POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 453, 23 August 1879, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

The Carlyle correspondent of tlie Taranaki Herald , writes as follows, under date August J3th:—The comingclection lias stirroil nil parties to action. Major Atkinson’s friends planned to take the wind out of the sails of all other possible candidates, and, to sit, especially heavy on Mr Sherwood—thoroughly crush him at the start by being first in the field, and getting votes committed to the Atkinson ticket; but telegrams have informed you of the result. The plan miscarried. Air Sherwood has had two good meetings. His address in the Town Hall last night was heartily received, and a vote of confidence being moved by .Mr W. Dixon, and seconded by Air Dean, was enthusiastically adopted, Mr James Hirst being the only open dissenter. Alajor Atkinson was expected yesterday, but he did not come. He is announced to speak to night, and may come by the coach that will take this letter away. The first napping operation having failed, much is now hoped by friends from the Alujor’s addresses to the electors. His known power as a speaker, and his stinging sarcasms will it is expected turn the tide in his favor, and more than make amends for the first failure to secure beforehand pledges from voters Opinion seems divided amongst what may be termed the chief townsmen as to which side to throw in for. Personal prejudice rules in some cases, but most only desire to vote on the winning side. These hitter are strongly favorable to the local candidate, and yet, unless a certain majority can bo assured, do not like to set their backs up against Atkinson, from fear that he, if victorious, would remember them for it. Unless Atkinson makes good progress to-night, he will stand little show for votes at Carlyle. Others argue that as Taranaki has had three votes, and no Patea man has yet been able to speak in the Assembly for this district, that it is time some one was sent to the Assembly who could work with Taranaki where interests were allied, but who could speak straight out for Patea interests untrammelled.

The Rangitikei Advocate says' —The Herald states that it is reported that Sir William Fox spoke contemptuously of Sir Julius Yngel. How did Mr. Ballanco speak of him ? Did he not style him a gambler, “ a Victorian and a Jew,” and wrote of him so disgracefully that Mr Gillon left the New Zealander through it ? But what public men has ho not dragged into the dirt in his time? How he has written of Sir George Grey, of Mr Macandrew, of Sir William Fox, and of scores of others ? How he has spoken of Mr Sheehan ? When Sir Julius Vogel got into power, Mr Ballunce would have gone, and, metaphorically speaking, did go, on his hands and

knees to curry favor with him. He crawled to him when he was in New Zealand, and fearing his return, attacked him viciously during his absence. Has Mr Ballance forgotten this ? Wo suppose a more blackguard, cowardly, scurrilous attack on Sir Julius Vogel never appeared than that in the N'eiu Zealander, when Mr Giilon left the paper in utter disgust with its contamptable journalistic management, to which, as editor, he was held responsible by the outside public. Other Wellington papers have been used in the same vile cause. Who attacked Sir George Grey behind his back in the columns of the Wellington Chronicle 1 If ever a writer in the colony has thrown mud with persistaucy and malicious treachery, this writer has been John Ballance, as nearly all New Zealand journalists are aware. “ Another Elector,” writing to the Wanganui Chronicle in answer to a late writer, concludes as follows:—“ There are very few in Patea county would like to see Maior Atkinson out of Parliament. There are, however, vey many wiio feel that throe votes for Taranaki is too much of a good thing, and that it is high time that Patea was represented, and one of the Taranaki teeth drawn. Eor this reason, while Major Atkinson has been courteously received, it has been partly hinted as desirable that he should move on from a weak constituency where he.represents so little, to some constituency where he will have “ back” to give him weight in the House. There is a want of sympathy between himself and the developing stage of a young and weak community. Let him move on, and some one he elected in his stead who understands the requirements of the country, who sympathises, and who is unfettered by other conflicting interests, and dares to be outspoken lor Patea.”