The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1886. OUR CANDID OPINION ON MR. HAWKINS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2210, 3 February 1886, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1886. OUR CANDID OPINION ON MR. HAWKINS.

Ijj a letter published in our open col' limn yesterday, Mr Hawkins invited us to express n candid opinion on his own political chances in the coming general election, and it is syjth sincere pleasure that we respond to his reqjjest, We fear, however, that we cannot benefit Mr Hawkins even by the most free and friendly criticism. We never knew him yet to follow good advice, and it is too much to hope that he will do so now. Like the muttoneating King, he is one of .tbpse .who " never says a foolish thing, and .never does a wise one." Mr Hawkins prefaces his request by Mating .that .the WiIRABAPA Dailv " is genurally supposed to be the. organ of the sitting member for the North County," Mr Hawkins ought to lie too experienced a public man to rely upon "general suppositions." We may state that we are. not the organ of Mr G. Bektham in the sense Mr Hawkins indicates, Wore Mr s£wldns likely to prove a better member tJjjn A:l r Beetham, we would offer him such j&np,Bqrt as we •might be able to jjive; but we 4q ,i]ot for one moment believe that Mr Haw.- i; kins, as a representative, would be as useful to the colony and district, and as trustworthy a public servant, as Mt Beetham. If w.e m to deal with Mr Hawkins on "supposition,!!," we might say that there bus been a general supposition that Mr Hawkins made a 1 bid to our local contemporary to desert Mr Iscurdle in his favor, but, perhaps, it would ;ho as vftll for m to discuss public questions .with M,r Hawkins on some better basis than general auppqsition. Mr Hawkins wishes to kno.w what chance he would have for the Xortli Wairarapa seat. In our opinion 1$ would be a strong candidate, if iie were not a headstrong one. There is a general pjpectation that sooner or later Mr Hawlcinu will be a candidate, and we should not be surprised if at the next election a requisition were signed in his favor. We do pot sneer at him as a candidate, nor have we .over done so, but at the same time we do not advise him to stand. We never advised any pnblio man to. contest an eleotion unless we felt sure of his chancos, It is a great pity that Mr Hawkins cannot light for his own party as ii principal or beat man,, instead of, as at the (art eletftJos, injur-

ing his political opponent, Mr Beetiiam, by a spurious expression of sympathy, We have not space 10 review Mr Hawkins' qualifications and disqualifications as portrayed by his own pencilj though, in common with many of our readers, they have amused and refreshed us, We do not yot quite understand Mr Hawkins, nor does Mr Hawkins quite understand us. When ho first came to the colony we hoped that possessing as lie did brilliant attainments and a liking for public business, he would soon become en rapport with colonial life. It was evident that to secure this end either Mr Hawkins must (1) adapt himself to the colony, or (2) adapt the colony to Mr Hawkins. Apparently Mr Hawkins has obosen the lattei alternative. The process ia rather a slow 0110, and the conversion is not, by uuy means, as yet accomplished, Wlieu it is we advise Mr Hawkins to stand for Wairarapa North and promise) him our support, We regret that Mr Hawkins is'so sensitive and sore on the representation question. If he feels that he has no chance let him wait good humoredly. till fortune is more favorable. It is notour fault thpt Mr Hawkins is regarded and treated as a political leader in this district, He has posod aR such, and is looked upon as such. He may. be irritated because he cannot) fulfil expectations which ho himself has raised, but he should learn to control his senti - ments and not try to insult a newspaper which, on the whole, has treated him with courtesy as a public man, and has certainly never misled, deceived, nor flattered him. We inay, perhaps, in conclusion, draw Mr Hawkins' attention to the fact that in his letter he has endeavored to degrade us by a very insulting inuendo. How iar he has succeeded is a matter of comparative indifference to us, but it is something to regret that a public man in this district who is lated high, and rates himself still higher, should lower himself by such conduct.