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Sir Oracle in his Element.

MR JOYCE AND DANIEL O’CONNELL.

“And that his own tongue still edifies his ears, And he always listening to himself appears."

Tbs usual monotony of the Borough Council meetings was dispelled on Tuesday evening by Councillor Joyce, who evidently came prepared for a stonewall that would put Sydney Taiwhanga, Esq., in the cool shades of disappointment—or it would perhaps ba more correct to say that the other Councillors acted as the stonewall, while Councillor Joyce opened on them with broadside after broadside, a perfect artillery of words. What led to the attack we are not aware, nor could the Councillors give any reason, and we do not believe Cr Joyce himself knew what impelled it and that he was equally ignorant as to what sustained it. Far be it from us to attempt to follow him in his rhetoric flights, nor yet to attempt to quench “ the living ray of intellectual fire." It all arose out of some ideas which Councillor Joyce held in regard to what he termed the “ tarring and feathering ” of the footpath from the Masonic corner to Peel street. He labored on for some time until the patience of Crs Lucas, Coleman, and Lewis was exhausted, and they retired from the chamber. The worthy speaker then made a determined onslaught on those gentlemen, who, he said, were not fit to occupy their seats. He said “it was not his rule, not his creed, not his religion, to speak animously”—he was not speaking animously, he was speaking earnestly. Cr Whinary mildly expostulated that the waste of time should not be allowed. Cr Joyce launched forth again, his face beaming with smiles and reminding one of the disquisitions of the famous Pickwick Club. He had known when the Council had sat till one and two in the morning, and he referred to Daniel O’ConneH's oratorical powers, seemingly tu show that the tarring and feathering ot footpaths was a subject worthy ot discussion. An orator was allowed to speak for three or four hours, but he had only been speaking four minutes and a quarter [he had already spoken for over twenty minutes], Cr Whinray, he said, sat in his chair with an imputation in his mouth. He would give him more of it yet and (with his opened watch in hand and his face aglow with animation) some other Councillors probably would then take a turn at it. Somebody's reputation was beyond the bounds of comparison. The Chairman expressed a hope that Cr Joyce would confine hie remarks to the subject before him, and also that he would address the chair, Cr Joyce contended that he waa in order, and hinted that anyone who said otherwise was not fit to fill the chair. Cr Townley also made a feeble protest that the Chairman was allowing the time of the Council to be taken up with a long speech which had nothing to do with the business before them. Cr Joyce smiled again as he had not smiled before. He dwelt upon “ the peculiarities that creep into the minds of certain members," but he subsequently relented and said “ he would let them off with a caution." He was speaking generally for the benefit ot whom it might concern. There were three vacant chaire there—he supposed that was what was detaining him so long. He alluded to 11 the little diminutive comprehensive ideas compounded by some Councillors," and gave an illustration of a fence beyond which they should not cross, Councillor Whinray asked whether Councillor Joyce was referring to the Te Kooti expedition, Councillor Joyce then went into details on this subject and said Councillor Whinray would (as Dan O'Connell had said) make a better officer than he would a soldier, and there were a good many of the same kind in Gisborne. He (Councillor Joyce) was both an officer and a soldier. He did not want to hit any harder, because it might break the skin, and that would make a sore, and the sore would get frost bitten. This terrible avalanche of imprecation was thundered at Councillor Whinray much the same as in the Taming of the Shrew we are told “ this cuff was but to knock at your ear and beseech hearing,” but Councillor Whinray maintained his ealm, equable temperament. Councillor Joyce then tacked and went on another style of argument—he didn’t mind going out and shouting for Councillor Whinray, and be originated a phrase that might well have emanated from Beaconsfield himself. “ There is,” said Councillor Joyce, watch in hand and affability depicted on his countenance, “ a good deal of common-sense very often imported into nonsense.” He eventually resumed his seat, with a triumphant air, first solemnly warning the Council that if they were not careful in the tarring ot the loot, path it would lead to an eruption hereafter for which they would be sorry; and then he expressed profound astonishment that he had been so long upon his legs. When the “ extraordinary ” business came on Councillot Joyce resumed the theme of his discourse. It was, he considered, detrimental to the interests of the ratepayers that Councillors should leave when any heated discussion took place—Councillor Joyce had all the “ discussion ” to himself; —they ought to stop and listen. He moved that it was not judicious for them to retire before the completion of the business. Councillor Whinray said they were perhaps indisposed. Councillor Joyce was sorry if they were. The Mayor : I think we were all indisposed. Before it was all over Councillor Townley had also retired in disgust. So ended the bombardment—this spendthrift of the tongue stemmed the torrent, the yawnings of his fellow Councillors ceased, and there was rest for the weary. Some soberminded ratepayers may say that these proceedings are not compatible with the dignity of the Council, that in short, as Micawber, would say, they are outrageous, but we are not going to moralise—the ratepayers ought to know beat how to judge this kind of procedure. We only laugh and be merry.

“ Laugh at your friends, and if your friends arc sore So much the better, you may laugh the more."

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GSCCG18890418.2.24

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 288, 18 April 1889, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,025

Sir Oracle in his Element. Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 288, 18 April 1889, Page 3

Sir Oracle in his Element. Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 288, 18 April 1889, Page 3

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