A LIVELY CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 64, 16 March 1875, Page 2

A LIVELY CITY COUNCIL.

Chriatchurch ig generally allowed to be the most aristocratic town in New Zealand, but i(s pretensions in this direction are scarcely borne out by the proceedings of its City Councillors. From the Evening Star of the 2nd iust we quote the following report, and trust that our conterapotary will not be disappointed iv the hope to which be gives expression ihafc " the publicity thus given to the disgraceful fracas will prevent any recurrence of a like nature in the future." We presume that (he " Councillor Raphael," who occupied so prominent a part in the proceedings, is of the Jewish persuasion: — Councillor Farr called attention to an anonymous letter, in which the Council was accused of fixing the meeting on Saturday in order that one of their body should not be able to attend. This was the insinuation. Now, he thought the real slate of the case should be made publicly known. The Mayor stated that the meeting on Saturday was called at the very earliest opportunity after the aplications for liceuses were Bent in. Two days' clear notice of a special ' meeting was required, and therefore the rneolingfell on Saturday. Councillor Hart said that Councillor Raphael's conscientious scruples would not inteifere with hia attending on Saturday, so long as it suited his purpose to attend it. (Ob, oh ) The Mayor : Order, Order! Councillor Raphael : I rise to a point of order. I object to such language being used, It is his usual blackguard style. (Oh, oh.) Nothing but a scoundrel would make use of such language. (Loud cries of Oh, oh.) I repeat that nothing but a scoundrel would use such language. The matter then dropped. A little later on Councillor Hart rose for tho purpose of addressing the Council. Councillor Raphael called Councillor Hart to order. The matter was discussed last week, and Councillor Hart had already spoken on it. The Mayor asked Councillor Hart to sit down. Councillor Hart: I contend that I am in perfect order in speaking on the subject, no matter what my friend Ruphael may say Councillor Raphael: I am not your friend. I object to you saying "my friend Raphael." Councillor Hart: As I said before, I

contend I am in order, and will not be | pat down either by Councillor Raphael or his abettor (pointing to Councillor Gapes.) Councillor Raphael: You are drunk, sir, or you would not make use of such a remark. (Cries of " Oh, oh," and confusion.) Councillor Ick : I protest against such language being allowed here. Councillor Raphael: You are an aider and abettor, sir, of Councillor Hart. Councillor Ick: If you were not here, I would call you somewhere else. (Confusion.) Councillor Raphael: I would say it anywhere else. Councillor Ick: It is time, I think, that such language as this should be put down. I, for one, will not submit to its being used here. It is beyond all endurance. I never heard of such language being used in any public body. I have heard euch language as liar and scoundrel being used here, and if the reporters don't report it, I will myself. I will not sit here and have suoh language imputed to members of this Council. It is beyond endurance. Councillor Raphael : This is a mere taking up of the part of Councillor Hart, and I demand, on the same principle, to have the right here. I defy Councillors Ick and Hart here roee to leave the Council Chamber. Councillor Raphael : I came here tonight io attend to my duties as a councillor, and I hope the reporters will take down the language that has been used towards me to-digbt. Councillor Ick (putting his hat on and leaving the Chamber) : If Councillors sit here and listen to such language, they are no men at all. Councillors Ick, Hart, and Farr left ihe Chamber, followed by Councillor Calvert. Councillor Jones : I think that both Councillors Raphael and Hart are wrong in using such language. They should come here to discuss the business of the ratepayers, instead of indulging iv personal quarrels. Councillor Raphael : I was insulted here grossly to-night. Do you mean to say, Councillor Jones, that you did not hear me grossly insulted to-night ? Speak fairly and honestly. Be just. I will have justice done to me while I am here. Councillor Jones : The language which you and Councillor Hart have ÜBed is wrong. As members of the Council you come here, and make such personal attacks on each other that I am surprised you dp not drop it, one or other of you. I would be ashamed to use such language. Councillor Raphael : Did you not hear me insulted here to-night, grossly, and not a word said about it ? Do you presume that I will sit here to be insulted by a sot ? I can find no other word for him. No man like a man would insult me here in the manner be has done. Councillor Gapes : I think questions of this sort should be submitted to the Council, if they cannot support the Mayor in keeping order. In the first place, this evening Councillor Hart — I think the Council will agree with me — grossly insulted Councillor Raphael by saying that he was a man of no principle, or words to that effect. This seems to me to be the great fault : one Councillor stands up, and when called to order he will not sit down. The question is, whether a Councillor when called to order, is right or wrong in standing up until the point of order is decided by the chairman. If one man uses insulting language, I cannot say that another is justified in following suit. It is very annoying for one member to be insulted by another, and that the person giving the insult should be allowed to do it, while another has no means of replying at all, simply because he will not sit down when called to order. That is, I think, where Councillor Jones is wrong. I think any member of the Council should abstain from speaking when he is called to order, and that no other member should speak until he sits down. The Mayor : lam sorry that this should have occurred. If it is continued, I shall take steps to eject members from this Council who will not behave properly. I have taken advice in the matter, and I have full authority to do so. I should be sorry to have to request Commissioner Shearman to send a policeman down here, but I shall have to do so if this continues I hope the members of the Council clearly understand me. Councillor Raphael : Then your Worship should deal impartially, and stop such insulting language being used as has been made use of towards me this evening. As to the ejection, of course it is a question of what would happen. I contend that it is neither fair, reasonable, nor just that I should be allowed to be insulted in the manner I have been to-night. The Mayor : I called Councillor Hart to order. Councillor Raphael : I shall ask if I made any remark towards him before he grossly insulted me. Councillor Jones says it is very wrong — doing the plausible on one side and the other. Councillor Jones : I have never shown any feeling, either inside or outside the Council, on one side or the other. If councillors, instead of taking to account every word and using it in a personal sense, would come here to do the business of the city, I think we would have a great deal more harmony than we have had. The Mayor: We will proceed to business.