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The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1879.

The leading article in yesterday's issue of our contemporary, the Timaru Herald, is worthy-of a place in the Timaru Town ll'ill, framed in the most costly materials. That the article was penned by the lion, member for Gcraldine, its rditor. no one need have any doubt. It seems Mr Turnbull, tl e member for Timaru, had shown up Mr Wakefield's inconsistencies in a way that made that gentleman winch. Not content with a fair and open battle-field, where he had an opportunity of refuting the statements if he could, he dragged the whole case down to Timaru to his own scurrilous organ, and there indulges in tho

tifcuai persona! abuse.for which that journal is famed. Those who enjoyed a_ good laugh tlie other day .in reading in the Timaru Herald a notice that it was not to open its columns any more for the use of personalities, must again laugh like to split their sides The misstatements as to what. Mr W. keiield said at that (for him) unfortunate meeting in Timaru, puts us in mind of a lino by Dr Watts—"He who tells one lie at first, Ami lies to hide it makes it two." The member for Geraldine- on that occasion went so much agamst the wishes and interests of his constituents, in order to serve the interests of Timaru, that the cloven hoof became so transparent as to disgust every one. To hear him talk of acting honestly is quite refreshing. It i 3 like hearing Russia say she loves Britain. Being present at tbe meeting, and having notes t f what passed, as well as a good recolkclion of the members' speeches in favour of the resolutions, we cannot help saying he is drawing largely on his imagination. Mr Wakefield was then (as he is now) the bitterest enemy to the unity of the county, or auything that would lead to the advancement of the districts which he represents. His highest ambition is to have the Mount Cook Riding a county, working from Timaru, and the Levels Riding a county, headquarters also at Timaru Not content with this, he wishes a sl : ce of the Waimate County added to the Timaru County, in this, as in Geraldine County, fostering dissension. In short. Mr Wakefield's aim is (and ever has been) to smash the Geraldine County and make it.B component parts subservient to Timaru. To say tl it ho is backed up by his constituents in his preset)*: proceeding is as far from the truth as is his statement that he would not go against the interests of his constituents. A portion of the ratepayers iiY the Mount Peel riding did petition against a division of the country, and ratepayers in the Temuka Riding invited to do so likewise. For our part, although we have aLvays opposed a division of the county, except perhaps the Mount Cook riding, we could not allow ourselves to be caught in a trap by the scheming member for Geraldine. The cat is now out of the bag. The whole object in view by our member is to have the Geraldine county divided into three different counties. The electors in the ridings north of the Opihi must repudiate his selfish activity in this, as in the former instances. To hear the hon member by his mouthpiece condemn the proceedings of the Chairman of the Timaru meeting, for making use of what was public property, which every elector in the Geraldine county had a right to see is, taken in connection with his speech in Parliament, in support of Mr Hall's mitt arrantable exposure of private telegrams, another proof of the hon member's glorious inconsistency of conduct. With what Mr Turn hull, member for Timaru, said or did we have little to do. Doubtless hi', in a candid and honest manner, was serving the interests of his constituents, and, although we, in this part of the Geraldine county, may not approve of his supporting this division, we must give him credit for looking after the interests of his constituents, a line of conduct w' ich the member for Geraldine is totally unacquainted .vith. We have ever given Mr Wakefield credit for being clever,a!tbo.igh - we could not say that his cleverness has been exhibited in a straight-running channel, or that it has ever been appreciated anywhere by a discerning public. Now, however, we are inclined to withdraw that flattering eulogy. The hon member is more like the king's fool, usuallytermed a half-witted idiot, partly mad, but who bad a method with his madness. The hon gentleman (we must not neglect to bestow all honors, whether properly placed or not). The hon gentleman has a method in his madness, if the king's fool tried to please those best, whose influence and power was most. So with tbe member for Geraldine, he schemes in his own way, to please uiio party, regardless of the other, because he judges they have the most power. With this crawling sycophancy we have no sympathy. The man who acts thus is like a man standing on the top of a volcano, liable to be blown to pieces at an}' moment. No wonder Mr Wakefield is distrusted, and that his eloquent speeches have no effect. Want of sincerity, want of truthfulness, want of honesty of purpose, will soon destroy the popularity of the ablest and most eloquent man in all the Australian Colonies. In the tirade published by his organ, against the member for Timaru. Mr Wakefield's motive is too transparent. With longing eyes lie covets the hon. member's seat. In his madness here, there is method, but unstable as some of the electors in Timaru are, they are not so weak as to be thus caught with such chaff. Mr Turnbull cannot but bo disgusted with the egotism and foppery of his colleague, as well as with his pompous demeanour. Ever since he has got his big " hrudder " into power, he struts about with increased confidence in his own ability and influence. The article in the Herald is such a noble production as puts the old Roman orations in the shade. To our readers we say, buy the Herald this once. It is really a gem in its way, and with such a frontispiece would adorn the hall of the noblest baronet.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TEML18791115.2.7

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Temuka Leader, Issue 199, 15 November 1879, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,059

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1879. Temuka Leader, Issue 199, 15 November 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1879. Temuka Leader, Issue 199, 15 November 1879, Page 2

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