THE POLITICAL AGENT OF THE PROVINCIAL PARTY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 336, 2 October 1868, Page 3

THE POLITICAL AGENT OF THE PROVINCIAL PARTY.

The "Timaru Herald" of the 16th ult., says : " It may not be generally known that the intelligence which is forwarded to the ' Lyttelton Times' and ' Otago Daily Times' from Wellington is supplied by the clerk of Dr. Featherstone, Superintendent of Wellington. This will in some degree explain the very one-sided accounts which obtain publicity through the Provincial Organs. An instance of the dishonesty of the agent is given in the last telegraphic news appearing in the columns of our contemporaries. The speech of Mr. Fox is summarised at some length, whilst the reply of Mr. Stafford is not noticed. The " Wellington Advertiser " thus speaks of the correspondent who furnishes the telegraphic and other information to the papers of the Provincial party:—"Talking of "useless officials," wc should like to know whether the tax-payers of this province gcttheir " money's worth " out of Mr. Knowles, the Superintendent's Clerk. This versatile gentleman, in addition of his presmed work for his salary, occupies the position of sensational correspondent and telegraphist to the " Otago Daily Times " and other southern papers—and, if we may judge from his manipulations, is a trusted and confidential agent of the 'paperconstitutional party.' Nothing is too hot or too strong for Mr. Knowles; his comments upon things real, immaginary, and mendacious, are admirable as ' works of art,' and very frequently the first information which reaches the Colonial Government as to the action they are supposed to have taken, is derived from the columns of a Dunedin or Christchurch newspaper. We do not object, or we rather admire the talent of our fel-low-citizen; but on behalf of the public, we do object to the payment of a considerable ealary, out of the public purse, to the tfiero

i political agent of a party. --To allude to a recent matter—What possiblo foundation had Mr. Knowles for his telegram to the "Otago Daily Times as to Mrf Stafford interfering with Mr. Fox calling a meeting of his supporters at the Wellington Club? The facts of the case were, "ondit" simply this: that Mr. Dillon Bell, a mere 'honorary' member of the Club, had the impudence to summon, 'by circular,'a political meeting of what he 'at present' considers his party, at the Club, to which he is politely admitted as a guest. The Committee naturally resented this conduct, and consequently the ' paper-constitutionalists' had to meet at the Odfellows' Hall. Mr. Knowles had much better attmd to the old-fashioned'but sensible proverb—'Ne sutor ultra crepidam.'"