The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 196, 17 March 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1868.

The approaching election for the General Assembly seems to be exciting some little interest, and the only candidates who have announced themselves as yet, are two Brighton gentlemenjl one of whom is well-known for his administrative capacity in another colony, while the other is that well-known, political buffoon. George Donne, Esqj It is certainly remarkable how far the force of conceit and egotism will go in carrying a man forward in his journey through life ; but there is such a thing as a man having too good an opinion of his own powers, whereby he makes himself not only ridiculous to everybody except his owngoodself. luhisown opinion, he is the S.r Oracle, whose mouth drops words of wisdom and power, and to whom the utterances of anybody else is mere "blatherskythe." To read tie address of our old friend, the M.P.C.. before alluded to, as published in our evening contemporary, one cannot help remarking the self complacency which perv .des it, and instead of being the butt, at which it is fair game for all the other members of the Council to let fly their arrows at; to a stranger it would appear as if he were the leader. His object, no doubt, like Bottom the weaver, is to play the lion ; but like Bottom, he endeavors to perform that part with an ass's head. He would play the lion, and would roar in a manner that would do any man's heart good to hear ; and then, slightly altering Shakspeare, he would roar so that the House would say " Let him roar again, let him roar again." But, unfortunately for G. D., Esquire, the members in the litt 1 ? House at Nelson cannot recognise the roar, and will persist in believing it to be a bray, and if this is the case in the Provincial Council, what would be the result if pitted against autocratic Stafford, or politic Hall, Fox, or some of the other leading members of the Assembly. For the benefit of Mr Donne we extract the following from his published address : —" Having for some time past had the honor to represent a portion of the constituency in the Nelson Provincial Council, ] may perhaps be permitted with some pride and gratification to refer to my public career in the Council, and to the success which has crowned some of my efforts on your behalf. It is due to my persevering exertions that this highly important district is now somewhat more equitably represented in the Nelson Provincial Council. That I have been instrumental in securing for it at least some representation in the Parliament of the colony is undoubtedly cause for congratulation; for it is primarily attributable to my efforts on behalf of these Goldfields that the privilege you are now and for the first time called upon to exercise, viz., that of returning a member for the Colonial Parliament, has been accorded you." No body can deny but this is characteristic of George Donne—it is so excessively self-complacent, as if he slapped himself on the back, and said " Well done, George." He refers with pride and gratification to his career in the Council, and he then gravely informs us " it is primarily attributable to my efforts on behalf of the Goldfields that the privilege you are now and for the first time called upon to exercise, viz., that of returning a member to the Colonial Parliament." Bravo George Donne. So it is to the efforts of this enlightened member that we are indebted for a new member. This

is certainly a piece of information which we were not aware of, and no doubt the electors of Westland North will not forget this influential M.P.C,, to whose exertions they are indebted for the privilege they are now called .upon to exercise. As to his capability those who remember the last exhibition he made of himself, on the occasion of Mr Beutley's visit, when he ventured to tell that gentleman that he was wrong in his statements, and the manner in which he played the patron on that occasion, we leave the electors to judge. If talking—and talking "stuff and nonsense"—constitute the elegibility for a member of the General Assembly, then by all means elect George Donne, Esq., for when he's "i' the vain," nothing will stop him, for like Bottom, he will roar and roar again. We have had a fair taste of Mr Donne's capabilities in the Provincial Council, and however such an one could have the modest assurance to thrust his sayings and doings in that Council forward as an example of his fitness for a far more higher and important honor, we can only say we are quite at a loss to comprehend.