FREE AND EASY NOTES. BY. P. TENAX.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 225, 23 May 1872, Page 4

FREE AND EASY NOTES. BY. P. TENAX.

The memorandum of the Superintendent relative to the appointment of Judge Ward is a curiosity in its way. In answer to some remarks made in the Council to the effect that Judge Gray had wished to resign, because he considered that ho was not doing enough work for his salary, Mr. Macandrew states that owing to the influx of lawyers to the goldfields, legal business has increased to such an extent that Judge Gray's time is now fully occupied, although he has a smaller district to | attend to. This looks very much like a direct charge against the legal profession resident on the goldfields for fomenting litigation. If they do foment litigation, it does not seem to pay, for every one of them complains bitterly of lack of business, and several, in various townships, are looking for pastures new. Regarding Judge Ward's appointment, a friend of mine remarked that it is looked upon with disfavour by the "bar" of the circuit he has taken, because he has acquired such a reputaiion for " laying it on thick" whenever he gets a chance, that evil-doers will not live in a district of which he is judge. Legal incomes are thus considerably affected, as there are no criminals to defend. The process of reasoning by which the Waste Lands Board arriveH at the conclusion that it was desirable to sell the 1900 acres excluded from Clarke's 45,000 acres purchase, is beyond mortal compreh< n iion. Mr. M'Kerrow reported thatthe land was unfit for settlement ; Mr. Bradshaw averred that it was. aurirerons ; and the Board sold it as first-class agricultural land. As Ido not want my hair to turn . prematurely grey, I will not pursue the subject further. Eureka. ! The education problem, which threatened to distract the world for s agea I yet to come, has been solved. No more ' nationalism, denominalism, secularism, or any other ism, and no more qnarrelliiig over the veracity of historians. Mr. James Smith, of Melbourne, hag cut the Gordian knot -has shown how, withoufe education bills, schoolmasters, birch rod 3, "taws," or other hitherto considered indispensable aids to the acquisition of of knowledge, the young idea caa be taught how to shoot. Every resident on this earth ought to feel deeply grateful to Mr. Smith, and his statue ought to be erected in every schoolhouse. Mr. Smith, asserts that four of his children are being taught all branches of a liberal education by the spirits. If his children are so educated, why should not all children in. the world? 1 strongly recommend the Provincial Council to at once dispense with the services of the present teachers, and in their stead engage a* few hundred, spirits — if there are any unemployed. Mr. Smith would no doubt be glad to, act as the Council's agent in the matter. The question of remuneration seems a, difficulty, as bank notes, gold, or silver could scarcely be transmitted to the> "spheres." Perhaps, however, tha spirits would accept as payment the commodity with which the residence of the Prince of the Power of the Air is. metaphorically said to be paved,t The spiritist theory of the disposal of soiils after they jjiave duly performed .their terrestrial pilgrimage, although it may have much to recommend it to those averse to future warmth, seems to have many disadvantages. Jf what Mr. Smith, says is true, awkward recontres must occasionally happen in the "spheres.'* Fancy Bradshaw meeting his Teviot con-* stituents in the " first sphere," when X believe some earthly passions still cling to the shades of the departed. As hia famous red line would then not avail to protect him, the consequences would pro-= bably be disastrous, and create greatscandal. A meeting of Jack Ketch with his subjects, or of a doctor with his earthly patients, would undoubtedly be^ •inbana unp. How will the spirits oy Chinamen agree with those of British miners ? and how many millions of years, will it take for the souls of Provincial Councillors to progress to the stage the shades of ordinary men reach immediately they leave the earth ?