Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1882.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1128, 23 August 1882, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1882.

In the usual full column letter, to which Captain Ttckf.r appears pledged, he does the Standard the honor of imparting, in the columns of the “Herald, a few words of parental ad vice or criticism, before entering upon a windy explanation of his objections to the Hon. Mr Bkyce'h Native *

Lands Division Bill. Captain Tucker accuses us of seeking for hidden motives in our criticism of his actions, and Captain Tucker is right. To judge of liis meaning, his intentions, his motives, by the words spoken by his mouth, or written by his pen, would proclaim us simpletons and dunces, incapable of discretion and intelligence or recognising genuine metal from spurious imitation or dross. When a physician has cause to suspect the presence of poison in any hannfulMUpe, he mialyseathe. body in which such poisoirmay be hidden, and satisfies himself, of -its existence or nonexistence liefore giving his opinion on the matter, As thephysiciaA.’so the Standard ; we have reasonable and jtist cause to suspect the presence of poison, or in other words, ulterior motives, in Captain Tucker's motion and we analyse his words and arrive at the actual presence of deleterious matter. Let us l>e distinctly understood when we say that we have reasonable and just cause to suspect latent motives in Captain TrcKEifs every public action and speech. We have experience of such speech ami action, which, under analysis supplies ample proof of tlie presence of the poison and >he necessity of an anti-

dote, as well as impressing us with grave monition to be on our guard against future attempts of a like nature. We need only refer to the recent efforts to work upon the journals of this town, to work upon the Borough Council, the Hospital Committee, Mid last but not least, the public at large, With a view to private ends of malicious revenge in the matter referred to in Hansard 31, 1881, under the plausible but flimsy and transparent cloak of zealous care for public welfare, and conscientious desire for justice, to show the necessity of ever being on our guard against any schemes brought forward Uy, or with the sane don of, the gentleman here referred to. We denounce the attempt made by him yesterday to impose upon the public by means of a petition, for signatures to which he contracted to pay Mr Phelam E. Richardson a capitation fee, as a mean and cowardly imposition, disgraceful and shameful to any individual, but doubly so to one bearing Her Majesty’s Commission. Words cannot express the contempt with which such underhand proceedings should be treated. We unhesitatingly repeat what we have before stated, that Captain Tucker is afraid to openly and manfully prefer a charge against the individual he is seeking to injure. He shirks the possible consequences, and seeks to shunt them on to Government shoulders. He is not seeking justice, but mean and despicable revenge on a man who treated him, as all such men should be treated, with contemptuous indignity. He has suffered no ; wrong, but seeks to inflict one—and does not go to work manfully and openly, but looks for the protection Of Others. W 6 repeat that i. the Goverupienfc hare not interfered with the course of-jrtstioe. They have distinctly denied doing so, and we prefer believing them to believing Captain Tucker. The proof exists in Hansard 31, 1881, that.they have dealt fairly and honorably throughout the matter, but Captain Tucker quibbles upon words, and seeks to convert the Government's fair and honest statements into dishonest protection of fraud by putting his own construction on their words, and asking people to believe in him in preference to Messrs Dick and Rolleston. Yesterday’s attempt to gull the public must surely convince them of the falsity and cunning of his proceedings. We suppose Mr DeLautour was to have been the' channel through which this precious document was to reach the House of Representatives. Well ! he will be prepared for it. Truly a great deal of cunning is shewn in this matter, but very little honestly. We have not the slightest doubt that Capt. Tucker in another paper will treat us to another two columns of “Is it fair?” So like Captain Tucker! He has tried all means to achieve his end, but out of Hades we see little chance of his effecting it. We commend to him a a line from Virgil— Fleet ere si nequeo superos, ■ Acheronta movebo.”