THE MAYORALTY.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 605, 18 December 1871, Page 2

THE MAYORALTY.

'We feel disposed to apologise to our readers for giving at length a report of the proceedings which took place on Saturday evening on the reserve off Queen street. Our moraine contemporaries dismiss tho subject with a paragraph each. But as there are those hi the city who think Mr Staiues must be an ill-used man, we deem it right, as nearly as possible; downright blackguardism of course omitted, to give an account of the proceedings in which that person was head and middle and tail. This assemblage of townspeople met on tho Reserve next the Thistlo Hotel on Saturday evening at six o'clock, in compliance with a request conveyed in an advertisement, asking them to nominate a fit and proper person as Mayor for election by City Councillors. The attendance was small at first, but as the proceedings progressed a large crowd were attracted to tho spot. Two express vans hired from the stand for the occasion were drawn up end to end on the reserve, and provided with chairs and tables for the accommodation of speakers and reporters. At a quarter past six Mr George Staines, who occupied one of the vans, rose. He was superbly attired in a bran new bobtail coat, which fitted him like a glove, a snow white macella waistcoat (second hand), a pair of black inexpressibles, large full dicky and white choaker (old stock), a massive gold signet ring on his finger, and one of Hulbert's best whilo tiles :in fact, he looked par excellence, and one failed to recognise in him the old broker of Upper Queen street. Apparently oblivious of the fact that a chairman is customary on such an occasion Mr Staines opened tho proceedings, and addressed the ratepayers present in forcible language, and capitulated the proceedings of the City Board in which he had taken a part, and in very strong language proceeded to condemn tho conduct of the present Mayor, at the same time showing what he (himself) had done for the people. He said that the colony was too young to be ablo to bear the expense of a paid Mayor, and such office ought to be filled gratuitously. He also complained that the Mayor had first obtained a vote for himself of thirty shillings a week, which he-(Mr Staines) stigmatised as being very paltry of him, as it was less than a day laborer's wages, or of a scavenger that worked on the streets. He had gradually obtained an advance ou the salary until it had reached £200 per annum, and would be further increased by his machinations to £500, if the ratepayers stood calmly by and allowed themselves to be " robbed" by this man. Thero was no town in England, save London, where < a Mayor received any stipend. The honor of the post was a sufficient payment to them, and in this young and struggling place the same principle ought to be carried out. He said, are you going to be robbed of £500 a year out of the rates by this mean, despicable Jew ? (A voice : " Put your hat on, you'll get a sunstroke.") Oh, I'm not afraid of a sunstroke. -This poor, needy fellow, who perhaps can't pay twenty shillings in the pound (laughter). Although I am only a old broker I've got land and houses, and I can always pay twenty shillings in the pound (cheers), but does this needy Jew do so, I should like to know. Some of you, perhaps, know whether he does or not. I don't know myself. (Uproar, and a voice :" He did'nt invite you to the dinner.") I ask, can ho pay twenty shillings in the pound. (Laughter, and yes, yes, and how's your uncle ?") Oh, you're another Moses; don't you talk to me. You're a dirty, broken-down bankrupt, and your uncle would'nt own you. (Roars of laughter.) My uncle lives oa the Surrey shores of Old England. I wish I had several uncles like him. When I left London he fell on my neck and wept. (Mr Staines here became very much affected, and a glass of brandy and water was handed up to him, of which he partook.) Mr Staines : I don't mind about being an orphan. (A voice : " Don't cry, old Staines."') You're another dirty Jew, and can't pay your debts; and I'm notfgoing to be pulled down by a lot of common, low Jews, —low, dirty Jews. (Uproar.) Now let us coma to the point. (A voice: "How about poor old Hoy wood ?") Well, I hope he is in Heaven. (A voice: " Yes, but where's the money.") Oh ! the moneys right enough. Laughter. (A voice, " Shut up.) Mr Staines,—" Why, you low, dirty scoundrel, you haven't passed through the Bankruptcy Court yet, and never will, not while I'm' alive. Gentlemen, that Jew there is a brokendown bankrupt. (A voice, " You're a blackguard.") Why, that Jew fellow says I'm'a blackguard. I began the world at half-a-crown a wreck, and worked by the sweat of my brow. , I appeal to you all, am I blackguard P * (Laughter, and " No, no, certainly not; go on Staines don't mind the Red House.") Well, I'm getting nearer the point; will you let a ! low, mean, needy Jew bo Mayor over you ; he is a donkey. (Roars of laughter/) Well, will you give a donkey £5000* a year. (Cries of "No, no.") Mr Staines's voice failing him, a tankard of beer was brought out to him, which he drank. (Avoice,"How aboutthePermissiveßill.'') Mr Staines: " Oh, I'm not a dirty teetotaller; I likes my beer, and beef1, too." I'm not used to speaking; I don't moan j any disrespect to respectable jews, only to '

these blackguards. I want to hear you gentlemen give some expression to-night of your opinion as to who shall be Mayor. It was I who called this meeting, and it might have cost me six or seven bob, but what's the odds. I have always fought for the people. (Cheers.) And because I stuck up for them, the Mayer sent for the police one day, aud had me bundled out of the City Board. (Laughter. A voice : "Go for a ride and come back again.") I admit it was me who wrote anonymous letters to the papers about Mr Philips, but what's the odds ; I'm George Staines, the Spitalfleld's weaver. (A voice : " Why, you used to hang outside a dolly-shop in Petticoat Lane. (Laughter.) Hallo! another Jew again ; why the police are looking for you. (Renewed laughter.) Go and pay your debts, you dirty, unclean rascal. You're all Jews ; but I don't want to make this a religious matter. I want to see a proper man made Mayor, a man that'll do it for nothing. And there's one willing to stand, and he's got plenty of time ; will you have him. (Uproar. Another pint of baer was then handed up to the speaker, amidst roars of laughter.) Oh, I can do my beer. (A voice : " Will you give me some-") Mr Staines :No i I'd give you ' skilley,' that's what you're used to, you dirty lew Jew." (Laughter.) Gentlemen, we are getting now to the point. Will you elect a chairman, and motions will then be put in the usual way. I don't want to have all the " say." _ Let some one else come and give their views. (Great uproar, and Mr Staines sut down.) After a great deal of noise, a man named Alexander Philips, a

runner to the Cross and Herald, was then hoisted up and placed in the chair, amidst roars of laughter. He appeared a little elevated, and addressed the meeting. His speech was contained in the following pithy and pertinent remarks : — " Gentlemen I hope you will give a patient hearing to what the chairman is going to denote." The chairman then sat down. Mr Staines: "Is that your feeling, gentlemen, that you put that dirty blackguard in the chair. I'll have a better chairman than him ; I would scout that fellow; I am surprised that no respectable man comes up." Chairman: " What's that to do with Mr Macreadyor any other man." (Laughter). Mr Staines : " Oh, I know why it is ; you're all afraid of these Jews; they rule over you, but I'm not afraid of any of 'em. Why a tailor licked that Mayor, and on the City Board I've fought eight of 'em, and would fight a hundred for a principle- I won't have this dirty fellow in the chair. At this stage of the proceedings a warm and exciting debate took place between the Chairman and Mr Staines, the former maintaining that he was quite as good and respectable a man as Mr Staines. The owner of the cart applied to the Chairman for two and sixpence, the fees for the use of the platform. The Chairman denied his liability, whereupon the back board was removed from the dray, and the Chairman was forcibly ejected. Mr Staines proceeded. There's Mr Williams, Anchor Hotel he'll do for a chairman; I vote that he takes the chair. (Great uproar, and the honor declined by Mr Williams.) Mr Staines : What, will no one take the chair ? I called the meeting. (A voice : " Yes, and you've got it all to yourself." A man who flourished a huge ham bone, said, " Can't you get a chairman, Staines ; I'll go and mix you up one." Loud laughter.) Mr Staines : I am surprised at you, gentlemen, that you don't try and get your p(o)int. (A voice: "You've got your pint, anyhow.") Mr Staines: Yes, but it is all gone, and-1 can do another. (A voice : " Why don't you pay your washing bill.") I likes my beer, but I hates a Jew. Let us come to the p(o)int. (A voice: " Can't you make it a quart this time, Staines.") Several people were persuaded one after another to take the chair. Among the rest the Billsticker of the Theatre Royal, who maintained his position for sometime, but were all repudiated ; and one persisting in retaining possession, was summarily ejected by Mr Staines who would have no "dirty Jews." _No chairman being forthcoming suitable to Mr Staines* taste, a vote two pints of beer and thanks were proposed to Mr. Staines and carried nem. con. together with three cheers which were enthusiastically responded to. The express man here spoke a few words to him when he rose and said, " Gentlemen, this man says I'm a by fool, now I ask you whether I am a by fool." (Laughter and no no Staines you're not.) The van was then driven off amidst immense cheering. Mr Staines who with difficulty could keep his legs, bowing his acknowledgements as the van was being driven" rapidly down Queenstreet. Mr Staines, however, returned in less than five minutes to bring back the pewter measures to mine host of the Thistle. ■■ . '■<-.». __.*'•_ - -"roefc.

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These,are the eyes that haveuTi 1 the destruction of tins couatrv T them. This is the Parliament J*! land He >en swallowed the .1 %l drank some blood out of anannit; ' Cobb and Co. intend! Z ft January, to start a line of cn »„i Taupo Lake and the hot sprff^l will be a capital trip for tourists ' itll3|