The Evening Mail. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 759, 16 September 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1878.

There was only one man that could have been surprised at the ruling of the Resident Magistrate in the Papakaio election case, and that man is Mr. Peter Aitchison. But we are inclined to think that if even he had had the slightest suspicion that Mr. Parser would have read him such a lecture he jvoyld have been satisfied to let matters remain as they ore. That Mr. Aitchisost would not again undergo such an ordeal even to purchase victory over his recalcitrant brethren we have not the least doubt. Much as we regret that so estimable a settler should, by his false notions on the merits of tfce matter at issue, and his persistency, have placed himself in the painful position which he occupied on Friday last, we cannot help viewing the lesson aa one necessary and likely to prove salutary in i£s effects upon the recipient. No doubt Mr. Ai;tc;hison was honest in his intentions. Anyone who knows him will give him credit' for this j and we might, say the same for Ms. Smtllie, Mr. Aitchison's companion in tribulation. But, as Mr. Parker very properly pointed out, there were certain circumstances connected with the elec-

tioneering proceedings that were not quite satisfactory ; but his Worship put it in a very much more forcible manner. He reviewed the affair from beginning to | end Mr. Aitchison's resignation of his position as returning officer ; the withdrawal of his resignation; his open hostility to Mr. Bokbie and friendship for Mr.' Smillie ; the cancellation of his returning officership by the Board, and the appointment in Ins place of Mr. Duncan ; and the tragedy of the barn v. schoolhouse. He stigmatised Mr. Axrcmson's conduct in ottering obstruction to the proceedings at the schoolhouse as contumacious and illegal—and we believe that at least the majority of Mr. Aitchison's greatest admirers will endorse the opinion—and the barn election as counterfeit. But the sting of his Worships judgment was contained in the comparison which he drew between the ability of the gentlemen elected at the schoolhouse and that of Mr. Aetchison. I There was scarcely an auditor in court who did not sympathise with Mr. Aitohisox when his Worship suggested that perhaps he did not set a very high value upon his own ability. Whatever Mr. Aitchison's opinion maybe of himself, there can be no doubt that he is endowed with considerable energy ; but we have had conclusive evidence that it is spme ? times misdirected. This is probably a constitutional failing. Mr. Aitchison may have been seriously impressed with an idea that if Messrs. JSTicolls and Bohjitb became members of the Waitaki Road" Board £n the qtead of Mr- Pbter AIT.CHISONan.dMr. Smu.J.ie, dire calamity would fall upon that institution ; that the heavens would cease to drop their dews upon the lands of the district; and that the people would become plague stricken. So far these dreadful things have not resulted rroru the f-oturn of Mr. Aitchison's opponents; but u Mr. ArrcinsoN feared that these or similar calamities would be the sequel to the rejection of himself and friend and the return of Messrs. Nicolls and Bokrie, he was perfectly justified, even at so great' a coai>, ii> attempting to unseat them. It is to be hoped that Mr. Ai'icuison will not retire from public life. He has lately been the life and soul of the Board, whose debates would not have risen above commonplace and monotonous discussions on mending and diverting roads had it not been for him. Kn. it will never do for him to bury t; : ' ' '

at Papakaio,, although it would yr' be as well for hinV to bury the itatonat and deduce a useful moral from his experiences in connection with the late Waitaki Road Board election.