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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2218, 27 April 1880, Page 2

Dn Lemon, being unable to perceive why there should be a Civil Service Commission, a Kail way Commission, a Native Commission, and a multitude of other Commissions, and yet no Telegraph Commission, has constituted himself a Commission, and is now making- a flyingvisit to the various telegraph stations in the South Island. Last week he was at Invercargill, and from thence ho winged

his way, as the crow flics, to Dunedin. Yesterday he was at Oamaru, and to-day lie visited Timaru. The object of his mission, whether to refresh Ids memory with the geography of the colony, or to exhibit Ids face to the operators, or to strike terror among the insuhordinates, or to recruit his health by a change of scene and atmosphere it would he difficult to say ; hut Dr Lemon, like Miss Kilmnnscgg with the famous _ leg, has apparently started on a travelling event such as no other civil servant in this part of the world lias ever attempted. When Dr Lemon has got safely anchored once more in Wellington, and has taken time to draw his breath, perhaps he will he able to tell us what it is all about. Rumour says that he contemplates an amalgamation of the railway and general telegraphs, but why this should necessitate a personal inspection of all the telegraph stations in the colony, it is difficult to comprehend. Is Dr Lemon suffering from an attack of ennui, or has the Civil Service Commission and the near approach of parliament aroused him to a state of unwonted activity. Wc are sorry for Dr Lemon, especially as he seems to he unaccompanied by Mr Magi unity/ his valuable second in command. If the cause of such of his rebellious subjects, as in spite of pains and penalties tenaciously cling to the department, is likely to be pleaded in parliament, Dr Lemon might surely he raoi’e usefully engaged preparing his defence and endeavoring to explain away the circumstances of the telegraph strike than in exhibiting himself to his terror, inspired menials. There is no necessity for the Superintendent of Telegraphs becoming so dreadfully unsettled. Hitherto he has stuck to his comfortable nest pretty closely, in spite of earthquakes and other disturbing phenomena. It is devoutly to he hoped that he will bear the fate of Miss Kilmansegg in mind, and that when ho reaches Wellington again Mr Maginnity will be able to prevail on him to accept a sedative after his long journey, and seek repose amidst the carpeted cloisters of Government house. His phenomenal perturbation is quite uncalled for. There is not the remotest chance of his being treated like the experts of his department who were lately fined and driven out of the. colony. If his somewhat autocratic conduct is called in question by his employers, ho will at all events receive a fair trial.