THE MAN IN COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 597, 8 December 1871, Page 2

THE MAN IN COUNCIL.

[by geoffrry softsawber, ESQ.] ! A. new member was introduced: to the Speaker, yesterday. When he appeared** at "the door of. the chamber there was j quite a little excitement, and " new mem- "j ber," "new member," was audible iti^He j reporters' gallery. Mr. Hurst is political ! godfather to the rising generation, of | Provincial Politicians. He conduced?an j interesting young man with a. b^eaxd* to ! the foot of the Speaker's throne. * Tnere I a ceremony took place at which I do not remember to have been present before in this province. The Speaker:, and the | new member shook hands, and then they - held their heads close together j for the space of about a second. I j know how tho Speaker of a Maori j Parliament, and a new member, would j act on these interesting occasions. I have j seen some quadrupeds go up to each j other and hold their heads in this way. j I suppose the Speaker was lecturing the young man on the importance of keeping I order, if he could not keep anything else. | But they appeared to be perfect strangers. I think I, saw the same two gentlemen over '* ndbblers" together in another I place, "and even in the presence of I another Speaker. Yesterday they j seemed as if they never met. How ' wonderfully often politicians are ■*** born , over again." If it were not so the j Speaker must surely have said, " Ah, I Far, my boy, how d'ye do. I'm deuced ! glad to see you; take your seat, old fellow, we'll have one by-aud-bye." His Worship the Mayor thought to do a delightful " stroke" last evening. He is one of the most liberal men in the i province. He has done .wonders for the , people. He has sent for a cargo of domestics, and bejiold but One. 1 hope she won't turn out to boa married woman, and if she marries she won't marry an " infant." But the Mayor has a decidedly patriotic habit of attacking the . Treasury when the money is all gone. '\ You see, sir, „50U0 will be spent most profitably to the good of the community." "But, say the Executive, " my good gentlemaD, you have spent your £6000." "But my constituents want flowers; their wives are foud of flowers, and tlie ' one woman' policy ot the Government is despicable. My ancestors were all liiisbandmen ; they •**ere foud of agriculture, and the hon. member opposite (Mr. Hurst) professes tp be a friend of the country, and encourage country produce—asparagus, potatoes, broad beans. Tlie Provincial Treasurer told His Worship that he had no objection to the prop >sal, but the Government had already placed an immense sum on the estimates for tlie encouragement and growth of millet. II is Worship said he was no-peas'd. Vlotion was carried, and it was so weighty a matter that even Mr. Macready could not throw it out. fto David smote Goliath. The " rights of women" were fully discussed last evening on the Licensing Bill. Perhaps it should lie put tlie other way, the '' Licensing Bill" was considered in committee upon the rights of women. We did not observe those •♦Watchers on tlie liiresuold," which are wont to crowd the " Strangers' "Gallery when tho permissive clauses, were uuder dis-cus-ion last year. Dr. Nicholson, tlie medical attendant, was in his place, but Mr. CreightO-i the political midwife ot' the Permissive Bill, was not there. He was-said to be at the r Thame,. ; Mr, L'adman, Mr. Freer, and Mr. Mitchell were the Philistines of the old dispensation of "gui and bitters." ; The cries ot this legislative parturition were dreadful. Tue operation -upon tlie old - Licencing vet was worse tlian C„sarean. It was at one time suggested that Polly Plum should be called to the bar to recite the " whole duty of man." One hon. gentleman said that admirable woman was a cap maker, and had several head dresses to jfit husbands that stopped out late o uights. .Many suggested that it would oe | i&tuege-jgary information to: give their "' dear partners of greatness" a knowledge of the exact hour - when the Council " broke up." They would not let even their !wivefe kuOw the sacrifices they made upon the altar of their country. To some the information'inight be superfluous, but to a few gratuitous pain would be given, litis 'discussion.rcomprised.-ia multiplicity and great variety of topics. To do the publicans but justice, they-appear to be more moderate shan their advocate. _fierewere '■' clauses ' to 'secure the ease and convenience for travellers. One! or two hon. members thought that the " leave - alone" policy would be the be,s,t,iu this.case, as in ; all .othprs.,- Oue member' said that never "was the guest so well provided as, whemthe siguboard hung Over the way with the motto, " Good accommodation lor man and; bectsi'-' ■ JN'ow'every clause Of every 'Act, of Parliament begius and ends with] provided, and after all nothing is provided.; , The most rational piece of entertain-; ment at which we have been present fori 1 some.time, wa,s the " hot coffee motion"'' I of Mr. Auckland. It brought out the three magnifcicoes of the Council, Messrs] Vlaeready, Freer, and the mover of course. : Cold water assuredly: never went to the whole composition ol such a triplicate of the human form divine. -The i very name. Macready, suggests the red hand and battle-axe. '! he amiable makeup of the captain suggests P. 8., which, must stand for " poor beggar," a term >f endearment in the mouths of publicans. Both hon. members admitted that they.did not care " anything" about tea aud coffee, these Beveridges did not agree with them. An hon. member thought the motion should he enlarged, so as to provide some refreslittients that would be acceptable jtG those great men. With this object it was; suggested; that soda, water, ginger pop, sweet biscuits, peppermint lozenges, and sugar sticks should be provided.. Mr. Macready- said he could not see' why the members could notmake Bellamy'^ ( i ; n-to,,a ..club,., as they., did, .at-.the '" big house at"''the top 6P 'Priucesstreet." They would not then have to pay a license. Several honorable gentlej men thought the magistrates miglit make it^." too hot" for them if they did. Li wiis a£r_ed that tea and coffee should be always ready, and "meals at.all hours.'; .Vlr. Mackay said it was all a storm in a tea-pot. j

There was an educational debate, as usual, on the military reserve, 13ar(rack Hill. Mr. Euckland wants a University. He .purposes endowing if;

with a yearly .sum for. a prize copy of tfiwtf-onius, the'edition to be selected by Mr. Carletou. Mr. Swanson protested against peripatetic universities. Mr. Philips put in a word for " fee schools. 'Dr.""]^icl|olson suggested a medical college "with "medical classes annexed, for experiments on mundie, , pyrites, and auriferous quartz. " On the proposal of a sum for the horticultural show, Mr. Boylan supported the motion, considering that'he was awfully fond of cabbage. The report of the Horticultural Society was distributed among honorables, and there was a very general surprise that there were "no prizes for that delicious vegetable a " maly potatoe." The Council adjourned at midnight, so that Mephistopliiles passed out unobserved* _«_«»_«_——■