MATAURA CIVIC ASPIRANTS.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 7, Issue 400, 14 October 1884, Page 5

MAT AURA CIVIC ASPIRANTS.

. «, — -. By Observer. In the preset) t aspect of affairs of our local 'iown Board, and in view of another impending election, I think the time is not inopportune when the views of the elected and rejected aspirants to office should he reviewed from points oth-sr than their own, and : with your permission I intend to unfold them. • To b«gin then with, sv-iy, Hue;h Cameron, the .leading spirit of the faction who upset the late election. He has a motive in view for a seat • notably a few little odd jo*>s he wishes to finish in connection with the flood channel and the drainage of property adjoining. Other people's property or interests he knows nothing about, nor does he ewe to. He has a standing grievance witli Mr Allision re this same flood channel, and nad it not been that Allison was in such a good position at the poll we would not have, heard of I the upsetting petition. Mr Allison again is a good man for his part of the district, although he is continually in hot water with his neighbors, but most peculiarly they voted for him nearly to a man. He is auother that cannot see over his own fence. Thomas MacGribbon, " oor Tamm as," is a good man ; his father, however, was born before him. Highly favored by fortune, no doubt he would have been more popular had there been more of the "Peabody" about him. That's where he don't shine, but he docs j shine when the public money has to be divided, as Mr Penny, another candidate, told us, and' 1 was disappointed we did not hear more of that at the late meeting. I can't say any more about Penny, because I cannot underi stand Dundee, but if his assertions are i correct and he can substantiate them, and by so doing cure the evil he complains of, he will certainly deserve our support. X had almost forgotten the chairman. Mr Winning is a very quiet man, but has the bump of self-esteem very largely developed —thinks he is always right, but the present enquiry pretty clearly proves that it was through his want of perspicacity that the election was upset. Don't know that he haß any farther object in view than the chair, with which of: course is involved the explanation of any difficult clause in the Act to the opaque craniums of his brother councillors, and shere he shines or thinks so. gWe now come to Shanks. "Well, he no doubt was requested to stand ; a good enough man in his time, but that was a long time ago. He has lost his prestige, and it is doubtful if he will will ever regain it. I don't think be has any further interest to serve than as a prop to one of the other members. James Pollock, an old settler, wishes the place good, and by his action has no doubt done more harm to himself than any one else, but as a legislator he would never do good whatever may be his feelings. A popular man, but so full of business I am afraid his seat will seldom be filled at the Board. Beattie is what I call a quiet, decent man, but net much good in debate : would do good, but I am afraid will be too easily led by a coy argument. Balneaves is a man that should have known better than to stand, but there is no doubt he was overpersuaded, which accounts for his weakness. Charles "White, the " Veritable Charlie," a working man of the working men, but his weakness is that he can't work when there is any agitation of this sort eoing about, although he would be better employed at work than putting himself up for a posi-. feion for which he is entirely unsuited Very fond of big words which he does not know the meaning '*of, but he makes a grand mouthpiece for others. Lowden comes forrward, on high moral grounds, to put a good tone in-* to the Board, etc, and in fact says that it would be a standing disgrace to the electors to put in some of the candidates. James Humphries, the rival butcher, has a grievance in the shape of a right-of-way ; the only real good J think he will advocate is where he is himself concerned. Brown ditto ; a mere local grievance brought him out of his shell, and he should take a lesson by the last election and keep his head in. Dr StockwelJ, last but not least, how shall we begin ? He has a danger lamp (red, oni inous color) in front of his housa, but yet requires a footpa h to lead up to it — at least he did, but in reply to a question ou the platform said he was then not a candidate. Cvi bono f Connor always was very quiet ; requires nothing particular, but made a very good seconder, no matter on what subject. I think he has made up his mind to. stay at home and mind his pots and pans.