The Evening Star. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 334, 3 February 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1871.

Mb. Kerb, doubtless with the spirit of an old soldier, does not take kindly to defeat. But it is not inconsistent with the true military spirit to observe the courtesies of chivalry towards the conqueror ; and Mr. Kerr would have assumed a more becoming attitude had he cheerfully bowed to fate and held out the hand of friendship to the elect of Eden. It is strange that a gentleman of his experience should call in question any means that may have been taken to secure an election, knowing, as he must, that " everything is fair in love, politics, and war." He ■hould know that were his allegations correct, the acts of which he complains are among the recognised tactics of politicai strategy ; and theit success ful accomplishment is among the triumphs of the campaign. "He said that Mr. Creighton, after getting a hundred votes, made desperate exertions." But this was only bringing up the reserves. In fact it was, " Up Guards, and at them." " His conveyances at Onehunga were used by the

other side" ; but ibis was only turning his guns. '* There were a number ,of electors sent back," but this was only a diversion, by which a contingent was prevented from effecting a junction with the main forces. " One of bis 'busmen bad told him that he was made tipsy by the opposite party." But this was only an ambush by which a portion of his baggage-waggons was cut off, and the officer m charge made hors de combat. We do not really see, of what Mr. Kerr complains, nor should we now allude to the late election were it not that he has questioned our neutrality, and charged us with having lent our thunder to the hand of Mr. Creighton. Iv fear of another Alabama claim, we hasten to assure the late member for the Pensioner Settlements that we have observed a scrupulous neutrality, except in expressing our warm sympathy with hia opponent, which not even the strict neutrality of Britain in the Franco-Prussian struggle includes among the contraband of war. "We beg to assure Mr. Kerr that Mr Creighton had nothing whatever to do with the article in the EveningStar, of which he complained at Newmarket, and that it was written by the same hand that now pens this remonstrance. We claim to ourselves the free expression of our convictions. And we are sure that even Mr. Kerr himself cannot think that he is in any sense equal to Mr. Creighton as a representative. He has not Mr. Creighton's knowledge of public questions, his powers of debate, his influence, or any of his other qualities that make up the material of a good legislator. And though we have no doubt he is a good soldier, and all honor to the brave! yet in these times of piping peace we don't want a representative to shoulder arms iv the House of Representatives. It was by considerations of this kind that our mind was swayed. And though we hardly expected that our shrapnel should have burst so far away as Eden, it was this that prompted us to fire the random shot that has moved the ire of Mr. Kerr.