The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1881.

Temuka Leader, Issue 395, 2 June 1881, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1881.

WAN*ffD" A Leader. Such is tie lamentable state of Temuka at the present time, and BUch has been its unenviable condition for tunny years past. Outwitted by the Timaru people with r espect to the harbor, and outstripped by Asbburton in population, commerce and institutions. Temuka remains a sad but instructive example of divided counsels and the want of union amongst its promiftent citizen's. He is offr true frieSiidy who tell us of our fsultd. This task of fault-finding resembles the bitter and noxious tonic administered by the skilful and conscientious physician for his patient's benefit. Far easier and more agreeable is >t to smile, cajole and flatter and. to declare that everything is going on smoothly trnjd prosperously Suchj.however, has evervbeen the v ice of the syren, -luring men on to their own ruiii and destruction. There is too much veneer, good-fellowship so called, and honeyed words in this tinsel age of shams and misrepresentations. England never would have been the England that it is, if it had continued to be ruled by its spven kings, each wrangling and quarrelling with his neighbor, monarch. It was only when united under one stronghead that it was. enabled to develop its marvellous resources, add conquest to conquest and at length acquire an Empire more magnificent than that of Imperial HSEome. Examples of a contrary policy were seen in Fo!and and Ireland, in which the petty jealousies and frequent wars amongst the native chiefs left them an easy prey to the foreign conqueror. There is therefore, a pemisis running through all history, proclaiming aloud—as you sow so you reap, and proving incontestably that no nation that was united has ever lost position or liberty. Divide your enemies, and rule them was the maxim on which Rome succeeded in baffling its powerful neighbors and sub-

jugating the whole of the ancient world. , The contrast between Bristol .and Liverpool is a good instance of vVhat energy and intelligence <san achieve tracer the greatest difficulties, when pitied against old ;fogyißui ana disunited counsels. Bristol from its fine position and nutner ous natural advantages was formerly the second city in England and the first ;of | seaports.- Its merchants bloated with success and i'ndol.-nee,- were iftvwilling to move with the times,* but were determined to follow in the timehonored footsteps of tneir grandfthersSome three-quarters of a century ago Liverpool had the good fortune to posses amongst its citizens a band of plucky, intelligent and energet'c merchants, '-These, men,- amongst 'whom-; was the father of England's present Premier, acting in concert though surrounded with every disadvantage that a harbor could be subject to, laid the foundation of Liverpool's prosperity, until its docks became the most extensive in the world' and its commerce second only to that of London. Temuki has beeiv so spoiled and demoralised by the narrow mind-d leadership of certain petty chiefs, that we verily believe, should a Bright or a Gladstone settle here in disguise, that those same wiseacres would pick holes in their garh through envy ami jealousy. Sir Hudibras would consider' Gladstone stuck-up, cantankerous, self-opinionated and too overbearing, after all too much talk, and nothing practical. Sir Hudibras' tail and faction would "say amen to this amfcou'ld not possibly support Gladstone ufoder the eirctrmstances. Bright would b<3 looked upon by the squireen of Mudbof'o as a regular oily gammon, a dangerous demagogue,* a flatterer of the peo r le and a preacher of Communism. So dangerous man as Mr Bright could fjoli therefore receive any support or encouragement . from the Laird of Mudboro or from his friend* the squatters, surrounding Temuka. So long as this disunion prevails, we would strongly advise the people of this district to take under their solemn consideration the advisability of importing some go a- head gentleman from Liverpool, London or New York and pay him the handsome salary of * thousand a year. We certainly consider the money would not be misspent, but would bear gc od fruit in the improved intelligence, sociability and prosperity of Temuka and the surrounding district.