LITTLE PEDLINGTON.

Southland Times, Volume VII, Issue 7, 9 July 1866, Page 2

LITTLE PEDLINGTON.

LETTEES FROM INYERKELLY. No. VI. Thos. Tomkins, Esq., Rumtifoozle Square, London. My Deab. T, — One of the attributes of true genius is to seize every advantage circumstances may afford. The " Buster " had established the fact that our Natural Chief could do no wrong ; by an argument, as unique as unassailable, to clinch it, an example was adduced. Among our Maori brethren in the North Island, a new superstition had become the fashion, viz., — that of the Haw liau. The founder of it, was a Natural Chief also. He was supposed to be a " Ministering Angel," or some trifle of that description, who could exterminate his fellow-creatures by looking at them, and generally collapse creation. The peculiar characteristic of this sect, was larking on all occasions. The Buster snatched at this at once. Here was a nation of enlightened Christian savages who had cut the gordian knot of old-fashioned prejudices at one bound, had raised themselves to a position superior to ordinary humanity. Was " Little Pedlington" to be behindhand in the march of civilization ? Were we to be branded as possessing inferior inventive powers to the aboriginal ? Not while a Buster . existed. So this matter was settled. And our " Natural Chief" limoJiawed every bit as well as his Maori contemporary, the only difference being, that neither our Chief or his adherents harked ; we only growled at the Radicals ; keeping in mind Dr. Watt's admonition, "Though dogs delight to bark and bite," Being Christians of the Al description, we hit the medium :we growled. We all know that there is an alloy, inseparable from earthly happiness. That in point of fact, every man, or institution, has

its "Bubblejock." Thus, when an oracle starts business, the Damoclesian sword hanging over it is the necessity of continually giving utterance to some startling proposition ; something beyond methodical, every day life' The Buster, however, was equal to the occasion. Our " Natural Chief" happening to be summoned by letters patent, to shew himself about town in Auckland, " Little Pedlington" was informed, "we were mourning for him." This you will acknowledge, was a flight of genius. To place before the mind's eye somehing possessing material substance ; to call attention to a tiling one daily sees; clothing it with a name, such as a " Natural Chief," is trivial, to the task of dissecting one's mental anatomy ; and disclosing a state of feeling, of whij:h the patient was totally ignorant. However, these it was — the Buster said so. Previous to the intimation, we were under the impression that life, at any rate, for a short period, was supportable, even without the presence of our Natural Chief. True the sun of his presence was wanting, yet the ordinary sun shone on us, and felt quite as warm as usual. Wonderful is the mechanism of the human mind ! Tell a man he has the cholera, when that scourge is devastating the hamlet in which he lives, the chances are, he Avill believe you, and die accordingly. So, trusting the oracle, we mourned. Not exactly with a sorrow like Raehael's, without comfort ; for we knew the Chief was knocking about somewhere, but mildly, and with due potations . It was, however, prophetic. The Radicals asserted, we would have to mourn with a vengeance shortly, for possessing, a Natural Chief at all. Verily, trouble was at hand. Once, and once only, dm'ing this stage of the Buster's career, did the wind veer. The Radicals were, somehow, gradually gaining ground, notwithstanding all the " Oracle " could do. When the ' Provincial Council met, this was painfully appareut. The balance of power seemed about to shift. The contract for printing hitherto enjoye d by the Buster had expired, was to be relet. The Blister spoke — ii; hinted that after all, a change might be desirable. Little Pedlington was not ripe for a Natural Chief, who could do no wrong — a change was advisable. Great was the consternatian amongst the Chiefites. Was Dr Cumming right after all ? Had the seventh vial been poured forth ? | Was the end of all things at hand ? Such were the questions bandied about amongst us. Small groups of the faithful might be seen at each street corner, discussing the subject with grave and sorrowful faces. You have probably noticed, how the fowls in a farm jard, huddle together when a hawk appears. The recantation on the part of the " Oracle " had a somewhat sinailar effect. The Radicals were overjoyed. They, in their turn, poured forth their little lay as follows : — The bubble's burst, So bang the lyre ! We knew from the first T'vvas only for hire. The wind 's veered round, Here now 's the tester. The " Chief" is down, So we've the Buster. Jimmys is up, The Buster crows ; Jimmys is down, It hits him blows. Up, or down, Wiggle-waggle ; Fawn, or frown, The Buster '11 gaggle. Their joy, however, I asa happy to say, was of only short duration. The printing contract was decided in the " Buster's" iavor. The Radicals, though triumphant in the Council, could not, like the • " Long Parliament," behead their Chief. So he ruled for the rest of his term, knowing that his days were numbered. But alas, the day of trouble was at hand ; and the " Buster," like other institutions, had to bow its head to the wintry blast, It- had

to undergo a step lower in social taid intellectual degradation ; and passed into its third stage, of which I will speak m my next. — Facilis descensus averni.— I am, TIMOTHY SNOOKS.