THE SUNDOWNER'S SWAG.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 145, 7 December 1877, Page 2

THE SUNDOWNER'S SWAG.

" Bounce and Bluster ! Bluster and

Bounce !" "Electioneering Claptrap."

How wonderfully different " greatness achieved" acts on some temperaments to what it does on others. ..The man who has true nobility of mind, when placed in an honorable position, is. not only courteous to those who aided in. his exaltation, but he is also affable to all ; with judicious words he conciliates those who were ophim, and endeavours to obtain, their respect for himself. On the other hand, the man of little mind, whether he " achieves greatness or has greatness thrust upon him," is still petty in his words, thoughts, and actions ; he cannot be courteous, for he does noi, know how, and his attempts at familiarity are lugubriously disgusting to a sensitive mind ; he cannot be conciliatory, for his attempts in that way are bound to be miserable failures, wanting, as he does in so many ways, the necessary qualifications to make himself respected, and to command that from others which his good manners and suave disposition gives to them. What has set me prosing in this strain ? I will tell you —it is the reported first public utterances, in his official capacity, of the future Mayor of Akaroa. I was sorry to read that speech. It shows bad for a beginning; it is narrow-minded and petty; it is the reverse of conciliatory, for it is personal ; the personality was uncalled for and in bad taste ; its tendency is to widen a breach instead of stopping one ; besides, a victor should always make it his first business to treat the vanquished with consideration. No man likes defeat, but, when defeated, it is not only hurtful, but cowardly, to jeer over his prostrate form. Whoever the " gentleman walking away "was, I suppose he had a perfect right to " use his influence " if he thought fit. 1 apprehend he was a burgess, and if so, he did no more, if as much, as other burgesses did. Anyway, the future Mayor seems to have him, and not the business of the borough, on the brain. Faugh! This thing annoys me.

" But man, proud man, Drest in a little brief authority, Most ignorant of what he's most assured— His glassy essence—like an angry ape, Plays such fantastic tricks before high Heaven, As make the angels weep." ,

What a small stage is this of Akaroa for a man of expansive mind, go-ahead ideas, and who is up-to-the-age in knowing what is going on elsewhere! How " cribbed, cabin'd, andcbnfin'd" the sphere of such a man's usefulness is when his location is in your picturesque borough. A man such as I describe is " a triton among minnows," his worth is not known except to himself, he is not appreciated, and the chances are he may fume his great spirit and mighty intellect away in endeavouring to educate and elevate his plodding felloes up to his inaccessible standard. No mistake about it, I thought the foregoing and a lot more when I read in the Mail of. Councillor Sunckell having drawn " the attention of the Borough Council to the action of the General Government in resolving to take away the Canterbury Land Fund." What a stupend6us subject! What a discovery of robbery and jobbery ! What a crushing knock-downer for the " village Sachems ! " Mustn't the " sapient fathers " have looked aghast when the astute councillor "drew their attention," and, oh de profundiß-~zsk no impertinent questions, Councillor Waeckerle—what a reversion of feeling must have been experienced when the Mayor that "the Council could not do anything in the matter."- Vultus est index animi— that is right, isn't it, Dr. Harlock'?—as we said in Caius, which is in plain English—" theface is the index of the mind." What a blank appearance* that ruling must have produced upon the face of the oratorical councillor.. However, there was a " silver lining to the cloud." Councillor Wagstaff came to the rescue with a suggestion " that

a public meeting should be called to ventilate the subject." Let ua have that that meeting, Councillor Sunckell! I think if you and I "ventilate" we can make that truculent Government shudder in. their boots. Akaroa, and we, are not to'he sneezed at. We shall succeed. Ah Tertullian has it— " Certum est, quia impossibile est." "I believe it, because it is impossible*." On more than one occasion I have written of a lady friend of mine who is great at torturing and transposing everyday expressions, and who does it serenely unconscious of the fact that she is gnilly of grievous solecism. In connection with this subject, I had a little anecdote recently..' related to me that, I think, deserves chronicling. It is almost superfluous for me to state that in the necessary labour entailed by making a home in the bush ; every member of a household has to do his or her part; very often the labour doneby the females of the family is of that nature thnt, under any other eircumstancos, they would not be expected or even allowed to take part in. The scene is a husband engaged logging, who, finding one of the bush monsters too cumbersome for his strength, summonses his wife to his assistance; the lady arrives, catches hold of the log, as does the husband, and drops it. The sudden drop and added weight puts the husband into a state of perspiration and lifting language. Looking around at his great deal better half he ejaculated—" What the beatitudes.did you do that for ? " The lady, placing her arms a-kimbo, considered a short time, when she said—"lt strikes me yoju want Mr Manson here." " Manson," said the irate head of the household, through whose veins a thrill of jealousy began to tingle* " Manson," who the — will you love me then as now—is he ?"' '• Why,'', was the response pityingly given, " don't you know Manson was the strong man." '■' Oh ! Ah! Yes! Right you are," said paterfamilias, on whom it had just dawned that "Samson" was the party intended, and whose jealousy was at once allayed by the opportune thought. The logging was finished without " Manson." i' " And this the burthen of his song . ! For ever used to be :— I care for nobody, no, not I, If no one cares for me. " - I did think that long ere this those road diversion affairs would have " had their goose cooked," that the German.Bay Hill sinuosity would be open for public - traffic, and the Robinson's Bay Horse-shoe Gully diversion almost completed Whoever may be the sinner over the German Bay business, I do not know, "but this I know, and know right well," Mr St. John , is the sufferer. I consider that that gentleman has been worse than badly treated, and I also consider that " supposing I was he,"' a disturbance would occur in which I would prominently figure ; some body corporate, or incorporate, would be classically invited on the figurative "lovely sod," then and there to give an account of himself or themselves. That Robinson's Bay diversion is another j> affair; at present no one is particularly directly hurt, although someone may be at ' any moment. I firmly believe that few, if any, persons are driven past that place. withdmAexperiencing an inward shudder,' and thanking their lucky ? stars that they have again safely passed the Very sad, my masters, but very true I', Now, Frederick Walter, here is an opportunity for you to distinguish yourself, and to cheaply earn the gratitude of fellows. ■. Give your mind and influence toward getting these diversions done and done with. Do this, like a convivial'brick, and I will —— Yes, Miss, a very little water with mine. ■ ~ " " Ah, gentle dames ! it gars me greet, To think how monie counsels sweet. How monie lengthened sage advices, The husband frae the wife despises." Adieu.