Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly. Price 1d. MONDAY, MAY 11, 1885. Lively Proceedings.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1680, 11 May 1885, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly. Price Id. MONDAY, MAY 11, 1885. Lively Proceedings.

In this happy and peaceful vale of the Wairarapa it is very rarely that the combative spirit is raised into active display amongst our public men who carry on a system of Local Government. In Greytown, hia Worship the Mayor and the Borough Councillors form a happy family who dwell together in the gratifying condition of peace and amity. In Masterton, the Borough Council meetings are only once in a way the scene of any storm, and any little disputes which may arise soon get settled, and leaves no illfeeling behind them. Then the County Council meetings wonld bo quiet to the extent of extreme dullness, were it not that INI r Coleman Phillips occasionally ventilates his special and peculiar views, and has a friendly tilt with his fellow Councillors. It is not so down in Wellington. The City Council of the favored Empire City, was, not very long ago, the arena of so many bitter wordy fights, that it became a veritable bear-garden. Even very recently his Worship the Mayor and some of the Councillors indulged in some clumsy sport by metaphorically “ baiting” an unhappy Councillor named Petheriek. But the proceedings iu the Wellington City Council tho other night were of so lively and personal a character, and such very strong language was used, that it is a matter for wonder that the windup was not distinguished by the occurrence of a regular “ rough and tumble fight.” The subject under discussion was a proposal to transfer a portion of land to be reclaimed, from the City Council to the Harbor Board—the latter body paying a

certain price for the land. The main point in dispute was the amount of money to be given for the land. The Harbor Board were willing to give a specific sum, but the Mayor and a certain party in the Council wanted considerably more. The Mayor, Mr George Fisher, stole a march upon his opponents by getting up a public meeting of the ratepayers, whom he harangued at great length, and induced to pass a resolution desiring the Council Mot to sell the land, save at the higher price. This action of the Mayor led to a decided row at the last meeting of the City Council. At the public meeting the Mayor, Mr Fisher, had made a rather violent speech, attacking every one in the Council who differed from his views. For this he was assailed at the Council meeting by Councillor S, Brown, who denounced him in the following plain terms : “ You, Mr Mayor, have made more mischief in this Couneil than any other mau that ever sat in it, I say that to your face, and do not shirk it. I do not know what is to be done now; everything that has been done in the interests of the city has now gone to the winds, and we can thank your Worship for it.” This plain language rather daunted the Mayor, who, however, retorted upon Mr Brown (who has some connection with the Gas Company) “ that he (the Mayor) remembered the time when the funds of the Council were used to dig out a gasometer for the Wellington Gas Company.” Then up rose Councillor Brown in his wrath and declared—“ Your statement, Mr Mayor, is a lie.” “ What,” rejoined his Worship—“ a lie.” ” Yes,” added the angry Brown,” I repeat that your statement is a lie. I challenge you to prove what you say ; and I say that yon, George Fisher, are telling a lie.” Evidently, the Mayor was cowed by thus getting the lie direct thrown into his very teeth, by a Councillor who evidently was'’ready to clinch his argument by a knock-down blow. Anyhow, the Mayor swallowed the affront of having been given the lie direct, said little or nothing in reply, and “ caved in.” Then, encouraged by the prowess of Councillor Brown, another Councillor named Quick, set upon the Mayor, and administered to him a very sharp verbal , p castigatiou, after which peace was restored and the meeting broke up. Of course all this is very sad, but we (confess on looking into the whole facts of the case, that we think Mr Fisher, the Mayor of Wellington, brought these attacks upon himself by his own overbearing and uncourteous conduct. We were very glad to see Mr Fisher elected as Mayor of Wellington on the last occasion, because we thought

liis energy and determination would prove of much service in the municipal affairs of the Empire City. Bui though that expectation has not been 'disappointed, yet it seems as if the elevation of Mr Eisher has rather turned his head. Mr Eisher has indulged in annoyance and browbeating, and has been altogether too self opinionated. The thorough dressing down which he has received from Councillors Brown and Quick was therefore quite deserved, and it is to be hoped will do Mr Eisher good, and cause him to mend his manners.