NUTS BY LIBEL.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 217, 29 September 1893, Page 9

NUTS BY LIBEL.

It was left for Council! orFrank Jones to direct attention to the deplorable state of the Heawa drain. Considering that as your contemporary says, ‘ this drain has long been an eyesore, and is both in winter and summer actually dangerous,’ the question arises, why did not Frank Jones direct attention to the matter before? Left it to the Aratapu Councillors perhaps, not wishing to interfere, or maybe but no it cannot be that Frank Jones is electioneering. It’s too shallow altogether, that, for an electioneering carp.

We all remember the noble, patriotic sentiments expressed in the leading columns of your contemporary a short while back in reference to ‘ Austrian invasion.’ How indignant the writer grew at the thought of these foreigners overran-

mg this country, our own Britain of the South. How eloquent waxed the writer, and in what stirring terms implored all true Britons and Coiomals to be up and doing.’ It ivas Suggested at the time that the writer was not sincere in his utterances; that time was when he was loud in their praise, and that there might he a reason for his hostility. Let anyone read and mark the paragraph in the last issue of the same paper in referenee to the Austrians and they will see one reason why that writer ha* such a spite against them. He states that th* price paid for gum on a certain leased field had been reduced to such an extent that even the Austrians were complaining and leaving. But Ithcught those ‘slaves’ were under contract, and how comes it then they can leave at a mo. ment’s notice ? And where are they going ? I will quote the writer’s own words, and I will quote correctly. They are ‘ shifting camp ’an d going to fresh fields and pastures new ’ ‘ They are not leaving the country, Oh no—they are S urn fi e lds even, they are simply shifting camp ’ : leaving this particular ‘ lease * and going on to other fields, private or Crown, and the writer in your contemporary grows jubilant thereat. 1 Well done you noble Dalmatians !’ he exclaims. Well done for what? But the paragraph ends with a wail, ‘ But alas ! We forget. For every five that go—fifty come."’ At this rate the * lease ’ will soon he pretty richly populated. But the murder is out. The real reason of that patriotic individual’s hostile feeling to the Austrians is plainly manifested. Electors of Eden, behold the man ! * * * Another little election intrigue discovered. How many more are to be brought to light ? An attempt was going to be made to induce Mr Fitzpatrick to stand in the gumdiggers’ interest at the forthcoming Election. Now who was it that first suggested that the diggers should ‘run’a man of their own ? Who was it that, in a public meeting stated that Mr Fitzpatrick would make a very suitable candidate, and would have an excellent prospect of being elected, and he would like to see Mm stand? Was it not the same gentleman who when it is sought to do as he himself advised, —run a candidate of their own turns round and in a bitter and a sarcastic way says he (Mr Fitzpatrick) is not a suitable man and would not stand a ghost of a chance'? Of course the whole affair is ‘ as plain as can he’ to anyone except those who will not see. Mr Fitzpatrick informed us through the press a few weeks hack that the Committee would not be a ‘ cat’s paw ’ for any man, and no doubt he, for one, is sticking to the resolve, and has therefore brought down the ire of the old man eloquent on his head. Amongst a bod \ of men seeking redress for grievances there are always some who are in earnest, some who float with the tide, and some totally careless of •how things go. Especially is this the case among’st the gumdiggers j some there are who are really desirous to improve their eonditien, and get redress for their grievances—for grievances there are—while there are others who are sympathetic and are all right so long as it’s plain sailing; while there are others alas, who do not care a rap, and say so. ‘ Oh,’ I have heard them exclaim, 4 we don’t care a straw anyway, we can pack up our swag and go any minute.’ From what I know of Mr Fitzpatrick, I believe him to he one who belongs to the former class ; and that he will not he ‘ worked ’ by Harding-, Trounson or any other man. All honour to such I say; * * # 1 Self glorification is no recommendation.’ But said a young fellow to me, more forcibly than grammatically perhaps, ‘if a fellow don’t praise himself, perhaps no one else will ’ We don’t object being told that they have a new organ in Trinity Church, Dargaville :th.at’s bonafiide news, and we are glad to hear it. But ■it gets stale to be .'continually told that a certain gentleman gave a harmonium some ten years ago. But perhaps the Electors of Eden will appreciate the generous act at its full value. Some people are very fond of seeing their name in print, and never lose an opportunity of parading it before the public. Taking up a local paper one day and conning it over it struck me that one name—a very imposing one I admit—appeared very frequently. I started to count and I found that the name of two individuals of the same name appeared over thirty times. ‘ Tia said advertising pays. Does advertising one’s name pay ? * * * A writer in your contemporary the other day warned electors that when enrolling their name 3 for the coming Election they had better send the application themselves, as those persons who were getting names put on the roll, destroyed or did n t forward the application if they thought the person enrolling would give his rote against their candidate or party.’ That statement is nothing less than insulting, and unless the writer is prepared to prove his statement, he deserves the severest censure. I have always thought it a pity men did not take a suflicient- interest in the Election to see that their names were put on the 8011, but the usual way here, i 3 perfectly legitimate. A number of gentlemen who take an interest in polities in general, and Elections in particular, obtain a number of application forma and as opportunity offers, get those in tfie vicinity whose names are not already on the roll to sign a form and forward it to the Registrar. One gentleman I wot of went the whole animal, and advertised that forms might be obtained from his office, or from various agents he had appointed in different centres: What say those agents to those insulting insinuations ? No one with one spark of manliness in him would destroy an 4 application ’ because he thought the applicant might, give an adverse vote to his views. The writer of that article may possibly have measured other people’s corn with his ownbushel. But electors ! you have been warned. You are informed that you can obtain enrolment forms at 4 tbe office of this paper ’ free gratis and for nothing, and you are also coolly told that if it is thought you will giye an adverse vote, the application will not be forwarded, Take the warn? *