THE "GRAY HORSE THE BETTER "MAYOR."

Manawatu Times, Volume IV, Issue 46, 9 June 1880, Page 2

THE "GRAY HORSE THE BETTER "MAYOR."

His late Worship of Foxton evidently knows a thing or two, and although not a man of color, he is able to make the "green 'uns" look blue. Some time ago the County Council voted £50 for tha construction of a culvert m the A.venue Road, to he spent under the direction of the Local Board, ef which Mr. Sandy Gray was chairman. Instead of a culvert, however, a bridge was erected, at, as might have been expected, an increased expense, and Councillor Rockstrow was instructed to have the larger sum voted, a step which Councillor Loudon vowed he would frustrate. This threat was the more easily carried out, as it was necessary to liave the £50 vote rescinded and tlie substitution "made, that there should be an unanimous vote of the Council. The plans of the schemers were, however, well laid. At the fitting time Mr. Gray disappeared from amongst tho audience, — where he Bad; been all the afternoon — and immediately afterwards a Maori entered and handed Councillor Louden a note stating tha,t he was urgently wanted at home. As Mrs. Loudon was not m the beßt of health he naturally concluded the message concerned her, and snatching up his hat, he hurriedly,' left the Council chamber. The closing of the door was the signal for the wily Teuton to produce two resolutions from his breast — one the>e3cinding of the original motion, and the other, the money for tha '.large* sum— which being seconded^ were, duly put andjcarried. and the chairman was saying, "the aye B have it " as the hoaxed Councillor opening the door on his return, took m the situation at a glance. No doubt Councillor Loudon was highly pleased at finding; there was nothing wrong outside, but his look bf disgust was quite snfficient to intimate that all had not been " 0.X. " inside, and that m vulgar parlance h« had been " had."