The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 761, 19 September 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1878.

The late •. •: t • t;; i > ■ 11 for members to serve io flie City Council of Chnstchureh was sui(ieiontly rowdy to create disgust in peon!.- much less proper than those of ihe settlement which had :i iomewhat Pi!j-it:uii<-:il start. Air. W. Wli.s.oN- appears io have fallen from Ins first estate. At one period the respected and courted of everybody, he occupied the important position of flavor of Chistchnreh for two years. Then was the turm " Cabbage" prefixed to his name as a term of endearment •. now it it: tt.sed as one of ridicule. Then, those who were in any way troubled about their worldly concerns would speed their way to Mr. W. Wilson. Triad any one a knotty point, to settle, the opinion of the astute, cdf-made man was sought. As he walked the streets of the city over which he presided, people would respectfully turn round and say " That is Cabbage Wu.nox ;" meaning that he was one of7he "men of the time."' But clouds have obscured the star under which he was tile happy recipient of so much respect and attention, and little else is left save the reputation of what he once was. From moving in the society of the upper erusr. lie appears, at one fell swoop, to have become the chosen of the rabble. The scene at the late Municipal proceedings to which he owes his reinstatement to Municipal "honors" beggars description. As a commentary upon his candidature placards were issued, on which was printed the solemn joke, addressed to the burgesses, "Vote for the De'il their first scare." The Lyttelton Times says, in writing of the election : " Many respectable men were there (where the poll was to be declared), but they were immensely out-numbered by roughs and larrikins. When Mr. Wilson appeared on the scene there were cheers, groans, hisses, and yells, delightfully mingled, and above all the dreadful din was to be heard the

word '-'cabbage.'' The hero of the, moment undertook —as he confidently \ told another candidate —to make the] crowd good-humored, and keep them so. " A word or two from me," he said " will; suffice." And the gentleman characteris- j tically commenced by claiming that he j was the finest cabbage in Canterbury. ! A bag of flour that just then broke beautifully over him, made him appear rather like a gigantic cauliflower. Some of his friends carefully dusted him down, but their assiduity was utterly useless, for the air was so«n thick with flour, and the reporters and others who were unfortunate enough to beat thetimetiearMr Wilson had a most unenviable position. At this stage matters had an ngiy look. The groanim; and .veiling was started with, renewed vigour, and freqn. Nt rushes were mad..!. By the kindly aid of a fen- gentlemen who were blessed with strong arms, the reporters were enabled to escape, and soon after nine o'clock the Babel of sounds told that the Returning Otticer had made his appearance." The Eetunnng Officer having announced that Mr V, ilson was one of those elected, "the closing scenewas an utter disgrace to the City, and the Returning Officer, not being able to wet a hearing, :i wisely effected a

speedy retreat.Mr Gapes vnis then yelled for, and that gentleman niaviagec; to mount the railings bv the verandah. Holdiiiif to the corner-post by one arm. he raised bis lint, and the moment he did so a ban Hour struck him full in the face. He dropped down. half-biin.U-cl. but in a few moments the pluciry old man was asjain in p.>sitt«»u, s»nd per!mp* (itevident pain ho was sp!F"Vi?««r, and tint siifht of his nn-y Uau* combined. saved him from further isismlt. fie was umlerst<M«l to bay that W liop<-d his ftwH.-mv would excuse 1!i few mom.-rsts' di-day. his eyes havinsr been tilled with i|.»uv, am! then proceeded to thank thorn Win. Wilson's and shoulders then : appviirtMl above tin* m>\vd. and just a-, he ! had uttered. tliv w:>rtU " from tin- b.-uo;t> of nr. lu-tri and ho was up by a nmi.ber oi* m-.-n who. with a rush. , ora.-.hi>l iliv..".',h •,;••• p.i and boiv i ! heir pn:\ ' aei' t : 1 e !"i >;n I. to e:■ del'' 'si t> d : Iv. iihi 11 iht* hav. n ..! this t.daivndon Hotel, i where. donbi less. brimmm;* maa.av; afforded s-'iilf d'i'■ sulinv, '! nils eluleu what appears to have been Uie most blackguardly proceedings that hav-j ever i occurred in connection with any i-ic! • ••■< j—municipal or otherwise—mi Id?