_A MEETING OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL._
About a year ago the Government decided to create a new county, which
was to be formed of the riding in which I reside, together with seven
others. With this object eight councillors were elected for the eight
different ridings. A meeting of these gentlemen took place to carry out
the intentions of the Government, and to appoint certain officers. This
was the first meeting of the Council, and I rode over in order to be
present.
A large hall--at one end of which was a kind of stage--was hired for
the occasion, and on the stage stood a good-sized table, supplied with
pens, ink, and paper, and surrounded by eight stout chairs--one for
each councillor. By one o'clock "the trusted of the people" had all
arrived and taken their seats with countenances carefully arranged, to
suit the solemnity of the occasion which had called them together.
Some interested ratepayers occupied the body of the hall, and watched
the proceedings of the "trusted ones" with awe and admiration.
The first business to be transacted was the appointment of a chairman.
Two councillors were proposed for the office, and there were four votes
for each. Here was a dilemma--a deadlock. What was to be done? A gruff
voice from among the audience was heard to exclaim, "Toss up for it!"
a proposition rightly met by a volley of indignant and withering looks
from the councillors.
After a short pause, a remarkably solemn looking councillor moved that
the "County Council Act" be consulted, with a view to finding a way out
of the difficulty. This motion being duly carried, the County's Act was
produced, and a clause eventually discovered bearing on the matter, and
which stated that lots were to be drawn by some totally disinterested
individual. It was naturally felt that it would be extremely
undignified on the part of a councillor to go and hunt up a suitable
party. Still somebody must undertake the duty--the two embryo chairmen
and their supporters could not sit staring blankly at one another all
day--the county work would never be got through in that fashion, nor
the county roads ever graded and metalled. At this crisis a gentleman
among the audience--all honour to him--volunteered to find an eligible
person, and on his offer being graciously accepted, rushed from the
hall. He first encountered a workman halfway up a ladder, standing
against a building in course of erection, and called out to him to
come and draw lots for the chairmanship of the county. The man on the
ladder, owing probably to the hammering that was going on, evidently
only imperfectly heard, for instead of replying, he hailed his mate on
the roof with a "Hi, Bill! here is a go. They wants me to go and be
chairman of the county." Bill leant over the parapet, and delivered
himself as follows--"You take my tip, Jack, and have nothing to do
with 'em!" and this advice Jack concluded to follow, and refused to be
beguiled from his ladder. Nothing daunted, however, the public-spirited
volunteer proceeded with his search, and after a considerable lapse of
time, returned with a small boy in charge, whom he triumphantly marched
up the hall, amid murmurs of applause.
In the meantime the only "bell-topper" to be found among the head-gear
of the assembled sages had been called into requisition, placed in
position on the table, and the names of the proposed chairmen written
on pieces of paper and laid in it.
The boy was now commanded to approach the hat and draw. At this
supreme moment the scene was most impressive. Round about, in various
attitudes, betokening the deep interest they felt in the proceedings,
were the eight councillors, and on tiptoes in front of the table was
the small boy, endeavouring amid profound silence to fathom the depths
of the bell-topper. Never before had that small boy in the course of
his brief life been such an object of interest outside his own family.
The eyes of the leading men in the county were on him, and the election
of chairman of the County Council was in his hands. It ought to have
been a proud moment for that lad, but I regret to record he hardly
seemed duly impressed.
At last his not too nimble fingers secured one of the pieces of paper,
the boy became once more an insignificant atom of humanity in flour-bag
pants, and the selected chairman was duly announced. He assumed the
position with a calm dignity and solemnity, which seemed to proclaim
him as not being unaccustomed to such honours, and the County Council
proceeded to business.
[Illustration: The Supreme Moment.[A]]
[Footnote A: In order to avoid the possibility of giving offence, I
have taken care not to caricature any actual members of the Council.]
The practical working of this system is not at present very
satisfactory, and the last half-yearly statement of accounts shows
that the roads of the district were not so economically managed as
when they were under the former Road Boards, which did not involve the
keeping up of this august body, the County Council.