PROVINCIAL POLITICS IN OTAGO.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1521, 19 June 1873, Page 2

PROVINCIAL POLITICS IN OTAGO.

The latest papers from Otago teem with reports of election speeches, the majority of which form exceedingly dry reading, but in a few instances the speakers, if not remarkably witty, were a little amusing. Here are examples ;— Mr Cutten, after alluding to various matters dealt with in his addresses previously delivered, mentioned that Mr Fish, in alluding to Mr Reid's ■ rejected Executive, had remarked that "Mr Green was another member of the proposed Executive,. He had not a word to say against that gentleman. He respected him very much. He was an excellent farmer— (laughter)— but he was not a man to be entrusted with the Public Works Department of the 3?rovinoe, Every man should stick to his own avocation, and Mr Green's was that of a farmer. —(Laughter.)'' Mr Fish, continued Mr Cutten, was a young member, and the member for Blueskin was "Green."-— (Hear, hear, and laughter.) They were both aspirants for office, and, as far as they went, they were both on a par— (renewed laughter) — though he (Mr Cutten) thought that Mr Green had otherwise the best of the position. Regulus, the Roman General, cultivated lm farm with his own hands, and requested to be recalled from the command of the Roman army in Afriga because his farm was going tb decay, and his wife and family were suffering from his absence. Cinciunatus, when wanted to command the Roman army, was found working at his plough. He (Mr Cutten) had never heard of any Roman, or other hero, when wanted for the service of the State, being caught paperhanging, nor was he till lately aware, as a matter of education, that paperjianging was preliminary to

politics. No doubt that that useful accomplishment necessitated a man looking and reaching upward, which might account for the aspiring disposition of their fellowtownsman. (Applause.) He (Mr Cutten) must admit that painting might be a prelude to oratory, as it enabled a man to put what color on a subject he pleased — (laughter)— and when he had placed his foot on the lowest round of the ladder, he naturally endeavored to reach the top. Mr Fish had exemplified this during the sitting of the Council by painting Mr Tolmie as a blue — very blue — lion, and Mr Reid as a black griffin. (Oh, and laughter.) He had also designated Mr J. C. Brown as a rat, and desired to act the part of Hamlet, exclaiming — A rat, a rat ; dead for a ducat.

Now he (Mr Cutten) thought that if Mr Brown was a rat, he was a decoy rat, but he would rather be disposed to create a new office, and appoint Mr Brown " Government B>at Catcher," as he had succeeded in catching Messrs Bathgate, Bastings, and Fish. (Applause, and laughter.) If, however, the rats were to be served as Mr Fish suggested, he (Mr Cutten) was afraid they would "nose them on the stairs leading to the lobby." (Laughter.) Mr Fish had stated that he (Mr Cutten) had received some LBOOO of public money. He did not know how the figures were arrived at, but if that was the estimate of his services, he was like poor Bathgate, the Province owed him LI6OO at least. (Renewed laughter.) Referring to the crisis, Mr Cutten said that as Mr Fish had become the.Shakesperian jester, he might follow in the same strain — All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players, They have their exits and their entrances ; And one man in his time "plays many parts." He thought this was true of his Honor the Superintendent. He was now playing the part of Cromwell, dismissing the long (1 short) Parliament, and had been assumed to be saying "That Bobby Stout, that Bobby Stout ; Lord keep me from that Bobby Stout, and take away that bauble." (Great laughter.) His Honor had previously played the role of Charles I. He had levied a little ship money'illegally. He had also been confined in Carisbrook, but the historical character of the performance was not complete. Things, in fact, were upside down in this country ; he did not lose his head — he only lost his seat. (Applause.) _____________