The Dunstan Times Beneath the rule of men ENTIRELY JUST the PEN is MIGHTIER than the SWORD. FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1877.

Dunstan Times, Issue 781, 6 April 1877, Page 2

The Dunstan Times Beneath the rule of men ENTIRELY JUST the PEN is MIGHTIER than the SWORD. FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1877.

Our Maniototo neighbors are getting into sad trouble. The absurd proposal which emanated from the County Council at the instance of the sapient member for the Serpentine Riding has been directly negatived by the Government, as wo predicted it would he. The < 'ouncil asked the Government to appoint an Engineer for them, audio direct him what to do. and how to do it, and to make up their estimates fm them, and generally to do all those things which the Counties Act enables them to do for themselves. To this childish request the Hon. Mr M'Lean replied, “ Government cannot give instructions to proceed with repairs to roads, or appointment of

officers, as this is a fluty cast upon local bodies.” Ungrammatical, but tersely true, is Mr M‘Lean’s response. But Maniototois an unweanod political infant, and objects to bo thrust from the maternal breast upon which it has been accustomed to depend for sustenance. The Council can do nothing for the constituency; they admit it openly ; they are afraid to take in hand the management of their own affairs, or the repairing of their own roads ; content, like JUrop’s waggoner, to lie in the ditch and pray to Hercules for help. Their first meeting was a failure; their second meeting was a miserable failure; their third and last meeting was an abject exhibition of utter incompetency. Several resolutions were proposed by the members, each more silly than the preceding, and at last the meeting culminated in the following delicious piece of folly—the outcome of Mr Shannon’s Solomonic utterances;— “That the revenue accruing to the County of Maniototo during present year bo expended on the roads and bridges in the County, under the supervision of the Chairman.” And this—we are not jesting—this climaclerical absurdity was carried ! Even he of the Serpentine protested—“lt would not be fair !"—and Mr Ewing sensibly moved an amendment to the effect that, “to beneficially administer the revenue, there is no alternative but to constitute under the whole Act.” And the Chairman very properly pointed out that the course proposed by the amendment was the wisest they could take But all was in vain. Tiamed in a vicious political school, the majority would not be convinced ; for as the sagacious shannon remarked (and very likely he was right), “the Chairman would see Letter to the wo'ks than the Councilwhich is ns much as to say, that the Chairman minus the Council is greater than the Conn cil plus the Chairman. Admirable logic ! and happy the people who live under the ru'e of such self-abasing Councillors. Happy Chairman also ! Ho can spend all the revenues where, when, and how he pleases, without consulting anybody : that is to say, if the Government are not wiser in their generation than Shannon and Co. Rut one thing yet remains. If even the Government were willing to accept the proposal of Maniototo Council the law would not allow them to do so, as they will yet discover to their cost. Such, however, was the result, the motion was carried by a majority of one, and the Council then adjourned sine die. Very fitly did they thus adjourn, for what on earth is the use of such people meeting again? Sine die be it then, and let us hear no more of the farce until their successors—more capable men it is to be hoped they will lie—are appointed by the now deluded electors of the County. Meantime Mr Holland reigns supreme, but powerless, until the Government put into operation the provisions of the 3lst Section of the Financial Arrangements’ Act, and appoints Commissioners to do for the residents in Maniototo that, which their elect and chosen Councillors are unwilling; or unable to do for them—namely, manage the roads and works of the County. Poor Maniototo! This comes offollowing evil counsel. Every; body 'knows that the local organ—-hurdy-gurdy rathe*—has sworn to spoil the system of local self-govern-ment initiated by the Parliament, and truly it has gathered unto its banner a number of men who might have been the leaders of the people, but who seemingly are content to be the mere followers of a merest follower. We pity their condition greatly—we pity stid more the condition of their constituents. In connection with this matter we note an instance of journalistic immorality, so flagrant that even the newspaper victimised thereby, can scarcely fail to resent it. The Naseby “ Speciil Correspondent” of the Guardian telegraphed to Dunedin the, day after the meeting that, “ the resolution not to consiitnt.e was confirmed, the Chairman alone dissenting.” This was rather mendacious, but apparently it was not sufficiently mendacious to satisfy the cravings of the Naseby “ Special.” For on the following morning the Guardian quoted a letter received from the same potential au thority, expressing regret for having allowed “an error of some importance ” to creep into his to’egrara, and asserting that, “in both cases the motions referred to in the telegram were carried unanimously, the Chairman’s vote included.” Now, what is the fact as recorded by the Mount Ida Chronicle— and surely no one will go about to dispute anything which appears in the columns of such a high-toned newspaper as that? On the division being taken there voted— For : Shannon. Brown, Stewart, Williamson, and Ewing. Against'. Holland (Chairman), Turnbull, Laverty, and Foster. Instead, therefore, of its being carried unanimously, it was only passed by a majority of one,—the Chairman’voting against it. But, this is how news is manufactured to suit the times—and the Guardian.