WELLINGTON.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 313, 23 December 1884, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

i [Own Cohkbsponoent.J One hundred pounds a year each for mree directors lor the Government insurance Department has called to h a -ip.t o. app.ic.mts for the triple billets, the number of persons who suddenly make the discovery, spurred on by the pro.pect of XJtoo a year, that they are ictuaries and ueaven-taught staticians is perfectly amazing. What surprises me, nowever, is to see wealthy merchants and men in good positions, jostling each other m the race for this paltry prize. Who tue fortunate trio will be 1 know not, and caie le.s, but my opinion is that if the -rovermnent Insurance Department has >ecn mismanaged, in the past, the new Directorate is not likely to improve it. When a man has been served with a writ for a large amount he usually pockets u quietly and says as little about it as possible. This seems to be the spirit in wmcli the New Zealand Finus has accepted a document ot this sort at the nands of Sir Julius Vogel or his legal ■idvisers. I lie Ttines in its issue on I’nday mentions the fact in a few fines, worded very temperately. The amount sued for, viz., X, 10,000, is a respectable su.n, and the ed tor no doubt considers tnat it adds to the dignity of his office to preside over an institution supposed to be good for so much money. 1 ne list of fresh additions to the judgement seats of the Colony contains some very queer names. One in particular I notice uown south who a short time ago narrowly escaped a prosecution for manslaughter. Toe new J.P. was at that time a fanner, or small runholder, and having h id some quarrel with one of his men he promptly reduced hun to obedience and a stale of insensibility by fracturing his skull with the heavy end of his riding whip. The victim of this exercise of aumonty had to be taken to the local hospital, wuere he lay a long time in a precarious condition, but ultimately recovered—and nothing more was heard of

Sir Julius Vogel having relieved his feelings by the issue of a writ as already stated, is now ready to take his departure lur the Hot Springs to test their efficacy 111 setting him on his legs again. When Miln.-r Stjp.ien was here last, 1 had a ta,k wirh tile venerable gentleman, and strongly advised mm io try the effect of liis healing powers on the Vogelian nether limbs. I tried to impress "lii.n with the idea that if he could say to Sir Julius *’ Arise and skip, and Sir Julius could take up Ins chair and hop around like a young kangaroo, Hie effect on the mind's of all woo heard of tiie miracle wou.d be simply immense, and in future he (the lie.der) would have Kings and Princes fir hi. patients, in,lead ol a few deenpit old men and women who were too poor to pay him lor the cures he effected on them. Tue old gentleman however seem;d lobe of opinion that Jews and Freethinkers were out,ide the pale of his mission, and th it want of proper faith on the part ot the Treasurer would be an effectual bar to the success of the experiment.