The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARR INCORPORATED The Evening News and The Morning News. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 602, 14 December 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARR INCORPORATED The Evening News and The Morning News.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1871.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that wo can do."

The fire of attack on Mr Philips i.s still kept up by anonymous writers. In other circumstances we should have left Mr Philips to fight his own battles; but there is such a manifest unfairness in this system of attack, and his assailants, although few, arc so. Protean in form and so persistent in attack, we feel called upon by every impulse of manliness to do battle. We believe our feelings in this respect arc those entertained by the great bulk of citizens, and it is generally thought that Mr Philips is not only deserving of election to the Mayoralty beyond all competitors, but more than ever that the importance of his re-election is apparent, as the best means of preventing a return to the jobbery of other days with which this city has been disgraced. We are given to understand that a public meeting of citizens is to be convened to give public expression to the views of citizens on the important subject of the election of Mayor. We are glad of this ; for though we do not believe that the sneaks who have been firing away from behind shelter of the anonymity of the press will come out of their hiding-places and talk in a manly way, we shall have better opportunity of discovering their identity and exposing their motives. It is very well known that the appointments of Town Clerk and of Inspector of JSuisances, are chief among the causes of that enmity which is now manifesting itself in such a cowardly way. We were opposed to the appointment of Mr Brodie, considering that a practising lawyer would have been more fitted for the office. But Mr Brodie has fulfilled his. duties faithfully and well, and it is disreputable in the extreme that the chagrin caused in the minds of some by his election on the casting vote of the Mayor, and which found expression in threats against Mr Philips at the time, should after being so long bottled up, find vent in the form of cowardly stabbing in the dark. The election also of Mr Goldie to the office of Inspector of Nuisances has been a source of annoyance to the small and despicable clique that would fain rule the city. Than Mr G-oldie there could not be a more efficient officer, and by the clique it is vowed that he will be ousted from office. If citizens are going to tolerate this impertinent tyranny then they deserve to have the £20,000 squandered on jobs. We do not hesitate to say that only by the exclusion of Mr Philips will that clique gain the ascendancy, and the question of the mayoralty is one not of a personal character but of public importance.

"We observe that among the correspondence which that subject has evoked Messrs Staines aud George, two highly respectable aud influential gentlemen in public life, have taken on them to reply to our statement as to there being an understanding at last election of mayor that Mr Philips was to be re-elected for- another year. We did not say; as asserted by Mr G-eorge, that he " pledged or promised his support to Mr P. A. Philips the Mayor;" and it is only Mr George's overweening self-conceit that makes him think so. Mr George, puffed up with the idea that he contains in his person the whole City Council, and bears on his shoulders all its honors and responsibilities, has mistaken the Council for himself. We had thought that after we had published his letter some months ago with its quaint and curious orthography, Mr George would not again have put his horns out of his shell, but now in conjunction with Mr Staines he must needs defend the honor of the Council. For those two gentlemen we have a very great respect. In fact so has every true citizen. Mr Staines and

Mr George are the very models of what City Councillors should be. Dignified in demeanour, of cultivated intellect and polished manner, broad and comprehensive in views on great public questions, these two worthy gentlemen command the respect of all the intelligent and respectable in the city, and if there are any two who are warranted in rushing to the front as champions for the honor of civic authority, they are Messrs George and Staines. But we beg to differ from these two highly respectable and intelligent gentlemen. We by no means impeach their honor, which is unimpeachable, but we were referring to the Council, not to them. AnU we did not say that any promise was given to Mr Phillips, but wo did say, and we aay again, that there was an understanding, in consequence of which Mr Philips was assured that he should not hold office merely for the few months before the annual election this month, but should be re-elected to office for another year. Such understandings among a class of people who are called gentlemen, are regarded as equivalent to a " promise," or even an oath,_ but probably we are speaking of principles which some people do not understand. As to the grounds of Mr George's chagrin directed against Mr Philips, they are of that broad and comprehensive and elevated character which might be oxpected from one of Mr George's mental calibre, and extensive intellectual gifts and acquirements. However, all this controversy is idle. Mr Philips will be Mayor. That is very well known to thoso that know anything at all on the subject. The assailants may put the lance in rest and await a more fitting opportunity for attack. If it pleases them to persist in attack, well; but it will perhaps prepare them against unexpected disappointment if we inform them that they labour in vain.