WELLINGTON LETTER.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXI, Issue 3900, 20 May 1899, Page 4

WELLINGTON LETTER.

(OWN CORRESPONDENT) seddon’s TAB. The local grandmamma has returned with renewed virulence to tho subject of tbe Auditor-General, Mr Seddon and Mr Seddon'e “tag.” The old lady’s attempts to prove that Mr Warburton was actually criminal in daring to make any remark about the treasurer's accounts and her evident anxiety to stand if possible, well with Mr Warburton and our financial wobbler who is spending the money, are ludicrous in the extreme. In the first place she tacitly admitted that the Auditors. General only did his duty in appending the tag, and explains that Mr Seddon was grieved because he had explained the matter to Parliament “and the explanation was tacitly but not expressly approved of by tbe people’s represen tatires.” She urges that the note seems to imply something under-hand and asserts that the Premier’s annoyance is excusable because the Auditor-Gen-eral should make himself acquainted with wbat passes in Parliament, " but on the other hand, Mr Warburton will probably say that he has no official intimation and cannot be blamed for not knowing the facts.” This happens to be precisely what any person of ordinary common-sense would say. Surely neither Mr Warburton nor any other public man pan be expected to follow and understand all the crude ideas contained in Mr Seddon’s parliamentary utterances. As tbe Auditor-General, Mr Warburton had the most perfect right to append any tag nr any remarks to Mr Seddon’e accounts, which he, Mr Warburton, in the exercise of his duty deems proper. But the uncrowned king of New Zealand is far too big a person to be criticised even in the most humble and respectful manner.

BE doesn’t WANT TO BE A POLITICIAN. There is a note of rare manliness in United States Admiral Dewey’s renunciation of any desire to be nominated for the Presidency of Amerioa, which nomination certain Yankee politicians have vainly endeavoured to force upon that gallant old sea dog. “I have no desire for political offioe,” he oables, “ I am unfittted for it, oither by education or training. lam deeply grateful for any expression of kindly sentiment from the American people, bnt I desire to retire in peaoe to the enjoyment of my old age. The navy is one profession, politics is another. lam too old to learn another profession.” Would that some of onr alleged majors or colonels, who all unblood-stained rushed into the arena of politics, as if politicians were like poets—born not made—would take a lesson from the sturdy common sense of Admiral Dewey. Here it is often the case that when a man has failed in every other avocation of life, he takes to politics as a last dismal resource.

as others see us. Mayor Goldie, of Auokland, has reoeived a communication from New York, the writer of which says it is understood there that Aucklanders have a law that every intoxicated man should have his photograph taken. The querist goes on to ask “ Does such a law exist, and if so, how long has it existed ? How largely is it enforced ? Have many photographs of intoxicated men have been taken and if so is it possible for us to secure any of these piotures ?” It is very evident that the gentle New York stranger has very confused ideas of the ethics of New Zealanders generally. Such a law would be an insult to our morality which, as is well known, is infinitely superior to anything of the same sort which exists in any other portion of this sublunary sphere. Such a law would never do, especially if the question of drunk or not drunk was left to the photographer's deoision. He might for instance see some of our parliamentarians struggling from the political arena, wrecked by the violenoe of their patriotism and the awful diligence with which they had been pursuing their parliamentary duties and might, under the terrible impression that they had looked too long upon the rum when it was red, photograph them as inebriates. New Zealanders would of course know that the photographer had been mistaken, but this is a cynical world apt to mistake virtue for vice. CAPTAIN BUSSELL IN TIIE NOBTH.

In marked contrast to the presessional methods of Mr Seddon is the manner in which Captain Bussell is pursuing the campaign in the north. Personally, and quite apart from political opinions, he is a favorite with all manners and conditions of men, who recognise in him, his gentlemanly bearing, his kindness and the unwillingness with which he imputes bad motives to political foes who have no such reserve. Wbat Captain Bussell says about politics is always worth listening to, and it is said with modesty and intelligence, which is a pity more of our politicians do not emulate. His reception in the north, so far, has been of a most cordial nature, and it is evident that he has turned the search light of his clear intelligence to great effect upon some of the blunders and worse of the Seddonistic crew.

THE WEATHEIt. No communication from Wellington would be really complete unless it bore some reference to the weather. Wellington weather that is—which, let us hope at least is an absolutely unique specimen of climate. To-day, for the first time for three weeks, the sun shines, the wind is moderately quiescent, and there is something approaching balminess in the air. For the past 21 days, however, climatic conditions have been simply horrible, icy rain and gales diversified with gales and icy rain. Mr Fred Maccabe was not far wrong when he said that our climate was an excellent one—for the survivors. TUE GREAT UNPAID. Not only do our Stipendiary Magistrates sometimes afford us matter for very serious reflection by their remarks in regard to, end their conduct of cases, but the great unpaid make us tremble for what would happen if an epidemic carried off all the Stipendiary Magistrates and left justice in the hands of gentlemen who frequently are not too well acquainted with the differ-

ence between B and a bull’s foot. The individual who would oollect and tabulate after the manner of Mr Labouchere in London Truth, some of the sentences passed by Justices of the Peace would be performing a far more patriotic service then our parliamentary representatives achieve when they talk delirious hogwash by the hour and oall for tons of returns which are of no use to anyone save the butterman, and very little use to him. The other day for instance, in a Northern Court, two men were oharged with theft. Two Justices of the Peaoe listened to the evidenoe with exemplary gravity, and then one of the Solon’s spoke. “We give judgment for amount claimed with oosts.” It is unnecessary to say that no amount had been olaimed, but the benoh had concluded that it was a debt case and gave judgment aooordingly. When it was explained to them that the proceedings were of a criminal nature, a general friendly disoussion is said to have ensued, and then theJustioes asked the oounsel for the defence to kindly explain what he wanted done. Naturally he said he wished the discharge of the case. It was discharged accordingly, and, let us hope, all lived happily the rest of their lives.

TIIE OPPOSITION SHOULD ORGANISE. The Opposition will do well to take a lesson from the so-called Liberals. I have in front of me as I write, a rather soiled piece of paper headed, “ The Eighty Club of Liberals.” Whether this club contains the whole of the real Liberals in New Zealand, or only in Wellington the deponent sayetli not, but it is evident that the eighty, or less, mean business, for a meeting is called for the evening of the 18th " to constitute a club, appoint officers and transact other routine business.” The names of the organiser, and the-seoretary pro. tem. are not perhaps highly distinguished, but the faot is only mentioned to show the Opposition that if they mean business at the coming election, the sooner they are organising olubs or something like them the better.