TUAPEKA POLITICS: A LIVELY INCIDENT.

Evening Star, Issue 7628, 2 June 1888, Page 3

TUAPEKA POLITICS: A LIVELY INCIDENT.

.«. It is a matter of history how Mr J. C. Brown received the delegate of the Tuapeka Financial Reform Association at his recent meeting at Lawrence; how he leaped ridicule o\i their heads ; and how he characterised their political attitude as "weak-kneed," and denounced them as "plunderers" and "brain-stealere. The association met on Thursday evening to consider their delegate's report, in which the writer (Mr Herbert) complained that he did not receive that courtesy at the hands of Mr Brown which he had a right to expect, and also that Mr Brown had characterised the members of the association aa a lot of plunderere, which he (Mr Herbert) very pointedly intimated 'was not a proof of ability or of a statesmanlike mind. After the report had been adopted, Mr Edgir said he had a motion to make bearing on Mr Brown's replies and hi 3 attitude towards the association. They had, he said, met that eveniDg to consider Mr Brown's di-courteous attitude towaids their delegate, and he, for one, intended to say what he thought of it.—Mr John Thompson interposed with the remark that they didn't want to have the past raked up again. They were not there to consider Mr Brown s attitude, nor to havo a perpetual squabble about politics.-Mr Edgar replied that the specific business for which they had met was to consider Mr Herbert's report; and an one of those who had been referred to as "plunderers and " brain-stealers" he intended resenting that impeachment. After some considerable squabbling, points of order, statements and counter-statements, Mr Thompson said that Mr Hferbort's report had been embellished by other brains than his.-(Oh, oh !)-Mr Herbert (who was In the chair) resented Mr Thompsons insulting insinuation, and threw the manuscript of his report on tha table.—Mr Thompson apologised, but subsequently rept ated the statement; but Mr Herbert persisted that the report was the sole production of his own luminous intellect.—Mr Edgar by this time was again on his feut asserting the right of free speech; but after a few dashes of rhetoric he was again interrupted, this time by Mr Jonas Harrop, who paid he had had enough of this subject, and rose to leave.-Mr Edgar (emphatically): Sit down, sir, and behave yourself. —Mr Harrop retorted with some remark, which was Inaudible to the meeting, but evidently not inaudible to Mr Edgar, who made a rapid movement round tho table towards Mr Harrop's chair ; but that nentlemen, taking the situation in at a glance, seized his hat and spectacles, made a dive for tho door, and a hasty exit, amidst the boisterous laughter of the meeting. .Mr Edgars good intentions were frustrated by Mr.Harrop s considerate retreat, and, when the latter showed his hoftd through tho doorway, Mr Fdear. looking towa.ds him, expressed his readiness, should Mr Harrop come within a convenient distance, to' at once perform an operation on that gentleman's nose not quite of aCrg cal character. Mr Harrop, however, refused to avail himself of the mvitaHZ and, disappearing again through th doorway, the business was resumed. Mi JK calmly resumed his discourse, but on hi*again stumbling over the saored raoe o Brown Mr John Thompson jumped upland

by, gentlemen, I'll never come here again: and that's straight to ye now." He then left, vociferating loudly as he disappeared through the door-way, a general chorus of "good evenings" following bim. Mr Edgar then resumed his discourse, when, alter an interval of five minutes, Mr John Thompson cgain made his appearance, and, walking into tho centre of the room, demanded " Which iy yez was it that said I was a good riddance?'' The Chairman gravely informed him that no Buch remark had been made. On the contrary, he felt that Mr Thompson would be a Berious loss to the association. Seemingly sati-fied with Mr Herbert's flittering remarks, MrThompson occe more bade his friends ' Good night,'' and banged the door.-Mr Finlaysay then counted noste, and drew the chairman's attention to the fact that then wm no quorum.—Mr Bjrne regretted the nuseemly conduct which had just taken place, and thought it strauge that the gentleman who had just left should so strongly resent a fair expression of opinion. As one who had been accused of stealing Mr Brown'H brains—an achievement, by the way, which he looked upon as a physical impossibility—he also desirt dto say something on the subject, but, uuder the circumstances, he should defer doing so for tho present.—The Chairman then gave his blessing, and the meeting good humoredly broke up.