THE STANMORE ELECTION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2794, 8 March 1882, Page 2

THE STANMORE ELECTION.

The Christchurch “Star,” thus descants on the coming election for Stanmore, a constituency which has been rendered famous throughout the colony by the “ foggy measures which were used by the junior partner, of the Christchurch firm of Dodson and Fogg, to unseat the recently elected candidate. “ Stanmore has undergone, & metamorpobsis; and the change is so sudden and complete as to be absolutely startling. Only a little while ago, nobody had any interest in the. place; and few outsiders .could have' described in any very definite terms, even its geographical position. Now, it is one of the country’s special centres of attraction ; an electoral tilting.-, ground, in which each politically vanquished 'one may come prepared “ to place upon the volume of his deeds, as in a title-page, his worth in arms,” and perchance retrieve his fallen fortune. The spectators of the forthcoming tour nament should—from their past experience —fortii a critical assemblage ; and those who come to win their favor should have a care that their appointments are perfect. It may be that one, knight will enter the lists who had need to give heed to the advice which was tendered to Petruchio, and “be armed for some unhappy words.” Though the time is yet young, two of the coming combatants have announced themselves in the manner prescribed by ancient custom. Each had been engaged in former contests; each has felt the smart of defeat; and yet strange to say, each comes forward to this new encounter, with a flaw. ,in bis armour. He who tripped up that grim old warrior, the Knight of Kawau, and would have pros: trated the shifty Lytteltonian with a crafty back stroke, but that the blow was foiled—he, who should surely have r been' forewarned, has taken up his stand on treacherous ground. His parti-' sabs have presented him with an addfdt's of welcome, and that address has been accepted ; though they give him fealty that is faint-hearted. “We will support you,” they say, “ if your views meet with our approval,” What, do they not know so much of the views of the Honorable Edward; Richardson as tb .be, enabled to say whether he is a man after their liking! .Orisit to be. understood that when the vizor is raised once more, the features will be seen to have changed ! Or was the halt promise all that could be ventured upon, in order toi secure the signatures of the following of “122 others!” And the other announced one, whose following have kerchiefs to their eyes, and who. step forward for consolation) from Mr Samuel P. Andrews, “in view of .the probable severance of their •ties with their” late lamented. Who are the downcast ones ? They are “electors of the Stanmore district, and others." The others are indeed numerous, for the address says that there are no fewer than 223 of them! Who are they, that they should, in such wholesale manner, intrude themselves in a matter in which they can have no legal part? Or is the grief of the kerchief bearers so intense that they cannot engage in wordy excitement ?. Stanmore is; metamorphosed indeed ; and if it does not now secure - a Parliamentary champion of-worth, the failure to do, so will not be for lack of .sympathy from without.