The Examiner. Thursday, October 22, 1857. "PUBLIC GOOD." PLAIN TRUTH.

Auckland Examiner, Volume 1, Issue 45, 22 October 1857, Page 2

The Examiner. Thursday, October 22, 1857. "PUBLIC GOOD." PLAIN TRUTH.

It is now past doubt that in the new Provincial Council our Superintendent will have materials to his hand. Not one of the opposition candidates is returned. Mr. Southwell narrowly escaped being returned for the city, and up to three o’clock it was generally thought he would go in. Just before four there was a rush of place-holders, and military men, whose principles may be light as air, but whose votes were decisive. At two o’clock Southwell was six votes a head of Matson and sixteen a-hcad of Griffin. F.om a much earlier hour it was plain that neither Hansard nor- Murphy would be any where in the contest. Relieved from all dread of them, our self-styled Constitutional party worked their best approved “ dodges” with praiseworthy perseverance. Nothing clearer than that Southwell was their bete noir alias black beast. To keep him out of the Provincial Council they felt was indispensable, and they succeeded. But as already intimated, they had a tough task. When the poll closed Griffin had beaten Southwell by only thirty-one votes, or 369 against 338. This was “ sharp work for the eyes.” At present we are not prepared with proof that there was foul play, but Hansard more than insinuated as much. He did, in fact, state from the hustings that unfair influences had been employed. We shall see. Meanwhile it may not be amiss to deal with some well ascertained matters of fact; and then proceed to consider the “ fix” in which our Constitutional party rump are likely soon to find themselves. Even fools are said to profit by experience, and it will indeed be odd if Auckland citizens do not profit by such experience as recent events do amply furnish.

Six nominees will now represent or mis-represent this city. We say six nominees because they are no other. Some of the six were nominated without their own consent, but they were nominated nevertheless. If Boylan and Dignan obiected to figure in the list of Constitutional party rump Candidates, why not

have publicly avowed that disgust they are presumed and believed to have felt? Did thej fear giving offence to fussy little Hugh, who seems our Lord-low every thing in politics ? Either they did, or did not approve their own nomination by the Constitutional party-rump Committee. If they approved it, what other than nominees can they be ? if they did not approve it they were bound to protest against being treated as merest political flunkeys. In comparison vyith their conduct that of Hansard sticks fiery off indeed for he would not suffer his name to be the synoiiyme of slave.. If his word may be taken, and we have no sufficient cause to doubt it, the little— Hugh — commanded clique of little notabi ities who thrust their six nominees upon the citizens of Auckland, invited him to be one of their politically chosen vessels. He refused to be made the utensil of a faction, and he was right. But if Hansard was right, Boylan and Dignan were wrong. No doubt they secured their election by their pleasant mode of running with the hare whilst .holding with the hound. No doubt they deemed keeping in with both sides, aclever stroke of policy. No aoubt, being reasonable men, they reasoned thus—We are known politicians. We have V starred” it in Cottncd. We have a “ stake” in theProvince. We are. the only candidates supposed to have brains, and can afford singing Lillebulero while both parties do. electioneering work for us. We will let it go forth that the Constitutional party rump conduct is distasteful to us; but we will profit by not protest against such conduct. We are independent to the very marrow of our back-bone ; and yet did we assert our independence except in under-tone, or sotto voce as Italians call it, the Constitutional party rump,— which we despise, might go dead against us and let in Southwell, whom we dread. We cannot countenance this ridiculous Constitutional party rump, but will avail ourselves of such help as it can afford. We are sure to go in ; and being in, will glorify ourselves upon being chosen vessels without either trouble or expence on our own part.”

According to a proverb “ grey with old age,” every tub should stand upon its. own bottom. . Politicians should act in the spirit of that proverb or, to state differently the same great truth, they should rely upon their own principles and merits. Hansard did both. Boylan and Dignan did neither. Bnt enough of them. Matters more important press for consideration.

Now that Skipper Williamson has a crew of his own and little Hughe’s choosing, how will he work the ship? That is now the question of questions. If our Superintendent knows better how to govern us than any body else, we believe that nobody will oppose his Governlnent. A really able and honest Superintendent would soon unite all suffrages in his favor. No principle in politics is better established than the principle of usefulness. We want to be governed by men who will govern for the good of the governed ; who will govern us economically and wisely; who will not govern in the interest of a party, but in the interest of all.

Are we now to be governed by such men ? Let us endeavor to find out. No sane man can doubt that members of the new Council are less likely to benefit this Province than to quarrel amongst themselves. They are, we allow, a crew nf our Skipper’s own choosing ; but can we reasonably hope from their administration of affairs, that honesty will be recognized as the best policy; that jobbery will be put an end to; that merit will not be held a disqualification for office ; and that wearing a black coat, or being able to distinguish one part of speech from another, will pass with our rulers for venial offences.

While disposed to give the new Provincial Counc.l a fair trial, we confess to misgivings as regards its fitness to deal with difficulties “looming in the future.” Major Matson assured Auckland citizens that he would' do them no good if unable to do thSfn any harm. No doubt our “ proud-to-be-a-military-man,” meant to say that when elected he would do no harm ij unable to do any good. He simply in sense rhetorical put the cart before the horse. Politicians of his mental calibre, and physical complexion, will often let out truth they know not how.

We think our gallant Major slipped tongue most felicitously when he promised not to do us any good, even if he failed to do us any harm. It made us laugh almost as much as Ins statement that our Superintendent “found an empty chest to begin with.” In the latter case horse went before cart and no slip of tongue was detectable, though slip of mind might be. Should Northern Division electors return Dr. Lee, “ upon the ole and as an ole” he and our model ‘of an “ empty chest,” carc-before-horse legis • lator, will be a nice pair. * Indeed the new Provincial Council promises to afford fine sport for those who long to see a Little Parliament on the pure Constitutional rump model. Its

’members will not have their equanimity disturbed by “ educated” Carleton or his “ classical” friends. They will have a fine opportunity to demonstrate how admirably the public business can be carried on by people who know nothing about it. L'heir noble self-reliance recalls a circumstance in which the writer of this article was concerned. Some eight years ago he went into the shop of :i Manchester Barber, whose poll, like the poll of Barbers in general, was outward and visible sign that people shaved within. He sat do.vn. A boy lathered his chin and began scraping away at it. Twice deeply cut in less than two miiiives, he angrily exclaimed — What toe deuce are you about ? Do you take my face for one of your master’s blocks ? ’No, quoth the boy, with provoking coolness. Well then what do you mean ? Are you not able to shave people without ■cutting them ? I don’t know Sir, rejoined this uneducated little Barber.— 1 never shaved any one in my life afore. But you coming ii, and Master being ■out, 1 thought I d try. Many members of our new Provincial ■Council know as much about legislating .as this juvenile Barber did about shaving. He did nt know but he’d try-how to shave. Our Kings, Lees, and Matson’s don’t know but they’ll try - how to legislate. Official declaration of the Poll:— Mr. Boylan . 451 Dignan . 431 King . 409 Lvnch . 406 Matson • 384 Griffin . 369 Southwell 338 Hansard . 161 Murphy . 100 The following votes were taken for the Division :— Mr. A. O’Neill 137 Hill . 131 Munro . 127 Cooper . 108 Lee . 108 Reynolds 96