ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1473, 10 December 1881, Page 2

ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Nothing has been spoken of this week, but the elections and the qualifications of the various candidates. The greatest amount of interest is, centred m the City East Election, because it is universally admitted that Greyisra ia tottering on the verge of collapse, and that, if Mr J. M. Clarke succeeds in defeating Sir Q. Grey the collapse becomes an accomplished fact. The natural consequence is that the supporters of both candidates are straining 1 every nerre to secure a victory. One of our local politicans, speaking to a member of Mr Clarks committee, said, " Grey's supporters are moving Heaven and earth to secure hia return, and, if you are to be successful you must move— — — (a word which has be*u excised f 'om the revised New Teriament) and purgatory., . to secure CJ arks' return." I cannot say that the members of Mr Clarke committee are moving " 'and purgaUry,'' but they are doing everything that men can do to attain their object, and I hope and believe that they will be successful Even should Sir George Grey be elected i£ in very evident that his influence is on the "Wane. At the nomination last Friday, Mr Clark stated plainly that, politically, his opponent had been a gigantic failure, and he gave such cogent reasons for the statement that he obtained a majority when the returning officer called for a show of hands, Of course it may be eaid that the show of hands is not an indication of how the polling will result. Even if it is not, even if Sir George Grey Huottld be returned by a large majority, it is a sign that a chanae of feeling has taken place. Had Mr Clark, or any one elfe, three years ago denouuced Sir George Grey as, politically, a gigantic, failure, he would have been uooua dud hissed, and been unable to obtain a hearing. Now, however, the man who makes the statement and proves it, tn his own satisfaction and to the satisfaction of the majority of those present, beats Sir George Grey when the show of hands is taken. Yes; I repent that, even should the ohampion of the down-trodden serfs be elected it han been proved that his influence is on the wane. The "saviour of the country" had to appeal to the returning officer for pro. tection because Mr Clark accused him of being a friend of Mr John Lundon, who advocated the murdering of the Irit>h landlords. Sir George Grey may assert that Mr Lundon is not his friend, bat his character for veracity being so well known who will believe him ? At the time of the last, general election, did not Sir George Grey serd a telegram to Mr John Lundon acknowledging him as his friend and expressing the hope that he would be elected ? Even supposing that no such telegram had been sent, and that Mr Lundon never was acknowledged by Sir George Grey as his friend, did the latter not become particeps criwinis if he sat still and allowed a speaker at a meeting in which he took part to advocate wholemurder? It has been asserted that Sir Grey had left the meeting before Mr Lundon made hia celebrated npeeoh. Ido not believe the assertion, as in the report of the meeting which appealed in the various newspapers throughout the colony, it is distinctly stared that Sir George Grey spobe after Mr Lundon, and, moreover, that he said that the speakers who preceded him meant even more than they said. Had the "Great Pi o-consul," as his friends delight to call him, the man who was twice sent to this colony as the representative of Her Majesty, before whom the speech advocating the murder was made, had he dissented from the opinions of Mr Lundon he should, either through the columns of the newspapers or in some other public manner, have stated that he dissented. The Evening Star used to have a list of newspapers which it had absorbed pinned beneath the headline of the first page. For some time past that list has not appeared. The omission was apparently made with the intention of inserting the words "Successor to the Central Commitee," for the Evening Star has certainly usurped the functions of that quondam important body, and has been telling the electors of the various constituencies for whom they should vote and whom they should reject. What John King, J. M. -hera, D H. McKenzie and the two Masons say to being thus ignored and their functions usurped by the Star I do not know, but I cannot think that they will be pleased, the more especially as some of the candidates on whom the Star is graciously pleased to bestow , its approval are not — no ! not by a long way — those whom the fag end of the Central Committee afe supporting, as, for instance, Messrs Peacock, Dargaville, and Hurst. The charge of vagrancy on which Fred Plummer was arrested, has been dismissed, but he will appear at the Police Court to-morrow (Friday) on the more serious charges of burglary and tending threatening letters. One day last week the Herald had a most injudicious subleader on Plummer's caBe, in which the police were severely censured for having arrested Plu.nmer, who was made to pose as an unfortunate man trying to reform, but hounded down by the police. The action of the Herald was most injudicious, even if the proprietors did not, as I think they did, render themselve« liable to punishment for contempt of Court for commenting on a case which was then sub judice. If Plummer is not guilty of the charges brought against him. or if the charges cannot be proved, the police have by arresting him put a stop to the burglaries which were of almost nightly occurrence. Talking about Plummer's case at the cafe" the other day, led one of the regular diners there to speak about a seriea of most impudent thefts and burglaries which took place in Adelaide a few years ago. Musical instruments and pieces of music were stolen from places of public entertainment, the hall of any man who was rash enough to leave his front door open would be cleared of overcoats and umbrellas, and clothes-lines would be stripped at night. This sort of thing went on for some time, and the police were completely baffled. They could find no clue whatever. After these undiscovered robberies had been .going on for some time, the Duke of Edinburgh visited Adelaide, A young man, who had always been considered very respectable, was engaged as his valet. He had been employed as clerk in the city* baths, bat, having some difference of opinion with the lessee of the baths, he took him up in his arms and threw him into the water, clothes and all. He left the city baths. He proved himself a very good valet, but, shortly after his^ appointment," the I>uke .of Edinburgh missed' His diamWd ituds and sundry other, artijdfdi.of^flJfg^T*- rTEe police we?* informed qf the robbery^ "In spite of his excellent' character, they' arrested the valet and searched his lodgings. There they found, not only the Prince's jewelry, but most of the musical instruments, pieces of music, overcoats, umbrellas, 4c, which had' been stolen, in Adelaide for months previously. This very respectable young man : was, an incorrigible and impudent thief, »nd that's wh*t't the matter with our man, or ray nameVnofc. ~> , * i V f * J SvMwao.

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