THE PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1871.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1025, 8 November 1871, Page 2

THE PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1871.

It has happened just as we foresaw that Mr Lahman'a temporary friends in Hokitika have turned against him— have completely thrown him over, now that they have nothing further for him to do. Under the circumstances this might have been done gently, aud with some consideration for Mr Lahman's fine feelings, especially after the special services which he had been rendering on their behalf. But even that, small as it was, could not be granted, and the County Chairman had scarcely set his foot on Westland before the leader of the party he had striven so hard to serve (the West Goad Times) turns upon him with the insinuation that **it does look a little as if that gentleman (Mr Lahman) had not overlooked ' number oae' in his negotiations with the Government." This is very unkind, after a month spent in Wellington "attending to the interests of the County," and Hokitika in particular, by using every effort to frustrate the Government scheme for the better government of the Grey District, and after he had practically thrown over his own constituency in order to gain the approval of his select circle of friends in Hokitika. But Mr Lahman, if he is half as clever as we give him credit for, ought to have foreseen this. His previous experience ought to have informed him what was likely to be the result if he stood in the way of the advancement of any of his friends in Hokitika. Their native modesty never kept them in the background when there was an opportunity for them to parade in the front rank ; and it was quite in accordance with previous occurrences that the moment there was the slightest chance of the County Chair being vacant, that they should make an indiscriminate rush to secure it. In this instance, Mr Lahman stood in their way, and he as well as every other obstacle must go down when such able statesmen as Messrs Hoos and Barff rush to the front. The fact that the Government chose to introduce an amendment to the Annexation Bill in order to allow the present County Chairman to hold office until his term naturally expired, is laid as a crime at the door of Mr Lal.man. Our contemporary says that " If not very successful on behalf of the County, he was able to impress the Ministry with a proper sense, pf what was due to himself. The Bill, as originally drafted «nd read a first time, provided for the termination of Mr Lahman's tenure of office next month, and we can scarcely refrain from admiring the ingenious device by which an opponent to the Bill, who was agitating against it, was comfortably shipped off, satisfied that at all events, come what might to the County, he was ' safe for another year. It was an ablp

stroke of policy, and does infinite credit to the astuteness of the Ministry. Is was cheap too. It costs neither the Colony or the County anything. A County Chairman there must be, and it matters nothing to the Government whether the cccupant of the office be Mr Lahman or any one else ; so to make things smooth, provision is made for Mr Lahman, and thereupon he shakes the Wellington dust from his shoes and returns to hia own seat of government." The admissions contained in this paragraph are beautifully simple, and bear us out in every statement we have made, both regarding Mr Lahman's mission, anil the mauner in which he has been rewarded for it. "He was an opponent to the Bill, and was agitating against it," while the constituency which enabled him to climb into his present position was petitioning in favor of it. And the momem. the Government contemplated a change with regard to the Chairmanship, the expectant ones immediately turn round and accuse their delegate of "looking after number one in his negotiations with the Government." Well may Mr Lahman exclaim, " Save me from ny friends !" Our contemporary accuses us of dealing hardly with Mr Lahman on this question. This constituency certainly had just cause, to complain of his conduct, and there was some excuse for it feeling strongly and quickly resenting ouv representative's political tergiversation, but there is no excuse for the uni grateful and barefaced manner in which the clique he had sacrificed so much to I serve has turned against him. The cry that is raised against him is the old one— "He is a Grey man, and why should we have a Grey man to rule over us ?" " Let the Grey take her belongings with her at the parting, and let us have an opportunity of procuring a Chairman who represents some portion of the County." Exactly, just as we expected. Another scramble for the £600 is too tempting a bait for those who will still represent some portion of the County in the case of the Annexation Bill passing. We have no particular desire to see Mr. Lahman forced upon the remnants of the County as a Chairman ; we would sooner see him left to reap the reward of his recent actions. What we have been pointing out is simply the speedy manner in which a just retribution has overtaken him for his treachery to his constituents. There is one point upon which we wish to correct our contemporary when it says: — " It happens that Mr Lahman was gone from Hokitika before the announcement was made that there was an intention to propose Annexation, so he did not hurry off to obstruct it, neither had he an opportunity of consulting his constituents on the subject. Doubtless, when in Wellington, Mr Lahman did his utmost to prevent Annexation being consummated, but we can scarcely see how he oould do otherwise in his position as County Chairman." This is entirely erroneous, as it wa3 well understood when Mr Lahman left what was the cause of his sudden departure for Wellington. Some days previous to his departure the speech of the Colonial Treasurer with regard to the creation of Road Boards throughout the Colony, especially on Gold Fields, was printed in this journal, and there is no doubt that Mr Lahman therein read these words — " The intention of the Government is. that the Grey District shall be added to the Province of .Nelson, but that some special provisions will be made for establishing Road Boards within the whole of the Gold Fields of that Province." Mr Lahman left by the first steamer after this was published, and on the occasion of his departure it wa3 plainly stated in our contemporary's own columns what the object of his mission was. He had every opportunity of consulting his constituents on the subject, but he took good care not to do so, as their opinions were already too well known t6 him to require consultation. Whatever the fate of the Annexation Bill may bo (and we must admit that its prospects are at present anything but hopeful), whether Mr Lahman retains his seat for another year or resigns it next month, it will be remembered with grateful feelings by his constituency that he was ono of its most determined opponents, and threw the whole weight of his position, into the scale against it.