PETERHEAD TOWN DRUMMER AND HIS GRIEVANCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1565, 15 March 1887, Page 3

PETERHEAD TOWN DRUMMER AND HIS GRIEVANCE.

At the monthly meeting of the Peterhead Town Council recently the following petition from Simon Cameron, the town’s drummer, was read : “To the Provost, Magistrates, and Councillors of the Borough of Peterhead, —l, Simon Cameron, approach your honorable Board, desiring sympathy aod support under very trying circumstances. Same time ago I aspired to the position of town-crier, and, owing to unexceptional testimonials and your favor, mj highest ambition in that respect was gratified. I have continued since that time in the full enjoyment of uninterrupted, success until recently, when a poacher appeared in my preserves—a crier from a neighboring town. A man with a screeching voice resembling something between the squeal of pig and the scream of a peacock, went through the town, and, with bill in hand and banner flying, proclaimed at my very door a sale of some cheap wares, setting at nought your authority, and taking the bread out of my mouth. He had likely been starved out where he came from, and wanted to taste the milk and honey of the land of Goshen. This was more than the blood of Lochiel cou'd s’and, and I immediately went out and lowered bis flag, while The flagstaff followed with a crash Like thunderbolt on lightning’s flash j and if it bad not been for my faithful spouse, Jane, who has often proved my equal and sometimes my superior in many a hard fight, I would have challenged him there and then to motal combat, and made him bite the dust, as my father did the Sassenach of old. But better thoughts, under Jane’s Influences, prevailed, and I contented myself with thus far taking the conceit out of him, and maintaining the honor and dignity of your Board. But I gave him fair warning not to appear here again, setting law and order at defiance, else he would have the whole force of the Magistrates down upon him ; and besides, have myself to reckon with, without the restraining influences of my better half, who I find is sometimes in my way when I want to settle an affair of honor promptly and properly. Now, gentlemen, all I ask of you is to put this intruder down; or, what is better still, give me your full authority to do so, and he will not cross the border again, or ray name is not Simon,

“ There is one other matter I would take the liberty of bringing under your notice with your permission. It is often said that a man is known by the out of his coat. 1 forbear to speak of the cuts and scars of my coat, but as this is the year of Her Most Gracious Majesty’s jubilee, it would be a pleasant thing when you celebrate that auspicious event if you could present me with a suit of uniform befitting my position. It would mark an epoch in my reign as well as our beloved Sovereign’s. Such a thing I trust is within range of practical politics, and it would be conducive to the interests of good government that a public official like me should be invested in robes of office—in fact, clothed with authority in order to distinguish me from ordinary individuals, and put me on a par with my other friends in the town, the guardians of civilisation, and add another page to my interesting family history.—And your petitioner will ever pray.” The Chairman (Baillie Mackintosh) supposed they had not authority to put down Simon’s opponent. Mr Hay questioned that, IE they had not, what was the use of appointing a lown-crier ? On the suggestion of Mr Heslop, it was_ remitted to the Town Clerk to inquire into the power of the Council in relation to the matter, and it was understood that the uniform question would come up when the legal question was reported on. - Evening Gazette.