MUNICIPAL PLEASANTRIES.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 195, 31 May 1878, Page 2

MUNICIPAL PLEASANTRIES.

-,- ♦ To the Editor of the Akaroa Mail. Sir,—lt used to be said of old— "non ! cuique contigit adire Corinthum ;" in these days, and among ourselves, I may say that it is not everybody's luck to be present at the sittings of our Borough Council. This is to be regretted, as there is much to be learnt at these civic sessions—such as the relative values of various kinds of "general deportment" and "manners," the practical exercise of " order" and "discipline" from a Councillor's view, smartness in "repartee," colloquial "amenities," the utter absurdity of an ancient adage about "speech" being "silvern" and " silence golden," the complete fallacy of " a soft answer turning away wrath," besides the dispelling of many cherished illusions concerning the "nobility of man" and "brotherly love," not to mention the vivid manner in which the listener is plainly shown that hitherto he has only heard a section of his native language ; all this and more is to be learnt at tbese meetings. Happy are tbey who can find time to attend them—that is, in an unofficial capacity. The proceedings of the Council on Wednesday evening last will by this time be generally known among those interested, and, for the honor of Akaroa, I shall not go into the particulars; but, Sir, the present dead lock in Borough

affairs threatens such' serious consequences, pecuniary and otherwise, to the burgesses —party warfare in the Council has reached so injurious a height, and attained such an unenviable and disgraceful public notoriety, that it can only be likened to a Victorian Assembly, that I reiterate my former opinion—that the burgesses should convene a public meeting for the purpose of expressing their sentiments with regard to what their representatives are doing. I say it is their duty to do this, and call upon onr principal t-jtizeps to take the initiative, and that at once. If the public will not rouse out of their apathy, and decide on the merits (?) of those scandalous proceedings in this way, then, as the Mayor is in the minority, let him resign and put up for re election, thiiß leaving it to the ratepayers to show their approval, or not, of his and the Opposition's action. Should his Worship he re-elected, those who have thus strenuously opposed him will be clearly shown that, their conduct has been disapproved of, and, it is needless for mo to add, should therefore'- resign their office. If the contrary is the case, then, under the new Mayor, let us hope a more satisfactory * state- Cof things will result. Yours, &c, BURGESS.