AWAHOU RIDTNG.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 6, 13 November 1878, Page 2

AWAHOU RIDTNG.

that abode of harmony, concord, and brotherly }ove, will to-day have to eolect to whose hands its interests for the next three yean will be confided. So much has been written and spoken m condemnation and laudation of the various candidates that it is altiost impossible to pen anything new, or to avoid travelling along a beaton track. Mr London liai beon reviled, spat on, and all but bentcn for his misdeed, but my friend Magginnis, who has evidently been behind the scenes, informs me that he ( Loudon) i 3 not the only County Councillor m tho Colony who has manipulated a resolution to servo bis own end. As perhaps eomo of your readers mny bo curious to know the facts I will even toll them ns they were told to me. It appears that shortly after tho first meeting] of a certain County Council, the Chairman was instructed to write to the Minister of Public Works asking for " free passes for Councillors when gainj to and returning from tho County meetings." This the gentlemen certainly did, but added without the knowledge or authority of the Council, "and far the Chairman at all times." The story further goes that the pass so obtained has been used for I private purposes, and upon occasions trhsn it was patent it could not.be upon county j business. In Mr London's »tso ho altered thcresolution through cowardice sooner, than meet the punishment of his obstinacy ; m the other there was no such incentive, but to give vent to a grasping, greedy spirit, with the sacrifice of honor, and loss to and fraud upon the County. Ido not mean to say that the wrong doing ot the Chairman alluded to should whitowash Mr Loudon ; but I think if the latter be relegated to obscurity, justice should be done, and others sent to bear him company. Not satisfied with Loudon's .self-scarification, the' veil has been rudely torn aside, and the microscope applied to his smallest pecadillo, until he has beon made to appear a perfect mountain of imperfections. To my tnind the tactic* are somewhat those of the robber who, to escape more easily, shouts lustily "Stop thief!" as ho joins m the chase. Mr Loudon made grave charges against MrThynue, which, if there be the slighest particle of truth m them, should ostracise him from decent society for ever. lam pretty well convinced that Mr Thynna can clear himself of the charges againat his honesty, but can Mr Thynne lny claim to being imnaiculate m his political career, or will all his actions as Chairman bear scrutiny ? Would it it- not be found were his minutest action tried m the crucible, that on one or two oec.isiom he had anted m a similar manner to the Chairman we have alluded to? With regard to D*wson he i« a nonentity, brought out by the Clique, and certainly tho protege is worth/ of the chaperone. I ask could anything be more dcgr.idia? or disgraceful than tho pitiable exhibition presented b%Gray and Da wson when brought to bay, and the former confronted with the damning ©yiaenco of bis own hautl writing. Coward.!; a

cringing, craven wad written m hid fut«e MS he claimed his privilege as Chairman from acknowledgirg his guilt. And theeto ai*e tho men who cast stones at the erring Lou* don. Well, Loiulon has acknowledged his guilt — beeu found- out, if you will — but take my word for it he U not the only one m this, town of Foxton who should bow hi* head and wear sackcloth and ashes. Of this I am convinced, that, with attj his wrong-doing, he wili again sit m the Council Chamber, and this evening at the head of the poll will be found the name of FRANCIS LOUDON. It is just possible that Mr Thynne may ait as his colleague, but I would not be at all surprised if he were allowed to sip himself of the delights of obscurity which he is so anxious to provide for Loudon. In that case the next on the poll would be ROCKSTROW, with the aristocratic, erudite protege of the Clique, the representative of squatocr&cy, the truthful, promising — very promising Dawson— •" nowhbsij."