Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. TURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1884. THE RANGITIKEI SEAT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 128, 29 April 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. TURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1884. THE RANGITIKEI SEAT.

The Mavton paper lias vow virtually declared itself for Sir William Fox <is its chosen candidate, and urges the electors to extensively sign a requisition now being hawked round the district, asking the Knight of Westoe to contest the sent. We trust the contest will be conducted, so far as Sir W. Fox's organ is concerned, with as great a regard to the ordinary decencies of journalism as that paper can raise itself to. Its office-written letters are generally masterpieces of scurrility and low abuse, though it takos a lot of that kind of thing to disgust some of its patrons, H-hen directed against, their own particular foes, social, personal, or political. It is, impossible at present to predict what will be the result of the contest, but we fear that a second defeat would lay the valiant Knight low m the dust, with all his partisans weeping and howling; about his prostrate body.

Alter the hist defeat ho was scarcely seen m public for upwards of six months, and his m my of parasites were terrilily " pouri " over the defeat of the " oldest statesman " m the Colony Ky one whom they affected to despise, but who has proved a most useful member for the district. Sir AVilliam's organ and the army of satellites will stick at nothing to secure the return of the man ol "■ ripe wisdom," and the inud-throw-ing will Nhorily commence with the customary vigour. If the electors of Rangitikci are wise they will not be !ed Mindly by the organ of it small would-be aristocratic clique, which must serve its patron at sill risks, offend whom else it may. Mr Stevens and his friends will have to buckle on their armour, and we doubt not will gain a more decisive victory than that which terminated the last contest for tho Hangitikei scat, from tho effects of which Sir Wiu.i\m and his friends have scarcely yet recovered.