RANDOM NOTES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 46, 14 March 1874, Page 8

RANDOM NOTES.

A chiel's amang ye takiu' notes, An' f.dth he'll preiit 'em. There seems to be a disposition on the part of the Great Unpaid to make it tropical for any offending Son of Neptune who may be brought before them. The principal crime at present laid to the charge of Jack is that he is desirous to partake of the general prosperity of the colony, and try his fortunes on land instead of sea. Whenever such severance from his ship is not indorsed by his captain, the law is invoked, and no matter how weighty the penalty, the general verdict seems to be " Served him right ; hit him again, he has no friends." Now it is a bad rule that will not work both ways ; and I fail to see the equity of all the justice (?) being on one side. As matters stand at present, a master who has shipped his crew in any port other than a Victorian, is at liberty to discharge his entire crew, and re-chip a company at a port where the wages are considerably less than what he has been paying, leaving the unfortunate men where there is a surplus of labor, and consequently at a disadvantage. One would imagine that were protection enough ; but this is how Jack is protected. If he unfortunately takes French leave, or even absents himself from his ship for forty-eight hours, he is liable to be apprehended as a deserter, and the term of imprisonment to which he his subjected is governed entirely by the whim or state of bile of the presiding power, in addition to having his pay forfeited. Why is this thus ? Why should all the equity and sympathy bo on the side of the one ; while the other has not only to bear the brunt of his offences (?) but encounter a certain degree of odium which attaches itself to it ? I pause for a reply.

The elections have come and passed, and the seat vacated by the Hon. John has already found a successor. The aspirants for the coveted honor were four in number, but in reality the contest lay between but two ; as the successful candidate could have afforded to have the numbers polled by his three opponents bulked and still head the list. It is said that the candidature of Mr Chapman originated in a joke ; — to which, however, he was not a paity. I can easily believe the first, whilst doubting the second statement. If, however, the full story be correct, then Mr Chapman has unconsciously been the means of imparting a. deal of genuine an>u?ement. This was the more oppor* tune as an accident had prevented Mdlle. Jenny Claus from appearing in the earlier part of the week, but if she had done so, I question whether the attendance would have been numerous, in the face ot the counter attrnclious. Mr Chapman, who, appeared in the character of the " Untried Member," in the different portions of the city, was always received with the appreciation lie so richly deserved ; and the gravity with which he replied to the querj " whether he would be in favoi- of subsidising State soft soap manufactories?" by answering " decidedly not ; it would be manifestly unfair to the present ones," fairly convulsed his audience, and would have made Niobe herself smile again. Such innocence, and the utter want of suspicion of bauter is mo>t refreshing in these precocious days, and speaks highly for the nathe Duuedinitcs. No doubt the result of the election as affecting Mr Chapman is due to the solicitude of the electors who are anxious to preserve this rara avis, and are fearful that were he sent to herd with the wily one} who perch in the Provincial Council, the experience there to be learned would not be so desirable as bis present , blissful innocence, i Peter Possum.