"MORE MUDDLING."

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 30 January 1901, Page 2

"MORE MUDDLING."

Oub unfortunate contemporary floundering still deeper in the mire of ignorance this morning, declares that there is but one point in our contention—he dare not touch the others—and that is the clause of the Act we quoted. But, with triumphant note, he cries " It is purely an optional clause, not at all mandatory. The word ' may ' is used instead of ' shall.' " Alas for

ignorance. In most Acts the word I " may " is same as " shall " and the Council's resolution put all doubt on one =-ide. Besides the Act gives no power to the Town Clerk to act on behalf of the Mayor. " It," adds our contemporary, " would have been far more creditable to himself and to his fellow-councillors who voted with him, if old-established usage was adhered to, by allowing the Town Clerk to perform a duty that properly came I within the functions of his office." Here, again, our contemporary is in error. On the only other occasion in which a royal proclamation was read at Greymouth, it was read by Mr Petrie who was then Mayor, and was read, as was also the case the other day, in all other Boroughs by the Mayors. Here, evidently, endeth argument, for our Boundary Street friend proceeds to plunge deep in American slandy and Billingsgate tongue, and murky becomes the air. We are told of "'hugger-muggering," of a " bust,' of " full war paint," and "he had 'em all on." Of course, such sentences are interesting as evidence of our contemporary's elegant education and command of classical language, and also, that, like the cuttle fish, he endeavours to cover an ignominious retreat in '• clouds of murky water." But why proceed ? No need to kick a dead dog.