CONFESSIONS OF A BOROUGH COUNCILLOR.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 212, 22 February 1872, Page 6

CONFESSIONS OF A BOROUGH COUNCILLOR.

'• Some three years ago I was a happy man. I ke,pt a general shop, and the'jreneral shop comfortably kept me. "When I had put up my shutters for the night I revelled in the domestic happiness of ' home, sweet home.' My wife was happy and contented, and no ambitious dreams of greatness disturbed my serenity. I sold my pots and pans with peace and profit, was happy in my little way, and found existence sweet, until one fatal day a requisition was sent 5 me to become a candidate for the Council. I felt flattered. 1 consulted my wife. She urged me to stand ; it was nil I wanted to give me a status. The title of ' Mr. Councillor ' was an introduction to any society, and who knew but what I might become a Mayor and herself a Mayoress.' I was <:o think of that. Besides! had talent. Look how I had spoken at tea-fiszHts — almost as u;ood as a minister. I consented, and was returned. From that moment my misery commenced. One. clique ot Councillors made a cool of me, and another a butt of me. The Town Clerk pulled me like a puppet, and the Press made public my ignorance, which 1 might have kept concealed hail I not by blind infatuation emerged from that obscurity winch so well became me. The Municipal Act was to me a \ ilderness of words in which I became bewildered and lost, and the way ] construed its clauses provoked the jeers and jibes of my opponents. T was "not slow in resenting. ' I would have bepn sarcastic had I'the vt\p, but having it not, I showed my temper ; and any u.un possessing one ot'or<!inary warmth won't be long in a Bo- [ ivugh Council without hit- little points cropping out. I got personal in my remarks. The retorts I evoked generally soothed me, and in place of ohtnining the honour and respect I anticipated, I got nothing but contumely and derision. My wife was harder on me than my opponents. What vras 1 thinking about to let mon like those I ridicule me ? I had even grown smaller in her eyes ; 1 must^redeem myself ni any cos(. thus, next night I went to the Council, there wns a debate on cutting a gutter. Councillor Jones sniJ I wanted to improve my own property at the expense of tho Corporation. I replied that Jones's great-grandmother was not lawfully married. He retorted that he never was a shop-boy and robbed his,.emplover'^ till of half-a-erown. _, Thereupon I said I had nevor been guilty of arson. He moved that the Wrfls of the mendacious miscreant be taken down. I shook my fist in his face. The Council broke up. I was stuck for damages and cost,s in both actions — for slander and assault. Mv customers deserted me. My wife upbraided me. The public derided me, and the bank squashed, me. My unchristian resignation followed, and the sands of my (public) life are run out." — " Greymouth Star."