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Southland Times, Issue 1234, 8 April 1870, Page 2

Mb Aitdbew Knraoss is about aa irrepressible as ; : the : renowned; G-eobge iFßAJrcis Tbajtct. Indeed, there is a very great similarity between ' the' - two individuals. ' Our local! specimen of this peculiar, composition j»f Jbjimaii.nature.i8 J _ perhaps, wanting in .the . intellectual capacity of Itfr Tbain; but so far as the . -possession of a superabundant amount of self-conceit, , and the. taking, of -every opportunity for self-inflation, are concerned, he is in no way. behind his great prototype." " Some of my remarks galled the editor," forsooth ! Mr Kurboss is too well known to be possessed of the qualities we have referred to, and is' estimated accordingly by the community at larger for anything that. comes from that gentleman to "gall " us ; nor shall the fear of ; a , whole army, of Ajstdbew Kineosses prevent us. at any time exposing what we consider an unfair transaction. "'This is another proof that truth quietly stated; is generally more effective than violent but unmerited abuse."- This -forcibly reminds us of some of Mr Kinboss's appearances, in the Provincial Council. -When that; hon.i gentleman desired to give utterance to some personality or other, his - repeated ; prelude will be familiar to those who have attended the sittings since he graced that assembly.- "I have no -wish- to -be guilty of ungentlemanly ~£ conduct, but," and then- followed a string -o£; such personalities as showed the speaker to have very strange ideas of what constitutes " gentlemanly" conduct. ";I should, be glad if my remarks ; produced any reformation, and if ;for the f u- : tire the, editor would, deal, with public

questions and political opponeuts in a fitting manner ;" so says Mr Kinross. No doubt that gentleman believes himself highly qualified ; to fill an editorial chair, and therefore' perfectly competent to in^ struct us how to discharge our duties. Unfortunately for Mr Kinross, ;we cannot V.lobk up to Mm s as a Gamaliel, and we must be excused for being more partial to our own judgment and exPrience than to his advice. It is evident it the discontinuance of the East Road meetings 'has deprived Mr Kinross of the opportunity of rehearsing his " life and adventures" as often as he would wish, and consequently he is compelled to gratify his uncontrollable desire for notoriety through the columns of bur contemporary. With "a foeman worthy of our steel," we are always willing to break a lance ; but as Mr Kinross does not hold that place in our estimation, we dismiss him for the present by noticing the last sentence of his ** rejoinder," which is as follows : — " I shall not occupy your space further with this molehill that the editor of the Times has tried to magnify into a mountain ; but when he found it impossible to substantiate the charge of jobbery and- corruption he made against the Government,, he might have had the common honesty to withdraw it." It has been admitted that the Government were guilty in the matter referred, to, and consequently we maintain that our remarks were justifiable and legitimate ; nor- do we see one word that it would be necessary ,to alter or retract.