Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1878.] THURSDAY, JULY 5, 1894. THE MAN FROM BALLARAT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4765, 5 July 1894, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1878.] THURSDAY, JULY 5, 1894. THE MAN FROM BALLARAT.

Tuhhe litis been a little breeze inilie House over an alleged -appointment of ft man from Ballarafc to inspect Government liose and other appliances for extinguishing (ire. The first grievance amongst those interested in Fire Brigades is that the man from Ballarafc is announced to bo a connection of the Premier's, and this is considered to bo the reason why inspectorial duties have been conferred upon him, The next item in the indictment is that-there are a hundred experts in Now Zealand quite us competent to tcsthosoasthe man from Ballarat, and this being the case, why should not the Government have engaged one of them, The whole matter is- somewhat trivial from one point of view, 'but from another it is rather important. There arc, as is well-known, thousands of Volunteer Five Brigade men in this Colony who take a commendable pride in Firo Brigade competitions, and with some justice regard themselves as a point or two ahead of even Balkrat-. Their amour proprc is wounded when someone from ovev the water is brought here to teach them how to keep their hose in order. In this instanceit is the Liberals themselves wbo are "kicking up a dust," for Fire Brigades' men generally may be fairly classed as liberals and aro friendly enough towards the Government.. But they won't, fitahd the man from Ballarat, and Mr Seddon has evidently made a blunder not in taking him under his wing for this is human nature, and human nature is characteristic of the Premier, hut; fpr solocting liiin for a position where ' he would more or less tread on - the , toes jand offend the susceptibilities of a tjipttsand Government supporters, ,We don't suppose that very much public money has yet been expended on the man from Ballaratand possibly after the little breeze in.the House some other niche will be found for. him, whero.hecan live without giving offeuce to any influential section of the community, Mr SctldonajaM have appointed a do various little jobs ony without any public j-ifc just so'; liapjjDißnnt in this one iiistaifce lie hasycorac into collision with a.somewhat powerful body of inen, doubt, ho mow wishes that.his- friend; and protege jiad ucvoijpft Ballarat, • ■ ;