UNKNOWN

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 293, 2 April 1877, Page 3

UNKNOWN

in our last issue we prcWished an acfurnished by the llti'ij Tim".k of a pretty tittle cow between the IT>n. Donald Eeicl ami Mi\ D. i'roctdfuot. In the following day's G newt km we t'trid tin,* following particulars theroanent : Seeing in our contemporary the Dn.'dij Time.t an account, evidently furnished by the Hsu. I>onald lleid, «f a little fracas tmtwjen that gentleman and Mr £>. I'rotrtfootj, wo have been at the pains to make diligent inquiry thßceanent, ft appoara that the contractor catted on the Minister for the settlement of an instalm >nt »:f the welt-known arbitration award;, for which ho had Formerly given time t<» the Provincial CSovermuent, owing to its then rnnbarrassed condition, instead of demanding immediate payment, as per award empowered. The instalment had fallen »t:w a day or two ago, and on the occasion in question the eontrwitor, who had heuu "' b'utFed " the previous day by art a'teged necessity for catching a train on the part of the Minister, waited on that gentleman, voucher in hand, and urged payment- *' I'll shove this roll of paper:* tlownyotir throat," said the Honourable the Minister of the Crown. ".Doit; I should like to see how yott do ic," said the contractor. " You're a black.ruard to talk to mo in that way," said the Honourable thy Minister of taw Crown. " You're a donbb dyed blackguard to talk to me in that way," responded the contractor ; "Iconic ti> yon us a citizen,, and you irumk hear me." "Of you talk to me in that way 1 will send for a constable," said the Minister. " Send For him," said thy contractor; "£'ll wait here For him." Warti-n * for Seme eight or ten minutes, and the bluecoat riot making his appearance, the contractor retired. Nicli, we are informed, were the main particulars of t ie incident, and wo cannot withhold an expression of rou'ret; that the Minister,among the retiueincuts of official life, has not eschewedsuch a stylo of diction as may have In en suitable enough in former ciruumstancws, but seems altogether out of p'au.i in high olliuial position. To "shove a roll ot papers" down a man's throat would- '-e a verv tinbec >.ning procedure on t'ie part ot a Minister of tie Uro vn. and alkho-.ig i-to say to a p. rs >u " You're a Idacve.ruard, may not', have been one of place amid early sun'outidings,. yet the honourable g nt'emen, having made so remarkable a stride from the old to the new, mig.it be t;c psuced to put on a little <->f the courtesy and reli leiueuts ot' courtly circles, sue t a* litt ivuv m xes among, however uneasily. T.iere is, we adiuit, an official smack in tlui hauSour wit i wliio ' he snt-t >"> ed the Mayor of Dunedin ami the i dtuetiti-d deputation the other'day in retusmg t' em at lira:, an an .ienc of las august prwsetic •, but there is at rribtw bathos wnen t'-o.u fc.iat lofty pedestal he units t'.r f imii.ar /' 1 veruac-dar ** You're bl t-e'e cnard. f- . :i- i a tend".ncy to mill- t!i-• oi,u , : , .l -. i'i in, m.- people see thas it U only