The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 1878.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 75, 29 June 1878, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 1878.

Id? is really most refreshing to witness the interest the County of Manawatu possesses for journals at -a distance, and the anxiety displayed that jt should be provided with a proper representative. A few days •ago the " Wanganui Herald devoted a leading article to the matter, and proceeded to trot out a number of likely- candidates. Amongst the number w.e noticed the name of Mr Maclean, solicitor, of Bulls, who wa,s, introduced to bur notice as most deserving of the honor, and one who •possessed the very necessary qualification o£ being a local man. For Mr Maclean personally, we have the very highest respect, but unfortunately m our estimation he would not be a. desirable oondidate for the very reason urged on his behalf by the " Herald." With all due respect forthe dictum of this self-constituted conservator of our interests, we beg to assert that Mr Maclean is not a local man, and with the said experience of both Manawatu: and Bangitikei before it, the constituency of the former are determined to have a local man, pw et simple^ to represent it m future. We confess we were somewhat surprised at finding the. name of Mr Frank Evans, of Bulls, omitted from the list, inasmuch as we understood that that gentleman was the especial protege of the "Herald," a distinct promise haying been made to him m times past, by • one of its proprietors, that were he to sta-nd for Manawatu his return would be guaranteed. We feel grateful for the paternal care, exercised over the wants and interests of this district by the Wanganui journals, -but cannot help thinking that m their zeal to watch pver those wno are quite independent of their gratuitous attention, they are positively unjust to, and unmindful of, the interests of those supposed to be under their immediate charge. It is a remarkable but well-known fact that if information be sought upon Wanganui matters, it is neoessary to read the correspondents' letter* from that place to the '' New Zealander," and other Wellington papers. The people' of Wanganui must certainly take a lively interest m matters at a distance, to the total disregard of local items, if the present policy adopted by , the . organs by which they are supposed to be represented, is by any i means acceptable to them, Wanganui will' haveto make giant strides, and the two journals need a thorough transformation before either can, hope to represent the West Coast asa whole. It is no doubt a very 'accommodating thing to have correspondents at a. distance whose contributions will riot only< fill the columns, but avoid too, great a strain upon -the ••*? originality " of staff ; but then there is a reverse to the pibtureV and it-is just Lpossible^ that the Wanganui people will not view the matter m that light, and m chasing* the shadow -the bone ' may be lost. However, that is a matter purely between the proprietors and their subscribers, and .if the latter be satisfied, we cannot object ; but when the " Herald " assumes tq itself the position of dictator to, or oustodiari of, the Manawatu'constituency, we feel bound to assure it that it is travelling slightly outside of its sphere, if the solicitude exhibted by that journal for

the prosperity of Mauawatu be genuine, and if it will make it happy to know that its interests will not be neglected, we have much pleasure m informing it that when the proper time is at hand, the County will be able to select a representative without advice from outsiders — one who will be a local man m every sense of the word, and about whom there need be no fear that either by duplicity, ignorance, or neglect any of the influence he may possess will bje loss to his constituency. We notioe that a scribe who writes from Wellington m the "Hawkes Bay Herald," has divided the chances of the representatives of this County between Mr Halcombe and Dr. Buller. From the tone of the correspondence, however, it is observable that m the writer's opinion Mr Halcombe would secure the race, for he stated that he was not only a "local man but that he and Mr Macara had discovered a new route forthe Foxton coach." Why the latter feat should be piit forward as a claim for election, is a mystery, and why MrMacara's services onthe occasion were ignored, is. also incomprehensible*; However, we will agree with the writer to the extent of admitting that were' there' but two candidates m; the field, and were those two Mr Halcombe and Dr. Buller, the worthy ornithologist would have to_ seek' another outlet for legislative eloquence. Were Dr. Buller, elected, no doubt he would serve the ends for which he was returned as long as it was his individual interest to do so; but our opinion is that the moment private interests would clash with public duty, the ladder would be kicked away, and the seat be made a stepping-stone to selfadvancement.