THE HON MR FOX—NOT AT WAVERLEY.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 425, 14 May 1879, Page 2

THE HON MR FOX—NOT AT WAVERLEY.

(COMMUNICATED.) I HAVE just heard of the sayings and doings of the good people of the rising township of Waverley and surrounding district, which is well worthy of record and comment. The Hon W. Fox had sent an intimation that he would address his constituents at Waverley on Friday evening, the 9th May. I am particular as to dates, because on dates rest a great deal sometimes—there are dates and dales. Mr Fox bad chosen a day on which a happy couple had determined should be the day when Hymen should transform twp into,one, when they had mustered enough courage to tie a knot with their tongues that could not ha nutied with their teeth—in fact they were on the “ marry” and about to be hitched. This event, whether' from its rarity, or the rank and odour of the parties implicated, I cannot tell, was quite sufficient to stay the eloquence of the hon member for Wanganui until a more convenient season. It reminds me of a Devonshire jam that I heard once. The Parish Minister had gone to a distance to preach on the Sunday- The Parish Clerk was equal to the occasion, and put up a notice to this effect — li This is to give notice that there will be no Sunday bore next Sunday, causa

why? cause master has trope to Dawlish to preach.” In tliis case, however, it reminds me of the still more antiquated yarn of the fox and grapes—only in this instance the fox does not have all his own wa}’, and say the grapes are sour, but the geese,(?) preferred to the grapes by the fox, and I understand that there was a considerable amount of squeezing done among the young vines and tender “ shoots.” The light fantastic toe was pr eferred to the light fantastic tongue, and the flowing bowl preferred to the flowing eloquence which otherwise would have inundated the VVaverley Town Hall, shewing the low state that the people have come to, with very little hope of their redemption, for they say with regard to the happy event, “ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,” &c. I have written this to point a moral and adorn a tail—a fox’s tail. The moral to be learnt is especially adapted to M.H.R.’s. Never express yom intention of addressing your constituents on any fixed date, without first enquiring if there are going to be any births, deaths, or marriages, on or about that date. Meetings of constituents can be deferred, but the other events must bo carried out. It is as absolutely essential for an M.H.R. to enquire after the domestic affairs of his constituents as to find out their political grievances. Let M.H.R.’s in future enquire whether any of their constituents are on the marry, about to leave this sublunary sphere, or add to the population ; examine the statistics of their district relative to these matters, and like a skilful actuary, study the law of probabilities, so that visits to the far distant parts of their constituency may be happily timed, and not interfered with by domestic affairs.