AUCKLAND.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2209, 16 April 1880, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

[FßOM OUR OWN COR R KS TOXDK\T.] MR HURST UKI'ORIO Ills COXSTITUKXTS. Ordinary topics have been overshadowed and dwarfed into petty insignificance by the great political event of the period—the meeting of the bland and oleaginous Hurst with bis dissatisfied constituents. It will be remembered that when the news of the gentleman’s defection from the Liberal party reached Auckland last session, the electors of City West met, condemned their member’s conduct, and, by formal resolution, called upon Idm to resign. Instead of complying with this request, he stated his determination to clear bis conduct publicly after the prorogation of the House, and the feeling of indignation which was diffused throughout the electorate gave way in consequence to one of expectancy. Air Hurst arrived in duo time from the scene of bis parliamentary labors, and as the days rapidly sped away comment began to be made upon the want of alacrity which was characterising bis action in not convening a meeting of the electors. In order to bring matters to an issue, a deputation waited upon him several months ago and presented a requisition desiring to know if he had any immediate intention of calling the electors together in order to explain to them his reasons for pursuing the line of conduct which he bad struck out for himself. He wished to rcail a propamd reply, but the deputation would only accept a plain “ aye” or “ no” to their question, and as neither party was disposed to give way, their interview abruptly terminated, "leaving things in gereater uncertitude than ever. Mr Hurst was broadly stated to be coquetting with “ the free and independent,’' and the feeling of distrust which his secession had produced upon many now became prevalent. At this juncture he convened bis meeting. It was looked forward to with the utmost interest, and with anticipations of lively episodes, but the most sanguine expectations in this respect must have fallen short of the actual result. A more disorderly meeting I have never witnessed, and yet parodoxical though the statement may appear, the speaker had himself to blame for the fact. He had prepared his speech beforehand, and had there been no interruption to its delivery, there is no doubt that it would have proved very effective. As misfortune, or perhaps plotting enemies would have it, however, a drunken brawler occupied one of the front scats, and be soon made bis presence known by a few profound expletives, which be discharged at a. rather apropos stage of the proceedings. Instead of either ignoring the fellow altogether, or of insisting upon bis prompt ejectment from the ball, Mr Hurst made the mistake of humouring him, the natural ellect being of course to increase his turbulence. When the speaker was stating that Sir George Grey had done him the honor to.praise him for his speech in seconding the Address in Jteply, the interrupter'shouted out at the top of his voice, “ AVhat a lie,” while the coarse exclamation, “You’re a fraud,” came very frequently from his lips. That portion of the audience which had come for the purpose of seeing some fun, of course laughed, immoderately at these sallies, and the disorder extended on all hands. The Chairman interposed '

again ami again, but to no purpose, for in paying heed to every interpolated remark Mr Hurst only incited the “ hoodlums ” to renewed efforts at annoyance. Then the member sat down in ineffable disgust two or three limes, besides threatening at short intervals to band his notes to the reporters, and thin to leave his speech unfinished. This course he ultimately adopted, but not before he had made out a very good case for him self, in spite of the regular fusillade of coarse interjections to which he was subjected. A sucking demagogue who follows the avocation of draper’s assistant, proposed a vote of no-con(ideuce, in a. speech which was more noted for declamation than argument, and a well-known electioneering agent sccoudc 1 it. The speakers in support of this resolution were heard respectfully and applauded enthusiastically, but when the moderate party' attempted to propose an amendment expressive merely of th.vnks to the representative for his address, an indescribable hubbub arose. None .of Mr Hurst’s friends could obtain a hearing amidst the howling, groaning, hoofing and yelling which assailed them and they had therefore to retire one by one. The member wished to leave in time to catch the boat for the North Shore (on which side of the harbor he lives) but he was forcibly detained by the locking of the doors until the lution was put to the mceiing. It was carried by a large majority, but as a considerable proportion of the voters were boys and non-electors, and as fully half the orderly portion of the audience did not vote at all the motion can hardly be accepted as the voice of City West. As Mr Hurst remarked, that will only be made known through the ballotbox. Strangely enough the daily papers now reproach him and even tender the advice that he should resign although they were prominent in counselling him to adopt the course which has brought him into such disfavour with his whilom supporters. Such is life ! A THEATRICAL SKIT. Some local satirist has travestied the recent political address with its concomitant interruptions, and under the choice designation of “The Busted Politician ; or, the How at City West,” it is now being played nightly at the Albert Hall, to crowded houses. Mr Paddy Horan is the lessee of the establishment, and Mr Robert Love, familiarly known as Lovie, is the actor who plays the principal part. He hung about Mr Hurst’s office for a day or two -until be studied that gentleman’s carriage, demeanour, and dress, and, as a result, the imitation is capital. The business is this : On entering upon the stage with a heavy Hourish, he begins a mock spcccli ; but after being interrupted once or twice, according to preconcerted arrangement, he pours his feelings into a song, which is a parody of Farron’s “ Tim Flaherty.” It begins with the words—

I’m an Honorable Member, A Lcgis-lay-tur, A regular Solon, An Hon. M.H.R. He resumes the thread of his argument, is interrupted, again and again, gives several other parodies on popular songs, goes through a lot of hy-play, and eventually retires, after threatening to hand his notes to the reporters. Perhaps the host of the song is the one based upon a well-known selection from “ Pinafore,” viz. : —•

When I was a lad I served a term As office boy to a bonedust firm, And I’ve played my cards so carefullco That now I’m a member of the Asscmblee. Then there aro“ Willie we have missed you” (the reference being to Mr Swanson) and “ I dreamt that I dwelt with Johnny Hall,” as well as the tragi-comic scene, “Is this a portfolio that I sec before me.” The sketch is cleverly written and it is drawing well. PKOES’I'inAXISM. The walking and running mania has advanced beyond the South, and has now taken a firm hold on the people of Auckland, although it must be confessed that it is a complaint to which, as a community, they arc peculiarly susceptible. The other day an obscure pedestrian named Frier arrived from the Poverty Pay district, and shortly afterwards the news was blazoned to the world that he was the champion sprint runner of Gisborne, and that a match for £SO aside and the championship of Auckland had been arranged between him and an athlete of good local repute named Hutton. The match was fixed to take place on Easter Monday in three distances, viz., 100 yards, 150 yards, and 200 yards, and in order to present a fair programme several handicap races for small prizes were added. The public of course attended in large numbers (paying for admission) in the confident anticipation of an afternoon’s capital sport, but they were doomed to bitter disappointment. The running of the first distance showed that Frier had not the slightest chance against his rival, but singularly enough in the contest over the 150 yards, Frier triumphed, while with equal strangeness it was found that the runners and personal Triemti; of the two pads had been successfully speculating on botK results. The public at once smelt a rat, and expressions of discontent were both general and deep. The third stage of the competition was a foregone conclusion for Hutton, and the disappointed spectators vented their feelings in some groaning. The daily press severely criticised the affair, and one journal broadly hinted ■that it was a transparent swindle. Young Scott arrived from Wellington early last week, and on the night of Friday, April 2, he began the very trying undertaking of traversing 112 miles in 21 hours, a feat which ho had often attempted but never accomplished. The “Star” “went” for the show by deploring the evident increase of these painful and senseless exhibitions, and referring to Hcgarty’s display In your city, but despite this, plenty of patrons were found for the exhibition. He carried out his fatiguing task pluckily and amidst the cheers of an enthusiastic audience lie finished on Saturday night eight minutes within (he prescribed time. His bejewelled agent and trainer have now taken him to the Thames, where he is to repeat the performance, and ho will once more essay it in Auckland during the approaching race week. After this the champion beer-swillcr, and champion porridge-guzzler had better come along. Their interesting and highly edifying performances arc sure to prove effective “ draws.” Meanwhile the legitimate drama languishes, and its proper abiding place has long since been closed to it.