REMINISCENCES OF A PATRIOT’S SPEECH.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 23, 5 December 1861, Page 3

REMINISCENCES OF A PATRIOT’S SPEECH.

By Goliaii Bunkum. Here I am again. Gentlemen. I’m not prepared with a set speech, hut I will say a few words. I’m a tried man. You all know me. I’m A 1 and no mistake ; there’s no small beer about me, and I’m the man for Galway. I’ve been to Auckland, which is a large place, and the streets there are paved with gold. I was an important man in Auckland, and was a good deal sought after. People seemed very fond of me, and took notes of my observations. I made long speeches in Auckland, which were attentively listened to, and which produced aa immense sensation. I never spoke about anything I

didn’t understand, for I understand everything. I’nx not fully appreciated—l should he made Governor; as it is I hope to he Superintendent, and if the Council dues its duty I shall he. People in Auckland looked at me a great deal; they seemed struck with my personal appearance. Folks thought I was the founder of a new and romantic creed. I’ve more sense. Romantic creeds are overdone, and Treasurship’s pay better. The Times says paid officials should not sit in Council. The Times knows nothing about it; how should the Times know ? I was asked in Auckland if clever men were so plentiful in Napier that suitable people could be found to sit in Council who had no Official salaries ? What a question ! Now, gentlemen, I need not tell you that there’s only one clever man in Napier, and that's me, and >vhen I’m away I really wonder how you can get on. I frequented the Mechanics’ Institution in Auckland, and a file of the Herald is kept there. At noon, the reading room was filled with workmen, who came to read the Hawke's Bay Herald. I wondered how so many could manage to read it at a time. The workmen in Auckland are wonderful men, —they never have anything to eat, but live on the Herald. The Librarian or Curator told me that nothing would do for them hut the Herald, and the reason it was so nourishing was that my speeches in this Council were tolerably accurately reported therein, and my writings in its open column both numerous and lengthy. Now, gentlemen, the Herald turns upon me, and says he doesn’t like long speeches. Herald! thy name is Inyrathu.de ! I have made thee what thou art, my speeches and my writings have established thy celebrity, and this is thy return ! 0 tempera ! 0 mores ! Sic transit gloria vntndi! Quid nunc, 8,-c., sc., fyc. I won’t vote for retrenchment, for none is needed. The officials are neither too numerous nor too well paid. T6OO is not too much for the Superintendent, and when you get a clever man like me it won’t be enough. So long as laborers get 65., 8.9., and 10s. per day, and carpenters 10s., 125., and IGs., you can't expect to get superior men like me for less than is now paid. I’m now overworked, and must have a clerk, it will only be .€l5O or <£2oo a- year more, and that’s not much. In conclusion, gentlemen, you know you can’t do without me. I thank you for your patience in listening to me, and if I go into Council I’ll spend all the money I can for you.