A VISIT TO THE LOCAL SENATE IN SEDDON STREET.

Kumara Times, Issue 562, 16 July 1878, Page 2

A VISIT TO THE LOCAL SENATE IN SEDDON STREET.

[concluded.] My sympathies are now aroused towards our new member, Mr B. who, with commendable patience, awaits in* traduction to the Council Board. It should have been done long since, but consideration from one end of the table was far and away until Councillor ll——n most opportunely suggested his welcome to the Council. Aud now followed a most remarkable delatPtt in which the rage for economy was finally displayed" from the chair. Increased expenditure was hotly opposed, on the grouuds of » precedent." mind you ; «ind it was that a servant of the establishment should receive a salary of 5s a week. Talk of statemanship after than! what giowin" patriotism for one's country ! "and at the time a faint whispering caught mv ears relative to the purchase of°certain borough chambers not a hundred miles off, that reveals astute qualities of exchequership. And now my mind's eye was quickly drawu to a particular couu-

cillor, who in a m >st indignified manner, with his head hound up in his hands, keeps up a general rooking in his chair.As quick as thought he lakes the fl .or and essvys to speak. The chair reminds that he has done ho already. Ho wishes to proceed as the eyes of the h..use are upon him ; hut the chair is immovable.; and down sits Councillor II a, beneath a most irreverent titter from the gazing crowd. In a moment afterwards I was regretting the d.-fects of my early education, for no sooner was our friend under the mahogany once more, than his special style of gymnastics agnin commenced, and I could not help the sorrowfully ejaculating " Oh would I wern an artist I"

The question of Footpaths next followed, the .very mention of which savours of kid gloves and patent leather. Why, who would have thought of it! we are growing quite aristocratic lately ! and the Chair, with proverbial modesty, only wants " one mile" of footpaths for Sud.lon street I Not a bit, at all at all, adjacent to that well known region, called tho Empire Hotel—not a very aristocratic quarter—(so we are cold) a very recent assertion I can assure you. Councillor O'H -'s address ori this subject was of too tame and subdued a kind ; his rough and ready style is more acceptable. Just now Councillor G e presents his portly figure to the admiration of the gazing crowd, and oh 1 how he feels the cares of the state ! Why, he has got the water question to introduce; and it is so opportune, too, at this particular time of a delightful season. But, by the bye, it were well if the worthy councillor would effootively clear his throat before haranguing "the- Council, his style of rhetoric would be less disjointed, and his silvery accents lose : the sound of baser metal.- Tho subject was a ''cool" one, it must be admitted ; but yet it had a hot side too. Singular paradox ! Councillor H u reminded a mayoral functionary of the shoals and quicksands surrounding interested .shareholders in voting, and which brought fourth the diguitied reply from his august majesty • to cute f-.r all that. But it was in the Fire Brigade discussion that Councillors displayed th-ir noblest efforts, and that upon the point of precedent, of the municipal propriety of a .£SO vote. Oh 1 Wisdom, economy, prudence, and magnanimity unbounded ! I observed present many of our citizens, members of the Brigade. They were keenly watching the onward course of so graceful a compliment of grateful recognition for best services to the town.' Aye, prompt should have been the acknowledgment of so small a claim—pithy the words, and swift the decision'on the matter. But uo ;' talk, talk—hours by this time had been wasted by talk. Councillor If——a should line off his superfluous eloquence in another direction, and [would kindly advise him to try and bring liimself under the wholesome influence of the Standing Orders. Councillor A——r, in giving vent to his patriotic meuts, would vastly improve .his not over winning discourse if he would raise the pitch of' his vocal organ a little more, so that the ratepayers could hear him. And Councillor C bell, to follow suit, would harmonise greatly with the feelings of the audience. Councillor C 1 has the ring of honest declamation, seldom of speech, and brief ac that. Councillor H —n wears an air of " indifferentism ;" his intelligence should prompt better things ; and retiring CouucillorP ushould hold fast to that honorable title begirt with wisdom, that of the "silent member," (yes, that is if the ratepayers agree to it).

And now for a little in the line of Recreation Ground. Cr. O'H a is dead upon it; he would delight in giving a properly-fenced-in "constitutional " ou all side*. But, friend Martin, gird up your' loins ! fierce fight is in store for you, before becoming masters of the position to secure your pleasure grounds. But there is another kind of recreation that just now would suit the ratepayers—that of putting in an appearance on a few occasions to the Council when field nights are iu the way, like the last; and meditate seriously on making due preparation for " uaturil or particular selection" in regard to the coming general elections. And now I must here declare that the hours of midnight are fast approaching ; and, as I am getting slightly over-, come—(uothing in the intoxicating Hue, I assure you)—from surfeit of senatorial doings, I wearily passed through the chambers, leaning on the arm of a friend ; and while as yet not reaching the ihreshold, my ears still caught the no uncertain sounds of—" I "object; nob to be allowed." In a second, hy a rapid mivemvnt on my part, I was beyond the precincts of that stately and pictuiesqae pile of building, my mind recalling a very expressive and significant nil saying, "Well - thi* bangs Baniuhee !" The silence that followed was awful. I was soon wending my

hum'.le way all alone, and not knowing h"W the din qf battle raged, or how the impulsive onslaughts of this conclave of senators had terminated, my. lucubrations here will end ; but if the editorial potentate . smiles blandly, perhaps on some other occasion Mhat is, incog, being preserved), I maydescend upon tlie floor of our Borough Chambers (just to take a back seat), and to see, hear, and judge of matters with an eulightened public. Rory op the Hills.