WEDNESDAY, SEPT- 21. 1881. THE REPRESENTATION OF MANAWATU. THE Manawatu Times.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 162, 21 September 1881, Page 2

WEDNESDAY, SEPT- 21. 1881. THE REPRESENTATION OF MANAWATU.

THE Manawatu Times.

"ITordiM* tViinps, »ad a irop of fcak falliag like daw npon a tktcfhl, prodzett test irkloH make* tkOKSfcfc^A, perhnj-e mlilicu« thinr."

" One down ; who'll make two." The ice has been broken, and we are how m & position to state positively that our present member, the Post-master General, does not intend to desert his old love, and if he does not sit this constituency m the next Parliament, th© faultwill not be his. Yesterday we wired to Mr Joiinstone to know if it were his intention to come forward again, and the repl} r we received wan — " Yes. most decidedly, I propose to contest Manawatu." So r ar. therefore he ib the only Richmond m the field, and we must confess that his chances are one hundred per cent better than they were six months ago. "We do not" allude to the prestige his position as Cabinet Minister gives him, for we feel convinced that should he be returned to the House, the Ministry of which he is a member will not long enjoy the iweets of office. His bettered fortunes are attributable to the departure of Mr Halcombe from the District, and the inability of Mr Macahthttr to come forwardr. Had either of these gentlemen been brought against him, we are afraid Mr Johnstoite would find himself playing the role new to him of the defeated candidate. As it is, however, we see no one to oppose him, notthat wesay if a good local man were to be found, but we would support him, but the difficulty is m finding such a man. Tt will be rpmembered that Hal combo, Feilding and Palmerpton, which now forms the Manawatu electorate, went dead again*t Mr. Johxsto>'E at tho last election ; and his former stronghold Sandon and Foxton have been given over to a stranger. At present, however, Mr. Joiixstoxe is m possession of the field, and along with possession being nine points m hi* favor, it will tnke a good man to dispossess him. With regard to the Poxton Districts, the Assyrians of the metropolis: appear to have deter.mihed to nwoop down like so many wolves. Messrs. Izzab]), "Bk.axdon, Btttj/et?, and - Charles Johtststo^e have all given hints as to their ambitious designs, while Mr. Hexkt .■Sa-wson," like a bafhful Barkis is "qui.te willin' but would like to be axed. There is still a sixth, and a dark horse, who will also be entered for the running, and should he don the silk, Lombard-pfreet to a China orange, the pot boils over, and he takes tbe stakes.