postulate that they didn't kill a pig every day!

Pay day (it was a Saturday) came again. The Pick and Shovel orgie was repeated, in which, owing to the active steps taken by Dan McPhelan, aided and abetted by Joe, and notwithstanding their good resolutions, Bill and Jim played their parts. They came to, however, early on the Monday morning, and feeling it chilly in their temporary quarters under the verandah of the inn, started off, not over steadily, for their bunks at Dan's.

What was their surprise to find the place deserted. That the boarders were not there was nothing out of the way. The Pick and Shovel would account for them. But where was Dan, and why was his bedroom all in confusion, things all about the floor; and where were Mrs. Dan's clothing and the saddles and all the rest of the belongings that they had seen in the place over and over again?

Daylight brought the explanation of the mystery.

Dan had levanted, leaving all his men as well as his butcher and baker etc., unpaid.

The shock of the surprise sobered Joe for the better part of half-an-hour!

The creditors consulted as to what should be done. The aid of the police was invoked, but the sergeant in charge of the district said he could do nothing as there was a civil remedy.

Then the mob of angry navvies interviewed the Obadiahs. They (the Obadiahs) were sorry, exceedingly sorry, indeed! To hear the old Obadiah pronounce that "indeed" was alone worth something in liquidation of the debt. Truly, yes, they regretted the thing more than could be supposed. Whoever would have dreamt of such a thing?

"Will you pay us ?" roared the men. "What, my good lads, after paying McPhelan? How could you expect such a thing?"

"Because you're the bos," says Jim, "and because as for me and my mate you recommended us to go to McPhelan."

"Really now" said the younger Obadiab, deprecatingly.

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Really now, be d-d," remarks the Plugger, "you and your cousin there are a pair of blank blanked skunks and for two pins I'd knock you both into a mush. There!"

And so the interview terminated.

When enquiries are made in Parliament about the Truck system on the railway works, its existence is denied by ministers, whose information on the subject is de rived mainly from the reports of persons interested directly or indirectly in its working. Hundreds of hard-working men have been served as the two heroes of our sketch are represented to have been served. The devil's chain of adventurer contractor, sub-contractor, government inspector playing into contractor's hand, publican, storekeeper, and shanty keeper does exist despite ministerial denials, and will exist until legislation provides under stringent penalties for the liability of contractors for the payment of all work and labour done under their contracts, and for the regular weekly payment of all labourers employed on the public works of the colony.

ASMODEUS.

N. B. In subsequent numbers, “The Bogus Land Agent," Sixty per Shent," etc., will appear under the heading "TRAPS!"

ECONOMICAL COOKERY.

(From the Middle Class Cookery Book).

THE HOUSEWIVES' DISH OF TRIPE.— Boil in water two pounds of tripe until done, afterwards cut them in oblong pieces; take two large onions cut in quarters, put them in a saucepan with two ounces of butter; when half done put the tripe in, seasoned with salt, pepper, and a little vinegar, and a teacupiul of broth, let simmer half an hour; when ready to serve, add a dessertspoonful of French or English mustard.

SAVOURY OX TAIL.-When making of tail broth as you do beef soup, the tail may be dressed as follows:-When cold, cut it in pieces, prepare a marinade thus: Mix a small quantity of oil with salt, pepper, parsley, spring onions, and two eschalots, all chopped fine, and, if acceptable, a twinge of garlic scraped; put the tail in this, stirring it round, so as to let all the above ingredients adhere to it, then roll each piece in bread crumbs and broil them, and if any of the marinade remains, put it over as it broils.

TOWN GOSSIP.

THE superannuation programme submitted to the meeting of the Civil Servants last week, although loudly applauded at the time, does not appear to have given unmixed satisfaction. It appears, on the face of it, to be somewhat one-sided and, from the actuarial standpoint, far too insufficiently worked out in detail. No measure of Civil Service Super annuation will find support from the general public unless it is essentially just in its provisions; that we are assured of; but there is a question that naturally presents itself as a preliminary to even taking the measure into consideration at all, and it is this: Is the pay of the Government servant so out of proportion to the work performed by him that a superannuation fund should be a necessity, or in any way compulsory, especially when one reflects that he has as good opportunities of making provision for his own future as the non-civil servant? After all, is not the real want of the Civil Service an Act classifying the grades, providing for promotion, and enforcing retirement after a certain number of years' service?

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Still on the same string! uncharitable people will have it that the amount of work demanded of a Civil servant is not more than that required from a clerk employed by a private firm, and that the general scale of remuneration to the public is by no means out of proportion to that awarded to private employès. This, however, may be a question open to debate. No one can doubt for a moment that the servants of the Crown have a far“ rosier" time of it than their friends in the counting house. What would the well

known "block" be without the daily treat vouchsafed to the girls by the dandies of the service? They toil,

of course, and spin (ofttimes very questionable yarns, or spare halfcrowns) but Holle, cut he never so cunningly, cannot improve on them! Let those who doubt this assertion take any portion of George and Pitt streets from the junction with Market and Bridge streets at any time between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and he will see them in troops refreshing exhausted nature by a stroll for fresh air, or reinvigorating a weakening system at a fashionable bar, more majorum. We don't say there's anything wrong in all this; but is there not just a soupcon of bunkum about their lament as to over-work? (we except the professional class of course). On the other hand, office work from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. may be far more harassing than is generally supposed, and the worry and depression of spirits it causes may necessitate some indulgences not accorded to other employes, and when a civil servant has for years trod uncomplainingly the beaten official track, and become unfit through the infirmities of age or the superabundance of fat for active work, it is very natural that he should look to a generous public to place him in a snug position on the shelf of retirement.

SOME choice specimens of the taste and ingenuity which the Japanese exhibit in the form and design of ware for dinner, tea, and dessert services are on view at the establishment of Messrs. Lassetter and Co., in George-street. Some of these are real works of art, both with regard to shape and colouring, and are well worth inspection by the

curious. They are manufactured at the works of the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company, who have for a number of years catered for the public taste by introducing novelties in China and Japan ware ornamented in the style peculiar to those countries. Dinner and tea services of the ordinary patterns will find little favor with the wealthy if such elaborate productions make their way into the market at reasonable rates.

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CHATTING With an old friend a day or two since on days gone by, reference was made to the eccentricities of one of our gold-field commissioners twenty years back. One little reminiscence brought to the surface is really worth recording. We needn't say to whom we refer, or where the occurrence happened. A digger visited the commissioner's camp for the purpose of obtaining a summons. Well, the information was drawn ont, and the deponent duly signed it. "Is this your signature?" asked the G.F.C.

"It

is," was the reply. "And the contents are true and correct, so help you God? Kiss the book!" But no Bible was available! "Confound it!" exclaimed the official; "where the devil have they shifted my Bible to?" But it was no use-1 -the book couldn't be found. Suddenly a happy thought appeared to strike the worthy magistrate. "Here, stay, my good fellow; have you got such a thing as a Bible at your tent?" "I have sir," was the answer. "Then kiss it when you get home, as I can't find mine!"

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SHADE of Gustave Dorè! where art thou? Could'st thou but look down upon the high honors vouch

safed thee by the Sydney Town and Country Journal, thou would'st bless the happy day that called it into existence. Our first thought, on looking at what was termed "Wonderful Pictorial Representation of the Ascension," recalled a certain hackneyed reference to Fools and Angels. Our second was one of virtuous indignation (i.e., the righteous wrath of the virtuoso) at the imbecile impertinence of the Wonderful Pictorial. What on earth hast thou done, poor Dore? What expiation is it thou art called upon to suffer, that such a wretched forgery of thy genius should be set before men's eyes? Says the footnote to the W. Pictorial: "There have been many pictures of the Ascension of Christ, but who ever succeeded so well in presenting to the eye at once the appearance of that ethereal nature, &c." The presentation, to our eye, was simply that of a vile burlesque upon one of the noblest pictures the world has ever gazed upon-a shoddy imitation evoking feelings of anger. Let the T. and C. Journal confine its artistic faculties to Model Public Schools, Gatling Guns, or even coarse likenesses of deceased bishops; but, in Heaven's name, we implore them to let Dorè and the Ascension be!

Is it intended to erect a statue to Creswick, to give him a snuff-box, or to present him with a reprint of Davie Buchanan's extra-honied encomiums bound in appropriate calfskin? We own to an opinion that Creswick is a painstaking, all-round actor, in some parts, indeed, admirable; but cannot accept the dicta of the Herald, the News, and the Entr' Actes, that he combines all the graces

of the Garricks, Listons, Keans, Macreadys, and Phelps, of the past and present. How is it Australian pressmen are so exceeding lavish of praise for "furriners," and have scarce a word to spare for the several excellent Australian stock actors, who, because they are in their own country are neither allowed to be or to make profits.

WE note that a safety (?) railway bridge is in course of erection at Newtown. Should there be, as is not unlikely, a succession of limb accidents from the hurried use of this bridge, we would suggest to the Railway department the advisability of constructing subterraneous passages at all suitable spots. Should these fail, balloons might be tried; and if they failed, we would just hint that the Yankee principle of action, based on Stephenson's "awk'ard for the coo" notion, might perhaps after all be safest and most economical.

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Australia may well be proud of the cricketing prowess of her sons. We only hope their success will teach them to be self-reliant in other things than sport, and to add to Free Trade principles the crowning glory of a belief that the home made article ceteris paribus is the best one-that Australian wine, Australian cloth, Australian boots, Australian paper, like Australian cricketing and sculling require no puffing, but are on their merits every whit as good as articles palmed off under London or Paris labels, or Marylebone or Putney traditions.

Should the match between Trickett and Higgins come off, the former, notwithstanding the recent accident

to his finger, is likely to show the Thames-man the way. The Champion is in good form, his wound is healthily healing, and though he does not underrate his challenger (for Ned is as modest a fellow as ever feathered an oar), yet he is quite confident if terms are arranged of not disgracing his native land.

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We sincerely trust that the Colonial Secretary will see his way to give the Agricultural Society men a good snubbing when they go to him next time in re a Sydney International Exhibition for 1879. Even if the Government backed the idea with financial aid to the tune of thousands the thing would be bound to result in a fiasco under the meddling management of a Society that is not up to the work of successfully carrying out an ordinary metropolitan show. If the fussy old gentlemen who think they ought of right to be on every Commission would be content with some honorary title, just to quieten them and keep them from meddling with matters beyond their senile faculties, we would suggest to the Government the propriety of conferring it upon them-say for instance, create them G. C. M. M's., General Colonial Meddlers and Muddlers, with the right on public occasions of assuming the badge of the great Panjandrum-to wit, a little round button on their tops.