MAN IN COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 611, 27 December 1871, Page 2

MAN IN COUNCIL.

By Geoffrey Softsawdbb, Esq,

The Council was occupied last on Thursday upon the subject of burying the dead. Interesting and lively topic ! The question was whether the honorables would give £500 to purchase the site of a new cemetary. There was a display of classic learning in the arguments that cannot fail to enhance the reputation of our local senate. Lord John Lundon was facetious. He exhibited a laudable anxiety that the title to the ground should have no flaw because it would be in the " last degree," unpleasant for a man to be disturbed in the qniet possession of his last estate. It appears there are to be a number of little burial grounds about the city. Singularly enough it was a reason given that '• the poor man would never be able to reach the pleasant fields" of mortuary cypress. Mr Sheehan suggested the alternative in the event of the refusal of the Council of incremation. It would be interesting to, try the experiment upon the wretched incendiary who has been made such a fiaxao&g handle of the musio hall.. When will the talkative "meafoer be quietly inurned Think .of Mr Cadman being reduced to ashes. Who will ever put out tho pipe 6f"the taller of the honorable members for tho B«y ? They must jba. M^., *al 11 *> 1 It. ing in the north, or they would never have returned Messrs MeLeod and Carleton. It is to be hoped that the electors begin to see the error of their way, and they will be wiser in their late conviction of political infidelity. A good example so well set deserves to be followed upon occasions. But the grave ! There seems to bo a difficulty even in getting that without a mortgage. Let but the smallest form of humanity have but an hour from dust and it will cost him £5 to get him back again. Who would not be put into that mortuary coach-house in Westminster, placed on a mourning truck and whisked out to the Surrey hills for " one twelve six," rather than undergo the hulky coaching up Queen street, down Hobson street, round Symonds street, and—home ? Why not get up a company I to letdown the poor remains of men-and | women to the peace of their last investment? They make it pay in London The roses bloom in Kensall Green, But the Council voted the £500 to bury Auckland. Mr. Tonks improved the occasion by informing the Council that it was hard enough to die, but harder to bury oneself. Will the Council be good enough to vote something for its monui ment ? Si monumentum quceris. Query.

There is absolutely no end to the education question. What a wonderful amount of comprehension a legislator obtains when he speaks on education. The only objection I have to the bill, quoth Ignoramus Jargon, is that it is not comprehensive enough. And next comes the Ritualist of all denominations, who would rather see a man go to " Old Harry •' than that he should ask God to be merciful to him in heretical company. So it comes to pass that men from praying over much take refuge in the only thing practical and won't pray in company. Secular education—social negation. If men are so much ashamed and afraid of each other on their knees who will hereafter be allowed to stand uprighi

Artesian wells and Mr Buckland. —Extremes meet. Cold water and hot coffee— The member for Raglan will prove himself the most beneficial as well as the greatest of bores. We forgive him his terrible commentaries upon " all history "f —his favorite phrase. Great Duke o Platitude in the right for once. Spring water and no gravel in it were cure for low spirits any day in the year. So let the fountains open and the coffee-pot " dry up."

There is a rumour afloat in the galleries that the Executive will live another year. They have passed the crisis Of their official lives. Mr Hurst has not yet notified when Ministers will hold their annual dinner at New Greenwich. There has been great fishing for political tittlebats. We hear that Captain Freer will be the new Inspector of Education. He is a man of undoubted talent; of singular refinement, and unapproachable scholarship. "Latest—The Council exploded this (Friday) morning at 2 o'clock. The Superintendent is to come down in the afternoon to make the next ". dying speech and confession." The police are ail right,— blue cloth, white gloves, and" Wellington" boots. The Harbor Board are to receive £25,000, and Mr Swanson has been constituted a deputation to ask Captain Daldy 'if he won't take it in coppers. There has

, been great talk of " lavine-out" «,« -d I rack Green. Mr BoJES m SoSH ■ the Superintendent 'has She d°£ Governor s assent, it's not dead yet S beautifully classic design entered *_». mmd of one of the members. It is t , have the statue of the most distinenish^ j citizen, Mr Macready, in Highland co, tume at right angle with George Staines and Captain Freer opposite Star S Mr Mayor would ornament they centrl' radiating with civic modesty. GoW kJJ readers. The Superintendent UAm rogued the Council. Like Oithelb'a Softsawder's occupation's gone The above has been held over for ward of space.