THE WISE MEN OF HOTHAM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 265, 14 November 1885, Page 5

THE WISE MEN OF HOTHAM.

"Ordinary Business" of a Victorias

Borough Council,

Under the heading of " Ordinary Business" the " North Melbourne Advertiser " gives tho following report of the proceedings at a recent meeting of the Hotham Borough

Council:—

"Cr. Laurens drew attention to the state of Munster Terrace, which was still unmetalled.

Cr. Henderson was proceeding to make some remarks concerning ths advisability of having tho metalling gone on with at once, when Cr. Green rose excitedly to his feet and called upon Cr, Henderson to ' sit down and shut up.1 Cr. Henderson said ho should not sit down. He was in order.

Cr. Green—Why, you don't know what order means.

Cr. Henderson said that in his opinion Cr. Green did not know what order was. He was always insulting someone. At this juncture Cr. Green got greatly excited, and shouted and stormod at everyone at the top of his voice. The Mayor: Cr.Green,youtakeumbrageat once if any one says anything to you, and yet you expect to be permitted to insult everyone. I will not tolerate it, Cr. Gruen : I am a man, and a Councillor of the Western Ward, and I shall do as I like; no ono is going to dictate to me, I can tell you. Cr. Henderson is no gentleman.

Tho Mayor : I won't have this sort of thing. Cr. (keen, I must cally ou to order. Cr. Greon: I don't carotwoponce for you, or your order either. The Mayor: Cr. Green, this meeting is not a bear garden. Cr. Green : No, but we have got a bear at tho head of it. (Cries of ' order,' ' sit down,' ' chair '). You are not tit to occupy that chair. lam a man, I am, and not afraid of a d one of you.

Cr. Henderson: This is most improper, and should be stopped. Cr. Green (shaking his fist wildly ot Cr. Henderson): If you say another word I'll run you up the chimney. Cr. Henderson: You can't do it, Cr. Green; you can'tdo it. You are a blustering bully and a coward, and we are a lot of cowards to sit here and let you insult us. The Mayor again strove to call Cr. Green to order, but was fairly sbouteddown by that gentleman, who was now in a state of the wildest excitement. Cr. Laurens hoped that Cr. Green would moderate his language and keep cool. Cr. Pilkington urged upon the members present to support tho Mayor. Never before in the whole course of his experience had he seen any Mayor so grossly insulted. Cr. Green's conduct was a disgrace to the whole Council, and he thought the Mayor might leave the chair. Cr. Green : Let him leave it. I shall ait here all night if I like. He's not fit for the chair; he called me to order. Tho M*yor : What you say is false. I did not call you to order. Cr. Green (gesticulating violently): You call me a liar, then. Well, you're another. (Great uproar, aud cries of 'order,' ' chair,' &c.) Cr. Henderson expressed an opinion that Cr. Green should behave more respectfully to the chair.

Cr. Green (glaring at Cr. Henderson): I am not a meal-eating, unfortunate Scotchman, obliged to walk about with bare feet when a youngster. 1 could wear boots. I'm an Englishman. Cr. Henderson: Well, you're a very poor specimen of the civilised Londoner. Cr. Green : That's all you know about

it. At this juncture Cr. Cook rose, and managed in a judicious manner to introduce a fresh subject and get Cr. Green quieted down a little." If this be correctly entitled 'Ordinary Business,' tho average man may be excused a little curiosity as to what the ' Extraordinary Business' of the fathers of Hotham city may be like.