The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 1878.

Kumara Times, Issue 411, 19 January 1878, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 1878.

In the "words of one of the best known of the creations of Charles Dickens’s genius, this impersonation business now before the public is “a’ a inuddle.” If Mr Joseph Davidson did record a vote in the name of his brother, Mr David Davidson—and we leave it to our readers to say whether from his own admissions he did or did not do so—he was, to say the least of it, guilty of a very silly act; and of a still sillier one in addressing to the Borough Council the letter published in our issue of yesterday. So much lor Mr Davidson. But what conception could the Returning Officer have of the highly onerous duties with which he is charged when he asked the advice of the Borough Council as to how he .should act in the matter ? And what value does the Council put upon its own dignity when it condescends to discuss at length the letter just alluded to, or ventures to express an opinion upon a question that is in the fullest sense of the term sub judice? Even in the face of Mr Joseph Davidson’s extraordinary appeal to the Council for mercy, we would not for a moment, pending the fiat of the Court, discuss the question of his guilt or his innocence. If innocent, he will doubtless be able to prove himself so; if guilty, the Court will judge whether he committed the offence wilfully or in ignorance of the law—and if the latter whether that ignorance amounted to actual culpability. But presuming, for the sake of argument, that Mr Joseph Davidson, to quote his own words, “ neverknewthafcD. Davidson had a vote other than D. Davidson and Co., which I, as one of the Co, voted for,” the whole affair is calculated to cast ridicule upon all the parties concerned. Here we have a citizen, who persumably has arrived at-years of discretion, ignorant of one of his primary duties;, an important and independant official weak enough to seek the guidance of the Borough Council as to how he shall act; and a representative governing body so far .neglectful of its functions, and unmindful, of, its dignity as to endeavour by formal resolution to influence the ordinary Course 'cf law and justice. Mr Joseph Davidson is to some extent entitled to sympathy, if only on account of his youth and inexperience ; and perhaps the same may be said cf the Returning Officer ,and Borough Councillors in their official' capacities. It was a new and thrilling experience to the now defendant to find himself before a ballot box ; the Returning Officer cannot by any stretch df. imagination be termed- “ experienced” ; and the Council, being still in swaddling clothes, may be excused if it did not find itself quite equal to the occasion. We do not wish to anticipate the verdict of the Court in the impersonation case ; hut, taking everything into consideration, we would say to all the persons implicated in this very silly affair—-“ You are let off this time, but don’t do it again.”