THE EVENING POST. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1865.

Evening Post, Issue 17, 27 February 1865, Page 2

THE EVENING POST. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1865.

Want of time prevented our noticing the contradictory accounts of the meeting of Mr. Borlase's friends, at Barry's Market Hall, on Friday evening. On the one hand, the Independent sums it up as a lamentable failure, while the Advertiser deems it worthy of a leader, and, enlarging on it, points out the unpopnlarity of the present Superintendent as clearly shewn by the large and influential meeting of electors. Party ftcling must run uncommonly strong, and exercise no small influence both on the eye and ear, when two reports of the same thing differ so materially. We hope, for the credit of Mr. Borlase and his supporters, that the Advertiser's reporter was quite deaf, and that the introductory address from the chair together with the candidate's, are purely imaginary. To sum them up in a few words, they are simply abusive of Dr. Fentherston, and in vile taste. All is fair in electioneering, we suppose, as it is said to he in love and war ; otherwise the animadversions cast on his opponent by Mr. Borlase might be stimulated by a stronger word than unjust. He distinctly accu-es Dr. Feafherstoti of sen-ling government officials, clerks paid by the public, flying about the out-districts, canvassing. Fecondly, he asserts that during his tenure of < ffice his immediate friends had been enabled to feather their nests by the defects of the Land Regulations. Take it all in all, it went to prove that Dr. Featherstnn had done those things which he ought hot to have done, and left undone those which he ought to have done— namely, gning everything to everybody, as he (Mr. Borlase) would do (over his left glenoid articulation of the humerus), were his friends able to carry him through. As regards the point on which Messrs Borlase and Co. are strongest, namely that of a certain en bas manner of Dr. Featherston's towards the Council, we would inquire what under heaven would be the benefit of pnying £800 a-year to a man for the express purpose of being a dummy — to be tossed nnd thrown about from one M.P.C. to another. Reference to a dictionary defines superintendent to mean a manager, a director, so a superintendent's duties must be to manage or direct. To manage the province under his authority, and to do. so through its representatives, these said representatives being members of the Provincial Council, he must pay some regard to his own opinions, if they even do clash with those of his Council, where the welf-ire and public good is concerned. Before taking leave of Mr. Borlase's harangue, we would put it to the public if it was not rather strong to state publicly that Dr. Featherston had done h ; s utmost to prevent settlers obtaiuining freeholds. Mr. J. H. Wallace stood up and addressed the meethg, speaking sensibly and well on the necessity which existed for a radical reform in the Land Regulations, but, in spite of his well-meant energy, we opine he is not a very warm supporter of the cause. He has long been not a fractious but a thoroughly consistent opposer of the Government, and as he has been rather a marked M.P.C, for shame sake he could not cry back. Were it not for that, he would thankfully escape from it all together, perhaps, like the Pharisee we read of, " pass over to the other side." Now, though we do not for a moment suppose either of Dr. Featherston's opponents will come to the poll, on the principle of choosing the least of two evils, we would loudly cry a " Masters " in preference to a " Borlase," for while both promise everything to everybody, without, of course, the remotest intention of giving or doing anything whatsoever, there is more hope from a farmer, a real working man, than from a professed one. However, there is no use conjecturing what either of them might do had they ever the chance, as there are long odds against both ; and as for the committees, charm they never so wisely, all the

— ... .. „-,», fish tliey will catch with the present bait will not benefit their candidates. Mr. Borlase's diatribes against Dr. Featherston and his policy will be too strong for some, and Con. Croft's io paeons of praise on behalf of his man will hardly be taken up by the imaginary committee and body of the great Harris family who signed the requisition. Apropos of these parties, some one attacked us in a violent and unseemly manner, with reference to certain remarks made by us on this would-be superintendent from the Wairarapa ; on mentioning the subject to another member of the same committee, we received an apology on the plea of its being the man's manner. All aspirants to public honors are naturally public property until after the due quantum of drinking, spouting, equivocating, lying, head -breaking, and promisebreaking, they either obtain the honor they desire, or sink back to their former insignificance. Every remark made by by us on Messrs. Borlase, Masters and Co., is made in a Pickwickian sense, that ia to say, when we stigmatise either as electioneering humbugs, they must look on it as purely parliamentary language.