“VAGRANT’S” NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 480, 15 July 1890, Page 3

“VAGRANT’S” NOTES.

The Lyttelton Times says the substitutes of Sir Harry Atkinson are at the best harmless mediocrities ; at the worst they have one well developed power, the power of irritation. The best leader in the House is now Mr Ballance, who is clearly the superior of any man on the Government benches.' His suave, easy debating manner, and quiet air of moderation are merely the mask that covers the command of much debating and tactical talent.

We hear a lot about the advance that religion is making in the colony, but if the Sullivan-Clampett specimen of humanity is allowed to make another successful tour through the colony, New Zealand will have something to be heartily ashamed of. Tar and feathers have been found useful for much lesser sins than those perpetrated by the Clampett individual. Hypocrisy, wearing ths garb of religion for evil purpores, is the worst of offences against a community, to say nothing of the Omnipotent, but Clampett makes matters still woise by writing the most horrible blasphemy. Appended is his letter, written from a first-class hotel in London, and addressed to a lady in Christchurch.

•'Tavistock Hotel. Covent Garden, London, January 25, 1890. —Beloved Sister, — What a dreadful time I have had. I am surprised that you have not heard of my death long since. I managed to get through the Continent and come to England, because the papers were full of my fall in ail shapes. English papers are also full of the same, and no matter how penitent I am it is no use ; all doors are shut against me. I must go back. I was raving with drink from the moment I left M'Gregor till I reached Chicago, where I had the D.T.’s. Ever since I am endeavoring to live for God. Pray for me 1 Ask Mrs to pray for me. lam going back in a few months, and I want you to send me a subscription towards my passage. The were no use whatever, and never will be. Such is lite. I am going to plough the same ground again, and the clergy who endeavored to crush me will - something to dream cf, I tell you, make mistake." That is only a portion of the letter, for here eomes the horrible blasphemy :—“ The Lord will smash them, and bis name alone will be magnified, I will march again into Christchurch as fearless as possible. lam going in God’s strength. I have lots to say, but will reserve all.—Affectionately yonrs. Arthur G. Ciamfxtt.” •• Beloved Sister, —Remember I am living in a bad way; because I have refused to resort to anything worldly, notwithstanding my failings, I need not say I am bard up, but if you cannot in the least way assist me, I will ba obliged to return steerage, which I believe is a most uncomfortable route. What lies have been told of me 1 I must return. I must have been tight when the Auckland Star reporter interviewed me. Ido act recollect a word of it.”

The •• we" of the Wanganui Chronicle ought to be unmarried, judging by a paragraph which appears in bis truthful journal, but he possibly speaks from experience. The hotels there are to close at 11 p.m. instead nt midnight, and says the Chronicle :—“ This innovation should be welcome to most domestic circles, as the husbands will now be able to get home before midnight. This is rough on the husbands, but the paragraphist did not seem to know whether or not to congratulate the wives.

There is a genius buried in a little northern district, and this is the way in which he describes a local institution (a part only being given)A song I am going to sing to you, it will not take me long—about Town Board and the folks what jog along. Of members, there are five in all. But one's as black as ink, and neither use nor ornament, for he’ll only nod and wink. Observer says he’s such a man they never bad before, for at every meeting that is held he's sleeping on the floor, and when the time for voting comes, our member J. H. T he understands the Humpie’s wink. Tenakawe—vote with me. They have a meeting now and then, it’s true, without a doubt, and put the eudden death upon the hawk that flies about. They are all J.Ps. upon the Board, it makes the comet crack, excepting poor old Humpv Dick with his cheat upon bis back. They never do their work until the sun's behind the hill; but Kelly says it will be all right when the sun shines at the mill. They dig big holes about the streets and fill them up again, and the people all around about they dread to see the rain.