LIVELY PROCEEDINGS AT GUARDIANS' MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 50, 27 February 1909, Page 15

LIVELY PROCEEDINGS AT GUARDIANS' MEETING.

PORRIDGE! AS MISSILE. There were lively scenes at a meeting of the Rathdown Board of Guardians on Wednesday, January 13. Mr. M. O'Dounell, a member, complained of a report of a previous meeting which was printed In a local newspaper as "lying and blackguardly," and calculated to make him appear "ridiculous and idiotic." The reporter of the journal in question, by permission of the chairman, asked Mr. O'Donnell to indicate the passages which he complained of, but Mr. O'Donnell refused, and objected to reporters being allowed to speak at a meeting. The chairman took advantage of the opportunity to protest against the publication of a letter in the same journal, in which the nuns In charge of the workhouse were described as "a band of proselytlsers having their headquarters In Rome." Later on the chairman called Mr. Isaac Jones to order, and protested against that gentleman's alleged habit of insulting guardlnns In debate. Mr. O'Donnell intervened, and said that Mr. Jones had insulted him, and added that if he did It again he would "fire him through the door." Sir. Jones: Get away now, or I'll pull your long tooth. (Laughter.) This remark appeared to excite Mr. O'Donnell very much; he turned suddenly to a bench where samples of the workhouse dietary were arranged for inspection, and, taking a handful of porridge, threw it lv Mr. Jones' face, shouting, "You old leprechaun!" A scene of great confusion followed, but Mr. O'Donnell was prevented from doing further violence.