. Turnbull, through a friend, has speculated in newspaper property. A public body had to accept tenders for a public work not long since. Two gentlemen who had tendered ascertained at the last moment that one with a lower tender than theirs was about to present himself. As they particularly wanted the contract in order to help another which they had previously obtained they bought off (“ squared ” I believe is the correct term) the gentleman whose tender was to be lower that theirs, and he did not present his. But another contractor who was clever (“ fly ” is the technical term) heard of what was going on, went in with a tender below that of the two gentlemen aforesaid, got the contract, and now the two gentleman are compelled by the force of circumstances to do the work for him, whilst he draws the money“Be ye wise as serpents.” Whoever has drawn up the jurors’ list for Wellington has shown the nicest discrimination possible. In putting down the names of jurors he had necessarily to give the occupation of each gentleman called upon to represent the country upon which prisoners throw themselves. An ordinary mind by being literal might have given oSence, but the compiler of our jury list evidently has not an ordinary mind. Thus so long as a man was a merchant or a banker, or something genteel, his proper occupation was affixed to his name, but so soon as grocers, bakers, and butchers were come across they were incontinently put

clown “ Esquires.” On Thursday morning the Grand Jury informed the Judge that they had a presentment to make about the insufficient accommodation at the Supreme Court in Wellington. The Judge in open court recommended the Grand Jury to hold over their presentment until the following morning. That evening the Post in a burst of anxiety to show its influence upon everything, advised the Grand Jury to make the very presentment which it had been announced they would make, but quietly ignored the announcement. And now the Post can say, “ We are happy to notice that in accordance with onr advice of last night, the Grand Jury this morning, etc., etc.” I read frequent and just complaints of the inattention to the wants of their constituents displayed by the Press Agency. The “ Dunedin Daily Dustbin ” is aggrieved because it has not been informed of the discovery of a tortoiseshell tom cat in Parnell, whilst the “West Coast Warhoop ” wants to know who on earth is interested in the fact that wool has fallen one penny per lb. I think, however, that I have grounds for a more serious complaint than any hitherto brought forward. It will have been noticed that Mr. Turnbull’s schooner May arrived lately in Dunedin from Mauritius. She was to have brought a cask of No. 1 rum for two personal friends aud myself. So soon as her arrival was telegraphed my friends and I went hastily to see what particulars concerning her cargo might be forwarded, and all we could read was that she brought 6573 packages for Wellington. Now I want to know if Messrs. Holt and McCarthy consider after this that they conduct their business in a satisfactory way. Here is a vessel arrives, by which a highly important section of the community expects a consignment of No. 1 rum ; and they telegraph to us some nonsense about 6573 packages for Wellington, and not a line to tell us whether our rum has arrived. I want to know if this is not a sacrificing of the public interests for the sake of mere individual interest.

Has anybody noticed how the arrival of Mr. Thomas Russell and the discovery of new mines of wealth at the Thames goldfield were coincident ? And the fine old round of sharebroking and company forming is in full swing again. The quotation, though hackneyed, is obvious, “ effodiuntur opes imtamenta malorum."

In some book I was reading lately about Eastern Russia and x\sia I came across a comparison of national aptitude for business which lam tempted to repeat. The writer of the book mentioned a Prussian proverb to the effect that a Polish Jew could, in traffic, buy and sell a Russian over again; a Tartar could do the same for a Polish Jew ; but a Chinaman could buy a Tartar half-a-dozen times over. There has been a good deal of discussion amongst the dramatic critics, provoked by the expression of different opinions during the “ Scott-Siddons ” season. I have road all the criticisms, and for truth and pungency none of them can can come up to an oral one I heard in the Theatre. The play performed involved the making of much stage love to the character played by Mrs. Scott-Siddons. Of the style of one maker of love a gentleman sitting near me said : “ It reminds mo of cold boiled veal, to be eaten without even such relief from its insipidity as a little salt could afford.” And a friend saying to him, “ Could you do better ?” He replied ; “Why, a pig couldn’t help throwing pathos into his utterances under the circumstances.” I see Wanganui is in the field for the honor of having the Colonial Regatta there next year. I have a suggestion to make. Supposing Wanganui to be successful in gettiug up the regatta, let the one after that bo held at Lake Waihola, near Dunedin, of the most easy access by rail, and presenting facilities for the four-oarod champion race, I may safely say, unattainable elsewhere. It is quite possible that Dunedin and Port Chalmers may object on account of local considerations, each wanting the regatta on the water in front of them, though said water is patronised by weather as unreliable as that which in Wellington has prevented many a rowing race. But I cannot help that. The regatta should be a purely New Zealand affair, and the locality I have mentioned, if for no other reason than its fitness, should be selected for ono year at least. Some ono advertises in the Auckland Evening Star that he wants to borrow £lO on firstelaas security for three years, and that lie will pay 15s. interest for the accommodation. And yet in the face of this I am informed that the banks have a heap of money lying idle and waiting investment. The Wellington correspondent of the Melbourne Argus may have some excuse for the gloomy picture of the financial condition of New Zealand which ho draws. It possible that he writes within the limit of his personal experience, and confounds financial y.. embarassment felt by himself with that which might feel. correspondent, writing from St. ~P!£ o r 10th January, gives news. He says there is Wo southern army’s being unsky. That i Jhf ”l^'J t h<w£ ngest memy reakfast