THE MUNICIPAL SITUATION.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 193, 22 July 1873, Page 5

THE MUNICIPAL SITUATION.

To the Editor of the. Cromwell Angus. Sir,—l confess to a feeling of surprise and even of dismay when the Returning Officer stepped forward this afternoon and declared the result of the poll to be a tie. Sir, it must be perfectly evident that Cromwell ratepayers have had enough of Mr Fraer's vain-glory. But, Sir, who would have thought that rude uncultivation would have made so favourable a show ? And before the decisive day is fixed, and seeing that there seems every probability that John Marsh will head the poll, I would ask,—Do we wish to drift once more into the pristine state of things—hopeless confusion —what I may call the days of darkness ? How many years we were a laughingstock to all our neighbours is a matter of history. Latterly, Sir, I imagined that we had grown out of that. But when we see utter incompetence placed in front of at any rate a show of ability and education, what are we to think ? I would ask the Cromwell ratepayers to pause. Is John Marsh a fit holder of the office of Justice of the Peace? ;Can we look to him with auy kind of satisfaction, to say nought of pride, and acknowledge him as our leading citizen ? Sir, it is not a question of measures. It has never been a question of measures in Cromwell municipal elections. Turn about, for the last four or five years, men holding the most diverse opinions on our great question—the water question—have been elected. Men, not measures, is and has been the gui le. Personal considerations .strike the balance. And leaving all Mr Marsh's intended measures out of the question, and his opponent's also, which is the man best titted to fill the honourable position ? Who can say that John Marsh has a single attainment to fit him for it? He has been a long resident, but has he done anything beyond lining his own nest? Take John Marsh the right way, and when you pet him and rub him down, be carefal not to turn the hair, and he is as smooth as his nature will allow. But ruffle his feathers- get his back up—and he is obstinate, cantankerous, and crazy after his own way as any spoiled child. Are obstinacy and petted puerility to carry the day? Have the ratepayers no regard to the fitness of things? Have we not'left behind the days when the rudest, baldest form of stump oratory may lead us ? Rather let us echo the verdict of the district when it positively put Mickey in over his head. And when he tried again, how much better did he fare ? Will the town receive as Mayor a man whose credit in the political market was so low that he could not even find a proposer ? Surely, if the self-glorification and absurd egotism of M. Fraer is beyond bearing, among the eighty-nine ratepayers some man of intelligence, and polish, and education can be found to fill the civic chair. MacKellar, Oolclough, Taylor, Jolv, Dawkins -itarkey,— these, and others I could name, are »ien who might well and worthily occupy the p>st of honour. But John Marsh ! 0 tempora! C mores /—Yours, ifco., Jul y 21. ■Ratepayer.