THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 117, 20 May 1869, Page 2

THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

To thk Editor- oi? the Nelson Evening Mail Sin— Some years ago, when this Province had the good fortune to be represented by gentlemen by whom business was coiviucted with some regard to decorum ancl common sense, the Nelson Government deemed it necessary for . the better accommodation of the members, to build a hall wherein debates might be held and business transacted; and a handsome building was erected, in which some good debating ha*-, to the honor of Nelson, been heard. But it has been reserved for the present Council to show the public how unnecessary was the expense incu-red. They, with a delicacy of perception of tha fitness of things, which it is much to be wished they had carried into the business before them, have shown us that the more fit and proper place for them to deliberate on important questions, is the parlor of a beershop. In the Hall they were ill at ease. In the more congenial atmosphere of the beershop they felt in their proper piace. Amidst pipes and beer and other cheer they passed the Estimates. And be it known that t:ie chairman of this hole-and-corner meeting was one of our members for the City, of wh*;m it is more than whispered that he intends offering himself for the Superintendent^. How well the placards wili loik! — "Vote for the Public-house President!" And of their deliberation?, what is tlie result ? These very men who are supposed to protect our interests are both directly and indirectly doing their best to close the shop of every tradesman in town. They wiil drive trade to the West Coast and effectually stop all circulation of cash both on the part of the Government and its employes. Then behold another of the City members D. M. Luckie Esq., I Well might that much misrepresented gentleman, Mr. Donne, accuse him of cowardliness, for never since the Hall was built has there been seen such unseemly conduct in a member of Council as Mr Luckie exhibited the other night. Just previous to each division on some official's salary, he was seen flitting from one members' ear to another, until just before the division took place he (with one exception) arrived near the door and escaped. Or to put it in his own elegant language he " sneaked " up to the door and "shirked" the responsibility involved in the appearance of his name on the division list. Perhaps when Mr Luckie applied those adjectives to Mr Donne it was simply intended to show that gentleman's conduct in relief against his own. and he merely neglected to enunicate '- the little word not !" to which as we all know, he attaches small significance. Surely Mr Donne must feel deeply grateful to his mentor who for two Sessions has striven by precept and example too, to inculcate for his advantage the language and behaviour of a gentleman. It is whispered that on the closing cf the Council a supplementary course of lectures will be delivered as follows; — Amenities of Literature . . Ed. Calumnist. Poaching, a Sketch . . . Bemak Mone, Esq. Wind Bags Signor Guillaume Totaranui. Song, When at the window tapping. Sigh Moans, Esq, How to vote in haste and explain at leisure . . . I. R. Vine, Esq. Powers of the human jaw . The Don. Economy ; . ... . . The German Brothers. Duet, " Caw thou me, and f Messrs. B. Agent, I'll Caw thee lad"! . . } and Worst Neigh. Tumultuous Chorus of.the whole,— ■- Caw! Caw! Caw! aw! aw! I am, &c. XXX. [Our correspondent has exaggerated the number of divisions from which Mr Luckie was absent. We have made enquiry and find that he voted every time but.three'on the evening in question, two of those being oh the salary of the same individual.— Ed. E. M.]