AN IDEA OF FUTURE PUNISHMENT .

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1038, 18 February 1882, Page 4

AN IDEA OF FUTURE PUNISHMENT .

The Hindoo idea of the hell is different from those set forth in the confessions of faith and creeds of most of the denominations of Christianity. Punishments for the most part are in the way of transformations into unpleasant creatures. Those who have been drunkards on earth are in the next world changed into frogs. This ought to be regarded as an improvement rather than a punishment, for a frog is a cold-water animal of commendable habits, and never goes staggering around with a red or a bloated face. Dissenters from the true faith are turned into snakes. Backbiters are changed to tortoises, and misers to cranes, which seem in felicitous, as the crane is one of the few creatures that can conveniently bite its own back,and the tortoise, with its ability for shutting up, would serve as a fit emblem of the miser’s strong box. Flesh-eaters are to be eagles; thieves are to be deprived of the power of hearing, and the debtors are to be bullocks. The last transmogrification probably has reference to the way in which poor debtors are sometimes slaughtered by their creditors in the present life.

Amongst the many curiosities, says the Wairarapa Star, which have come to light in connection with the recent general election is the following : —“A candidate for a Southern constituency, who saw where the proverbial coach and six could be driven through the Act, placed the names of his son, who was a minor, on the electoral roll. When the poll was taken and the scrutiny made, that candidate was found to be ahead by just one vote Hence it will be seen that he secured his election by the vote of his own son, and that son still an infant in the eyes of the law.” It is understood that this matter lias reference to the disputed Wallace election. News has just arrived of the elopement of a gentleman well-known at New plvmouth, a farmer and formerly an officer of the 20th regiment. It appears that some little time ago he gave up farming and sent his wife and family to Christchurch, near where her parents reside. He then went to. Auckland and succeeded in inducing the wife of a well-known hotel-keeper to join his fortunes in a trip to Sydney It is said he went to the theatre with the hotelkeeper, but pretended to be taken ill and left for advice, which was only a ruse, as the loving pair quietly shipped on board the Hero just about sailing. It is believed the guilty wife took away about 800 worth of property belonging to her husband, about one-half of which was cash, the remainder jewellery.