The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 207, 2 September 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1879.

Ocr contemporary's ire appears to be roused by the remarks made by Mr Curtis yesterday, as to the probable position of the Nelson members if left without a recognised leader, yet, despite the angry comments of the writer of this morning's article, we would press this upon the electors as a question of considerable importance, and one that they Bhould carefully consider before giving their votes on Saturday. It is well known that the success obtained in the session of 1878 when the House was forced to recognise the Nelson and West Coast line as a part of the public works scheme, was only achieved by the united action of our members who were generalled with considerable tact and ability by Mr Curtis, in whom they each of them felt that they could recognise a leader who was to be safely entrusted with the command. The constituency will therefore do well to weigh all that is to be said for as well as against Mr Curtis before they deprive themselves of the services of such a representative. Time does not allow of our noticing at length the other portion of the Colonist's leader, but we must call attention to the unfounded and uncalled for attack upon Mr Curtis for the general tone of his yesterday's speech in which we will undertake to say that not a single individual present detected the " vitriolic spirit," that our contemporary pretends to have discovered. That Mr Pitt had given good ground for a bitter retort in his remarks made on Friday night none can deny, but the rebuke he received yesterday was cutting and severe principally on account of its being administered in a quiet and dignified manner and without a particle of coarseness. The Colonist says :— " Something more than a bitter, it might fitly be called a vitriolic spirit, pervaded his speech, and the amenities he had often pretended to admire were abandoned for viperous spleen. One piece of assumption was as unfounded as it was arrogant and egotistical." A careful analysis of Mr Curtis' speech will fail to reveal one atom of the gall and bitterness displayed in this single sentence.