"THE REAL MACKAY." An Eccentric Insurance Lecturer.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 80, 13 December 1884, Page 6

"THE REAL MACKAY." An Eccentric Insurance Lecturer.

Wellington, December 8. The irrepressible Joseph has broken out in a fresh place. Although defeated in his ■uit against George Thorne, junr., he has assumed the war-paint once more, and hurls defiance at his enemies through the medium of the papers. In this day's "Post" Joe publishes a flaming halfcolumn advertisement in which, while trumpeting forth his own praises as an insurance agent, he makes it exceedingly warm for the Government opposition shop. After announcing that he intends to deliver a highly instructive and amusing lecture at the Athenseum Hall, illustrated by songs, readings, and recitations, Joseph goes on to remark that hewill "treat in a familiar and attractive manner" of a subject of not less importance to every colonist, past, present, and future, and hopes to do a good turn to all, without exception, who may honour him with their attendance ; being vain enough to believe he forms an exception to the ordinary run of the many insurance agents, particularly in the Government service, the morally and financially weak, lame, and incapable off-scouring of the British upper ten, and of our colonial commercial community, who By flre and life insurance next I'm intercepted, pestered, vexed, Almost beyond endurance ; And though the schemes appear unsound, Their advocates are seldom found Deficient in assurance. After following the example of Mr Silas Wegg by dropping into poetry, the modest Joseph continues : " Valuable, useful, and profitable hints will be given to all and sundry, from the highest to the lowest in the land, from His Excellency the Governor to the Commissioner and late Superintendent of the Government Life Insurance Department." The lecturer hopes to be supported and accompanied to the platform by the several applicants presently offering themselves in daily increasing numbers for seats at the Board of the Government Life Insurance Department, including His Worship the Mayor, who has been requested to preside. Valuable suggestions will be offered to the nominative and elective members of the Board, and a very few (not over a dozen) of the most select and capable of these many applicants may at once secure a far better and more lucrative appointment by applying to J.M., who is about to appoint a Wellington Board of reference for the "equitable" society, which, like the nation it represents (when backed by a canny Scot), "licks creation," J.M. is very desirous during his stay in Wellington before proceeding southward to "apply the pump-handle judiciously" in taking the "lives" of the whole community for amounts ranging from £10,000 to £20,000 each, '• which pan easjly be done by the poorest person in the city, if there be such a person." The grandiloquent announcement winds up with the assurance that Joseph "is the prince of modern lecturers." As the admission to the lecture is free, the enterprising agent is likely to be rewarded by bumper houses.