THE BATTLE OF THE WARDS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11204, 26 February 1891, Page 2

THE BATTLE OF THE WARDS.

A MUNICIPAL COMEDY. [By Paul Pry.] It isn't a fairly tale : It is simply an unvarnished record of some of ths proceedings of a member of a public body, not a hundred miles from Wanganui. He was a Councillor (with a very large capital C), and he represented the Ward of the Evangelist. But he was not content with this. _ No— he controlled tho Municipal election. Altogether, a very important perso-a was this Councillor. Was, did I say— ls — Yes he is. His eagle eye is fixed upon aiy neglect of duty. He always votes against the Foreman of Works. "So he does." Now, on the Council, ornamented and (in his own estimation) controlled by this Municipal genius, there was another Councillor. And, 10, this other Councilor was obnoxious unto the Municipal genius. He was a stirrer up of strife amongst brethren, a ready speaker at the table, and (most deadly comic of all) a plural voter. And this child of Belial being a plural voter, a representative of the plural voter's Ward, and stirrer tip of strife, thought within himself, "IWhy should the chosen of the Ward of the Evangelist — whose worahippers pay so little in rates — why should be appropriate unto his immediate followers so much of our rates." And tho disturber of the brethren's peace la : d a plot which was to put into the shade all other plots yet known. So he called a meeting to which only tho plural voter was invited. And to this meeting came divers others from the Ward of the Evangelist. And behold they guy tho child of Belial and they spoil his meeting. However, disturbance of a sort, having so far rewarded his efforts, he perservered and brought it before- the Council. And in the Council arose a worthy man, dazzled, perhaps, by the brilliancy of his colleague, and by means of an amendment defeats the disturber, who, however, has chuckled over his efforts at mischief -making. The amendment is carried. Somewhat cumbrous and expensive machinery is set m motion. The ratepayers' money is being expended, while the Municipal genius is incubating. He hatches the resolution at last — leastways he bunts it— and 10, when it opens it is addled. It is " Wrong and does'nt suit him." So an atnendant is given notice of, and the work is to be undone. A genius is master oT his surrounding circumstances, and so trifling a matter as the intercepting of a petition, addressed olsewhere, will not stand in his way. Tho petition is delayed. Tte amendment is discussed, and in obedience to h's instructions the genius benchim.n (the nominal president of the Council) after a variegated display Qf ruling to dazzle the public— and even in tho end contradicting himself — declares the motion supported ; entered and chucked Qyer by the mover of the rescinding motion, annulled, and the ratepayers.petitl.m between the devil and the sea. Ani why is all this mystery ? Why this con - plicated story ? Because the Councillor has thought that, though he supported it all through, the petition is to be a lever to shift him from his place, to relieve the Foreman of Works of the unfriendly criticism of a "practical man." Did I not say lie was a power in the land. Mußt he not be second (and a good second at that) to "the old man of the ■sea," if it requires a petition to His 'Rx--cellency the Governor to drive him from his post P Let him take heart. No man was yet a prophet in his own country. Some indeed (verb, sap, sat,) have proved a dead »ss. — Contributep.