"MR BUTTON AND THE WEST COAST TIMES."

West Coast Times, Issue 645, 18 October 1867, Page 2

"MR BUTTON AND THE WEST COAST TIMES."

.+. TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE WEST COAST TIME 3. Sib— Seeing in your evening contemporary a letter signed by Mr Button ; I beg you will allow me to mate a few remarks in reference to the same, insomuch as it is written in my opinion, solely with the intention of conveying to tho public the idea that Mr Shavr had made use of words which would cast ridicule on Mr Button's nearest relatives. I quote the words which Mr Shaw is reported to have used on the occasion j— He (Mr Shaw) thought that Mr Button had said that he was reared in the "cradle of municipal institutions, and -he, -(Mr Shaw) took it that because his father "or his grandfather was the Mayor of LauncesFon, in Tasmania, therefore it was right that he (Mr Button) should be elected to tho office of Mayor in Hokitika. Now he (Mr Shaw) could readily imagine why Mr Button should think id to be sufficient to ensure his .success in aspiring to the office of Mayor ; on the contrary ho (Mr Shaw) would ask — supposing such to be the case—what right or claim did that give Mr Button to the office of Mayor, or what right would that givo his son to be Mayor. Ho (Mr Shaw) could readily imagine Mr Button looking back to the dajß when he was rocked in the eradlo of Municipal institutions. Only let thorn fancy Lady Button rocking the Municipal cradle In which rested little Billy Button, the future Municipal Councillor. (Laughter.) He wondered whether the Lady Button when singing to the infantile baby " Hushaby baby upon the tree top" had any idea that she was rocking the future man, who in the future was to spread small municipal bras 3 buttons over the whole of the Australias (renewed laughter. The idea that a man, because his father or his grandfather, or his uncle, happened to be Mayor of Launcston that he should be fitted to be mayor of Hokitika, was a most singular thing, and reminded him (Mr Shaw) of the anecdote of a person who on being asked whether he could speak German, replied " No, but I have a cousin that can play the German flute." He (Mr Shaw) believed Mr Button's private character to be most unexceptional, and if that gentleman would' take the trouble to serve for a year iv the Council as a councillor, he (Mr Shaw) believed' that he would make a very good Mayor ; but howexer good or clever Mr Button might be, ifc would be entertaining a most ruinous policy to adopt the system of raising to the civio chair a young man who had never.worked for them, but whom they were placing over the heads of those who had served them faithfully. How Mr Button, with' his superior education, which he has brought forward as; a particular claim to the privileges of- the Hokitika municipality, can discern any ridicule cast upon his relations, I profess lam unable to see. Whether this arises from want of superior education on my side, or having a more feeble understanding than Mr Button, I leave th« reader to decide; but I think that the ridicule ia simply and clearly cast upon the sentiment : — That because the father was a Councillor in one place the son has a claim to be Mayor in another. If Mr Button thinks that it cast ridicule on hismotherwhen it is mentioned that that lady rocked the infant Button in a cradle without thinking that it was the cradle of Municipal Councillors for all Australia, it shows, I think, at least, that Mr Button's sensibility is _ heartrending, and I would sincerely advise him to abstain, for the future, from all public offices. The letter certainly shows Mr Button as a lawyer to full advantage as it shows how effective he is in making a case ouc of nothing ; but the lelter also shows Mr Button as a man endowed with a re« markablykeen susceptibility. Yours, &c, Faib Plat.