TOBACCO AHD TALK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2495, 7 May 1909, Page 4

TOBACCO AHD TALK.

SMOKING AT BOROUGH COUNCIL . . MEETINGS. Those of the devotees of “My Lady Nicotine” amongst the City Fathers were responsible for a short interruption of the grave deliberations. of the Council at the meeting on Wednesday night. At about 9 p,m., Cr, Darton, in an anxious tone, besought His Worship the Mayor that smoking might bo allowed, as bacl been the custom of the previous Council after 9 p.m. \\ jtir unwonted indecision the Mayor hesitated before replying, and the iown Clerk mildly volunteered the information that 10 p.m. was the hour tnat had been observed in the pastCr. Collins boldly rushed into the breach, and keeping strictly to the standing orders, formally moved tnat smoking lie permitted after 9 P-ni-This brought matters to a head, ami a’so Cr. Kirk to his feet with a I reposition that no smoking be allowed until the business was completed, as lie was evidently filled with visions of late sittings if some of the Councillors settled themselves comfortably in their capacious chairs, indulging in the uxU Cr. Clayton struck an important note when he declared that his dclnei ations as a Councillor would be_ materially assisted if he were permitted to smoke, . . , u -r Cr. Harris, with praisewoithy se t sacrifice, declared that if smoking was objectionable to any Councillor he although he would like a smoke, uonk. not have one. As a way out of u hat promised to be a serious deadlock m the working of the people s rcprc&ultd; tives, he suggested that a ten minute, interval should be allowed so that Councillors could “go outside’’ and indulge.. Or. Somervell immediately enlisted the sympathy of at least some of those present by plaintively referring to tee inward pangs he suffered Mom the fumes of the fragrant weed. . Having received an official intimation from the chair that smoking by the previous Council was not avowed before 10 p.m., the crestfallen contingent at length gave m, and proceeded to discuss other matters of compafativelv minor importance. The hour slowlv dragged round, with nvmv an uneasy shuffling m the chairs, and * many an anxious g ance at the clock: and the echo of the last c-hime of the hour of ten had barely died away when there was a simultaneous striking <>f matches, and in a moment wreaths of blueish vapor were curling to the roof, and peace and contentment reigned supreme. Cr. Kirk’s apprehension was apparently realised, as it was not until nearly two hours later that the members of the Council realised that there was nothing more left to talk about. It is most difficult to sav, however, to what extent the welfare of the borough would have suffered, or to what hour the meeting would have been protracted, if the suggestion that smoking he not allowed had oeen carried into effect.