The Ruling Passion.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 32, 18 August 1883, Page 3

The Ruling Passion.

We learn that the cake of retorted gold obtained from the crushing of stone from the Golden Crown was, on Wednesday last, placed on the table of the Legislative Council at the commencement of its sitting. As a precautionary measure it was placed under a strong glass shade. It:eicited the most lively interest in the minds of the venerable aad honorable members, and raised their feelings of cupiditKnot a little. The teachings of religion do not appear to hare quelled these feelinjjs of coretousness for we are told that after prayers had been read the Hon. M r Chamberlain rose — direct almost from his knees— to ask the speaker if the gold oa the table of the Council had not become the property of the Council, from the- mere fact that everything placed on that table became the property of the Council. A responsive chord was struck in the bosom of the honorable aud gallant Sir G-. S. Whitmore, who said he thought the gold might be devoted to the benefit of hon. members, as a kind of solatium in view of the probability of the honoraria of the hon. gentlemen being abolished. The feelings of mingled hope and fear (hat agitated the bosom of the speaker prevented him at the moment giving a ruling on the subject. Advantage was taken of the pause by a messenger, who was placed there to watch the gold, to snatch it hastily up and remove it from the view of hon. members, thus taking away what had proved a sore temptation. We sympathize with the shareholders of the Golden Crown who so nearly loßt what is the first, and may be the last, lot of gold they will have the pleasure of gazing upon, but we have no sympathy with the directors, who from a childish vanity, were tempted to risk the property of the company by placing it in such an exposed and dangerous position. We regret also that prayer has so little effect on the minds of members of the Upper House, and the whole colony should be deeply grateful to that prudent and courageous mun who saved, the property of his employers and the country everlasting disgrace.