THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1711, 14 August 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 1879.

Those electors of Christchurch who arc not anxious to see the district handed over to the tender mercies of the distinguished foreigner who has been invited by that prince of rodents. Dr. Turnbull, and his followers, to represent Christchurch, are invited to meet at the Oddfellows’ Hall this evening. The subject matter to be discussed will be of the simplest nature. It will amount to this: — Are they satisfied with the manner in the Grey Government has carried on the business of the country ? The members who have hitherto represented Christchurch hold the opinion firmly that the country is not progressing under the present regime. And, looking back to the time when the Grey Goverment first entered into office and comparing the then state of affairs with that which now obtains, who can say it has ? What is the outcome of Sir George Grey’s term of office ? A dreadful state of financial embarrassment; native affairs complicated to an, extent that threatens a rupture between the two races ; a lowered standard of political morality; a decided falling off in the efficiency of the Courts of inferior jurisdiction; these and other results have flowed from the tenure of power by the gentleman whom a section of the Reform Association has invited , to represent Christchurch. There is something almost pathetic in the extreme viridity of these believers in Sir George. They are totally unable to draw a moral from the lesson taught by the last two years. With the results of the grossest maladministration staring them in the face; with the country in such a state of financial distress that it was absolutely necessary to pass the Loan Bill incontinently to ward off a catastrophe; these gentlemen, with a beautiful simplicity of faith that amounts to superstitious reverence, invite the prime mover in the set of actions that have culminated in this fiasco, to come down and represent them! It matters not that he has no interest whatsoever in Christchurch —that indeed he hates the whole of Canterbury and its belongings with a surprising fervour—these dupes of a smooth tongue look upon him as the solo embodiment of the liberal principles which they persist in denying to those who disagree with his system of administration. Do Dr. Turnbull and his followers believe that the country at large is with them ? Prom all quarters intelligonce reaches us that the Groyites have hopelessly lost ground. There can be but little doubt that Sir George Grey’s party will not return as a majority to the House. The country at large is not so blind as that section of the Christchurch public that has been gulled by platform promises and uuscrupulous journals, Should Sir George Grey bo elected for Christchurch, ho will not, on his return to the House, maintain his position as Premier. Christchurch will then have the inestimable advantage of being represented by a private member who hates the province, and who has made himself conspicuous, as far as Now Zealand politics are concerned, solely by the blatancy of his utterances, the falseness of his promises, and the incapacity of his administrative actions. All those who are not desirous of seeing Christchurch represented in this manner will do well to attend the meeting this evening. Messrs. Stevens, Richardson, and Moorhouse are tried men. They have been weighed in the ballance and not found wanting. They have, {at all times, “ run straight.” They have invariably acted

in the best interests of their constituency. Their political principles are founded on the broadest and truest liberalism. Me. Allweight, should he bo elected for Lyttelton, will be certain to become a power in the House of Representatives. Ho is evidently a great moral engine, and as character always carries great weight in the House, be will at once take his stand among the foremost of our legislators. - At the meeting held last night at Lyttelton, Mr. Allwrigbt, among other valuable suggestions, is reported as having made the following:—“lf the canvassers for the opposition member desired to spend their money to secure his return, let the electors accept all they could get, hut in the end be true to their principles.” What a beautiful sense of political morality must have prompted this utterance. The ©lectors of Lyttelton are invited to accept everything they can obtain from the gentlemen canvassing for Mr. Allwright’s opponents, and then to go to the polling booths and vote straight for the speaker. There is a crime known in the statute books as obtaining money and goods under false pretences. It would he very difficult to draw a decided line between the individual who is convicted of this offence against society, and the individual who should follow out the instructions of the Mayor of Lyttelton. Mr. A Uwright, in his capacity of Justice of the Peace, has committed many a prisoner to durance vile and steady exercise under Government inspection, for gaining certain advantages by means that do not commend themselves to an honest mind. Mr. Allwright’s wonderfully acute power of moral discrimination has evidently enabled him to draw a distinction very useful for platform purposes, hut one that is too fine to he grappled by ordinary intellects.