THE STANMORE ELECTORATE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7228, 30 April 1884, Page 6

THE STANMORE ELECTORATE.

TO tAe editor. Sir, —" A good old man, sir; he will be talking. As they say, when the age is in the wit is out.” After reading Mr Clephane’s-letter to you of Saturday last, I could not help thinking of this sapient remark of Dogberry’s. It was simply on this account that the electors of Stanmore have long ago forgiven Mr Clephane for the part he took in the return of their present representative. Like a good many others, I was induced by this gentleman to vote for Mr Pilliet at the last election, not knowing Mr Clephane at that period so well as Ido now ; and the favourable opinion I then held with respect to his knowledge and judgment of public affairs was based entirely upon his own estimate, which was and is a very high one indeed. Heappears to look upon himself as the Warwick of the Stanmore constituency, and, as can be gathered from his recent public correspondence, he is oven now casting about in his mind as to whom he will appoint to represent us in the next Parliament. He will experience considerable difficulty in obtaining another Mr Pilliet for us, but doubtless his “ old friend Sir George’’will assist him in making a suitable selection. The electors of Stanmore sufficiently appreciate Mr Clephane’s interest in the return of their member, but I can vouch for the fact that a number of them at least, profiting by bitter experience, have determined on not being disfranchised for the next three years, and will consequently have no n£ed of Mr Clephane’s good offices in this direction. He has already been the cause of sufficient uneasiness and anxiety—what between the election of Mr Pilliet and the burlesque of drainage administration, in which he is now playing a starring engagement with Mr Hosking—without again being instrumental in making our electorate the laughing stock of the Colony. If spared to see the next election, I will vote for the return of a Liberal member, but in company with a good many other electors, I will certainly regard any candidate brought forward by Mr Clephane with considerable suspicion. “ Once bitten, twice shy.”—l am, &c., AN ELECTOR OF STANMOEE.