SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 14, 18 December 1878, Page 3

SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.

The Manawatu Times, we notice, supports the view we. hare taken* of tlbe insolent presumption of Mr. Halcqmbe, and ihose wbp acted with him m the County Council dispute. The '. TiMES i? almoat colorless lii its political utterancfls, and de- j void ;.pf party ties. $Jeing published m the" locality where tfi© ebandal took place, it ■hould lmve a clearer view of county tactics and the workings of the aau^ty cliques than frhat we can hope to possess at a distance, and we therefore feel gratified tojind thafc th» view previously taken m our columns is supported by such capable and impart iy testimony. An^bverweening self importance is the common inheritance of village politicans, and m the case of Mr Haldombe the mortification resulting from' demonstrated incapa'cjty seems only to have engendered m wola^ipn an accretion of that assertiveness of- which Dogberry affords Buch .a wellknowi4|^istration. Some men are flVte'd to -Ki^^thers to -aer>e>. And one of the chief sorrows of our' race results from men feeing unable to. find the niche nature intended them to fill; The meeting of the electors oik Awahou; was an earnest, unanipus, indigent protest against the insult that bad been heaped upon, the electorate, and the attempt to t over-ride the rights of free men. When the voice of the people is called: f bS- therp is little, doubt but; *what it can be heard plaihlyj'arid that its utteranceß ■will be both distinct and truthful.V. Mr Halcombe should not have, suhjeqtedhim^ self to the ordeal of the >.'..puhlijis.' : 'yoiee >^as insincerity is v invarkbly detected, and re-, pulsed b j. the multitude. The njeeting was Allied only for t.he electors of t lie riding, but, after the manner,, of Mr justice Shallow, there, could :.be t no nieej-ing unless Mr Justice Shallow was. there- "To : lhe presence of Mr Justice, Shallow at the meet-, ing the. disorder may be attributed. And jet tlje meeting h»s ; done "gopct; service m helping to shake into tb%irprpper.,p6sitions m the Manawatu County itii public Tiieii, iind to have recorded its d|t^rmin|itaoii.tnit fortuitous and: fprtuniafe; wrpumstAqcea.:ih ttfe should not alone afford, i»as6n?l 'way fcien should: r ; «ie. over. them. There was a certain quantity of " Ooiantjr ' dirty linen to Y«sh, and Mr Justice ,Sha,J}os musl^ confess tjiat the meeting w.as'hed , t.heiK. a rtiples well. CknUenew abd; forebearaheei -'..»;• toieran't kindness for the faults and, infirmities.of others, a willingness to, serv.o anda desire avoid the^responsibilities of ruling- are iffuie of the chief qualifications for' success m public life ; and the cul» i val iofi of such qualities wo recon^niendjMr. Halconibe m, i{is seclusion to fokerl'- Having done WhaV we considep to be our duty m this master, we are content m the future to leave it alone, lipping the County Council will proceed •writh its proper work, laying aside allbitterness of heart, epyyings, and malice, and •eek alone m its meetings to achieve the. greatest gpo^, pps*ibie.; for the whole corn^aaunity, dyer wnieh it has administrative control.— 'New Zeqifihd^r. . ■■■■''; ' v ?