MR. PIPS, HIS DIARY.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 574, 1 February 1851, Page 1 (Supplement)

MR. PIPS, HIS DIARY.

[while VISITING NEW ZEALAND IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. Wellington, January 29th, 1851. : This night I did fetch a walk along the ;beach, and so into the Aurora Tavern Ito see the great Constitutional Ass. ; much .huhbub being in the street, of what, folks said, would be a jolly row. Did enter into a long room with painted walls and a stage at one end, wheieon sat some parties round a table, with papers and cigars and brandy and ‘Water, mightly comfortable. Right cheerful they were to look, folks said, at sight of so much people come together; much people ; being below and in the galleries. Soon they j did cry “chair” “chair,” when rose a party ifrom the table with a long scroll which he ? did read, being they did say some Resolutions I about a new form of government which the "people were to pass; and which he did say |were of great importance, mighty fine no doubt and clever, if they could have been 1 heard and understood ; folks did seem to treat | them light as a feather, giving them not so much weight even as a small stone. This over, an honest party from among the people, by trade a Carpenter, did up by a step on the stage followed by another honest party, to read a paper which did state that the parties at the table did wish to bring about a form of government by which they would be able to gget the best places for themselves ; whereat ; was much cheering and acclamation among the people, and much flustration and long faces at the table. Then did up from the table a party deep in cunning as a fox and skilled in law, who, folks said, was presently to go to England where he was like to be-

come Lord Chancellor, but could not for long be heard by reason of much noise among the people crying that there were no geese, though some Irishmen among them. At length the party who did all along possess the best chair at the table, after much entreaty did get the people something quiet, and the future Chancellor did say that he did like a row, but next presently that he did see that some folks were present, emissaries of Sir George Grey, and he did point among others to a party skilfull in cold-water-cure, and did say that they did come to throw cold water on the Constitutional Ass. which some folks did think would do asses’ constitutions no harm. Whereupon much hubbub did ensue until the party, who did consider himself called a cold water emisary, up and said that he did come there of his own free will, and that the party who did point at him had always been his bitter enemy; whereat a terrible rumpus did ensue on the stage, and the faces of some of the folks round the table grew grievous long, their chins well nigh reaching their waistcoat pockets, and much chance there was of a glorious game of fistycuffs, which would have been mighty diverting to behold : but presently the party skilled in cold water did apologise for that be did of a sudden grow so hot. This done, next came forward a modest locking party, but harty well encouraged by the people, and did propose as an Amendment to the Resolution which the first party with the scroll did nronose. that before anv Resolutions were passed, they be printed and published, in order

that all might be able to read and consider them, lest otherwise they might consent to what they would afterwards disapprove : all which was right sensible to hear and well pleasing to the whole people. Then rose another party, who did sit not far from the table, and who did seem to think that he did look uncommon like one of the Taylors of Tooley street, and so up and did approve of the Amendment, for fear, he did think folks might be humbugged, as on a Compensation Question formerly, and he did seem to think some danger was that Resolutions after being passed might be altered or cooked; which did bring to my mind Railway Directors and share-holders, whereat the party who did first up with the scroll, waxed gtievous wroth and spake exceeding furious, so that folks below did wish folks on the stage to pull the tails of the two parties, while some did call to the waiter to bring pistols for two, and to make coffee only for one. And now the party in the comfortable chair did up and ask the folks which did approve of the original Resolution to show their hands, and tho’ they did show all they could near the table, not more than four did show their hands among the people, and these alarmed at being so few, did presently put their hands in their pockets ; while for the amendment all the people did show their hands, not ceasing to cry, “ Print,” “ print.” Whereupon arose from the table an old party with white hair for to tell the people that the Resolutions were not neccessary to be printed, for that he had just now heard them read for the first lime, and did perfectly understand all and every part of them, whereat all the people would have thought themselves exceeding great blockheads, if they did not believe that the old party was for certain much too clever to live long. And yet another

party arose, who from much vexation was slow to speak and well nigh in Fitz. He did wish the people to know that if they were not grateful to the folks who had committed themselves on their behalf, they were guilty of ingratitude ; and with cunning words he did endeavour to circumvent the people, and to get them to adopt the Resolutions without their being first printed, but the people did cry that it was no go, and that they did not wish to be humbugged, but that they did wish to know what the parties at the table were up to ; and did again insist on the first amendment, and did cry long and loud, “ print,” “ print.” At length after much diversion for a space of three hours and a half, it was agreed that the meeting do adjourn till the night of Monday next, and that in the mean time the Resolutions read by the party with the scroll, be printed and published for the consideration of the people ; so that the people did not allow a single Resolution to be passed, and did get the parties round the table, in spite of themselves, to agree to what they did require, but they did seem to take it to heart that the amusements of the evening should be cut so short. And so did leave the parties at the table to digest matters, much thinking that they would rather have been in for a good supper, and judging they did well choose a theatre lor the enacting such a mighty good farce. And so home, and much diverted, to bed.