SIR FRANCIS DILLON BELL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 133, 5 June 1879, Page 4

SIR FRANCIS DILLON BELL

(Canterbury Times.) Sir Francis Dillon Bell is not s good a statesman aa be is an official His mind is of the feminine type, an lacks that masculine element whic exercisea control sod does not ebrini from responsibility. He ia at borne i offices, but he is abroad in politici Sir Robert Peel always saw tbre courses, but he knew when the (im earne which to take, although it migh lead him in an opposite direction t that in which he had been going. Si Dillon Bell also sees a variety c courses, but he can never make up hi died which to take, Hg would like t compromise by standing atiM,, or if h mosr move, by choosing a cuUde sat or: the' circumference of a circle. \- i pKtrof bl^ political progfeeawnald b afpdzaling, as a labyrinth. Healon has a eiue to its perplexity. He i prolific in subtle refinement, and abound in qualifications. We have charactei iced his mind as feminine, and we mvi cay that it shows, what we conveniioi ally attribute to; the U\x sex, fickterief of purpose add fertility of excus< Nature has also endowed him with tfa dangeroos gift of fluent-elocution. Hi mind does too littlr, and his longti doe's too much. Tbe coach hae v breaks, while the team is tearing dow hUI. It is impoeeible from day to da to know what- Sir Dillon Bell will fo or say. He t is aa erratic as Jack-< lantern. Wha| hs does tc-day he wi ondo to-morrow. If yorj listen to oo °V *"* B r 6at ; speeches, you will agr« with its commencement, be mystifie with- its middle, and be dteappoiote with its close. Much of Sir. Dillon inconsistency proceeds from his excel sive courtliness. He likes to agree c to. eeem to agree wilh everyone fa m'ejats, The difficulty is to reconcil all the conflicting views which he ha been understood to express, ' and t Mtißfy all the diverse hopes which h has taised. In trying (o displease non be offends • all. In the Legielativ Cpiincil Sir Dillon Bell is at his bes There be is more his own master, an is less subject to oscillation. If h will do justice lo himself there is n one better qualified in the Counoil t do the State good service. His ue equalled oflficial and political ex perience, if he makes it properly avai! able, will be an invaluable aid to goo legislation. -