MR. MACASSEY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 528, 31 May 1872, Page 3

MR. MACASSEY.

Mr. James Macassey appears to have got himself into a hornet’s nest by his late candidature for the Wakatip. The Wahalip Mail opposes him on all sides, even his desire to get five hundred pounds expended on the dangerous tracks of the Upper Shotover, is construed into an offence in the columns of that journal, although we should imagine that miners in that locality are.very much obliged to Mr. Macassey for his exertions on their behalf. The Wakatip Mail however, was never famous for the display of good judgment; while, as an expression of public opinion, it only represents a small clique in Queenstown, whoso only qualifications are that, by the exercise of a rather large amount of greedy selfishness, they have acquired unto themselves a considerable share of this world’s goods. These parties have dubbed themselves the “ people of the Wakatip, and with the assistance of the Wakatip Mail, are wont to believe that they alone are able to direct and rule public opinion. Mr. Macassey, with his great penetration, no doubt quickly discovered this nice little clique, who, like bees disturbed in their hive, became fearful for their honey and stung the intruder remorsely by setting public opinion against him ; which, as Mr, Macassey was so little known, they succeeded for the time being in doing, and they were successful in setting up their idol in the shape of Mr. Hallenstein in his place. The Education Question was their trump card, and as Mr. Macassey was generally considered to be accredited Moran and some of the Catholic vote, his election became a question of Protestantism versus Catholicism, the stronger party of the two prevailing. That we are right in these conclusions we have only to instance that, notwithstanding the enormous amount of influence exercised by Mr, Hallenstcin’s friends, he was only returned for the Provincial Council' by a majority of three votes over Mr. Henry Manders in his stronghold of Queenstown, while at the Arrow, he only obtained about a dozen votes. We can oiler no better test of public opinion than this, and Mr. Macassey should find consolation in his defeat, in knowing that his successful opponent occupies his scat not from the con. fidence placed in him by his constituents but by the force of adverse circumstances, one which at the time of the election he could not control. Had he have gone up to the Wakatip, on the independent ticket, ignored Bishop Moran and made his head quarters at Arrowtown instead of making it an outpost, lie would most de- 1 cidedly havebeen elected. Local influences are of course very strong in a country district, still there was no place so easy for an unknown man to have been returned in than the Wakatip had ho have gone the right way about it, but no community appears to care about being made a political tool of under this evil the people of the j Wakatip had for some suffered, and they were naturally very chary in getting into ths-same meshes again. With respect to the articles in the Wakatip Mail theymust only be taken for what they are worth, “ a spluttering in the pan", of no foundation, and of no weight, and like - the hungry boy, “ speaking ns his belly guides him.” From parties whom we have met lately from the Wakatip wo glean that the Mail has not made friends by its persistent persecution of Mr. Macassey, its late independent tone is generally considered to be the tone of the nice little clique we have already described, for without their support its proprietor would, no doubt, quake in his shoes for fear. Mr. Macassey will doubtless prove a hard nut for them to crack, and we firmly believe, that he possesses many sympathisers. The Arrow Observer appears to say very little about Mr. Macassey, perhaps as rumor statet, being a puppet of the Mail, it dare not contradict the opinions of that journal, but, however that may be, the managers of the Observer wisely say nothing about it. If wo may judge from the last issue of the Observer the people of the Arrow are awakening to the idea that by the return of Mr. Hallenstein they have let the “sceptre" depart from them. . The Arrow was always the political stronghold of the Wakatip, and in its greatest strength has displayed an unpardonable weakness. Prom the same article wo may infer that when again the electors are appealed to, the Arrow will put forward its whole strength as in the case of Mr. Innes, its representative in the Provincial Council and return its candidate with an overwhelming and triumphantmajority,[and shouldthere beanappeal the country, of which there is a probability during the coming session of the Hew Zealand Legislature, we should by no moans feel surprised if the tables are not fumed on the Queenstown favorite. Mr. Macassey must not therefore despair of becoming member for the Wakatip yet, like “Bruce’s spider" he’s bound to succeed. The only thing tnat can do Mr. Macassey harm with the electors or the Wakatip,. is the late Chinese petition. The mining community no doubt feel themselves sore on the subject, annoyed as they are by the presence of so many Mongolians, it must be galling to find themselves ignored and a great social change sought to be established without their assistance, knowledge, or consent. We will not go so far as the -Mail and say the whole thing was a forgery. The petition we learn was smuggled throngh the various Chinese encampments, hut received few signatures, the great majority must therefore have been made up at Cardrona and other places not in the Wakatip. Had it been desirable to remove the Warden the Europeans would most decidedly have taken the matter in hand, but coming as it does from a Chinese source, the whole thin” is probably ridiculous, and is justly considered as a most unwarrantable interference with the rights and privileges of the European miners. We hope that in this matter Mr. Macassey has been misled. Of course there is no harm in presenting a pe-

titiou, the meanest subject of Hev Majesty or any one claiming her protection possesses he right of petitioning the throne itself. much less the Provincial Council. Mr Macassey in presenting the petition only did his duty, hut identifying himself furith it is a horse of another colour, ahd we hope in this respect Mr. Macassey will remove from himself all imputations on that, score ;the matter doubtless" only requires an explanation. Anent the removal of Wardens this matter has never however turned out very happily for the parties concerned ; the fable of “ King Log and King Stork, ” having, in most instances been realised. We perceive now that the Arrow is going in for a Warden of its own, and we feel fully assured that the growing importance of that district. This want on the part of Mr. Hallenstein’s constituents will doubtless prove a tough bone for him to pick, and will be most strenuously opposed by his Queenstown constituents ; and w'e feel fully assured that, if Mr. Hallenstein refuses to advocate this cause, Mr. Macassey will most readily bo appealed to by the Arrow people. The hearing of the impending libel cases, in which the Wakatip Mail proprietary are the defendants, will, no doubt, let in a great deal of light upon the doings of the Queenstown wire-pullers in the matter of the late election. The Mail is at present only r crowing upon its own dung-hill; but, when it comes to be assailed by a far more vigorous and intelligent rooster, it may put its head where its tail should be, and run for its life. The successfully selfish traders of Queenstown will go no farther than their own interests are concerned, and the Wahllid Mail may find itself left out in the cold after all. Mr. Macassey must take comfort under his defeat in the best manner he can. Time will do more for him than the columns of newspaper writing; but, that he wdl win in the end, wo feel assured.