The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 1874.

Dunstan Times, Issue 626, 17 April 1874, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 1874.

Beneath thelluleof Men entirely just the pen is mightier than the sword.

Ex M.P.C for tlie Pnnstan, in tlio person of Mr. 'Thomas Luther Fheplioul, has been making liimself a little notorious of late by the display of some ill conceived strategic measures to regain his position in the Provincial Council, as the representative of the W aka.tip. Mr. Mallaghan of Queenstown, and Mr. Pritchard of Arrowtown, are respectable and influential tradesmen in their respective localities, while to a certain extent we may believe them to represent public opinion, but at the same time, we do not think that the electors ct the M akatip district repose so much confidence in them, 7 as to entirely leave to their discretion the management of such an important matter as the choice of representatives in the Piovlncial Council, much less ro call upon one member to resign, 3 and substitute another. If we may judge from the tone of the local journal, the Wakatip Mail, our neighbors'at the Lakes are pretty alive to politics, and apparently set a considerable value upon political independence, nor has anything we know of occurred, to cause them to relinquish that privilege, and ire can only inferthat either Messrs. Mallaghan and Pritchard were hoaxing Mr. Shepherd, or, that Mr. Shepherd was hoaxing Messrs. Mallaghan and Pritchard. We fancy the former surmise is the -correct one. Mr. Shepherd wants a seat in the "Council badly, and he accordingly throws ’himself in the wav of these

gentlemen, '(accidentally of Course) who are visiting Dunedin to enjoy the pleasures of the Races, arid who, not liking to mar the happiness of the “ Smiler ” or spoil any little enjoyment he may derive from the equestrian 'pleasures of the race week, they probably informed him that there was some Jkruth in Mr. (Robert Clarke’s resignation, and ‘there existed a chance for him, meaning Mr. Shepherd. This was just what the “ Smiler ” wanted, and lie seized greedily at the bait, swallowing it whole, by proposing himself a candidate, and under such powerful influences, deemed himself already elected, and accordingly telegraphs to thell'Mayor of Arrowtown that, upon Mr. Clarke’s resignation, his, Mr. Shepherd’s election had been finally arranged by Messrs Mallajlian and Pritchard, these gentlemen, as a matter of course, consigning over to him the suffrages of the electors of the district''with as much promptness and precision as they would do, in the case of a customer visiting either of their business establishments, and becoming the purchaser of a barrel of red-herrings, paying cash down ? as s> matter of course. To attemptllto make such a bargain, proves Mr. Shepherd’s utter unfitted ness to become the ?representative of a miniDg' ; or any other'community, and we feelfsure that no.constituency would elect a man, who would even dare to barter for their most valued privileges,* although, the would be aspirant for politicaflionors was only being deluded by two gentlemen whom he” thought to'; delude. Mr. Thomas Luther Miepherd was never a favorite with the electors of the Wakatjp ; they always persistently rejected him, he never could charm them into making him their [representative, smile he ever so beniguedly and blandly Mr. [Shepherd must have a pretty idea of the political independence of : a mining community, when he supposes that the election of a representative is in the hands of two storekeepers ; ho v must attach more virtues 10 tea and sugar than we | do, or the moral and political influence to be derived from the sale of s lop clothing. However, we may gaiety come to the conclusion jin this'case i that, the whole affair has been a little ! pleasantry of the race week, and we j Lave ail been amused’at the expense j of the “ Smiler.”