THE AWARAU ELECTION.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2169, 13 August 1897, Page 5

THE AWARAU ELECTION.

Of Mr J. 6. Ward's return for Awarua there could scarcely be a doubt. The result was a forgone conclusion. Politically speaking, his opponent Mr Cuthbert Cowan was a man of no account; nothing more, apparently, than a respectable but colorless mediocrity. His candidature was a burlesque, just as that of his opponent was a scandal. He has none of the advantages of speech of his adversary and of course none of bis audacity, his impenetrable hardihood, bis tricks of popular harangue or the declamatory humbug which the electors in the mass can swallow in such overflowing doses. All that can be said for him—thongh onfortunately, it doesn't count for much—is that his character emits none of the putrid odors of the sinks and gutters of commerce. But the olfactory senses of the Awarua electors are not easily offended, which, perhaps, under all the circumstances of the past few years, is not at all to be wondered at. But yet in view of what has happened, it is still something to know that the verdict recorded at the polls on Thursday does in no way affect the public estimate of Mr Ward, or lessen in the slightest degree either the gravity of his offences as recently disclosed in the Supreme Court, or the feeling of repugnance which his ill-timed appearance on the hustings most cause everywhere outside of Awarua. The persistency and outspokenness with which the Ministerial journals condemned his candidature, afford an unmistakable indication of the dread with which the Government cannot but regard his return to the House. The support and advocacy of such a man must be regarded by his former colleagues as an affliction, and political companionship with him must engender a feeling analogous to that of the man who is condemned perpetually to carry a corpse about on his back. He has not in any sense improved his position, while he has seriously threatened that of his friends. No doubt Mr Ward meant what he said when he announced on the hustings his intention of paying off his liabilities in full within the next ten years. But if bis connection with S titles helped to precipitate his present social ruin, how can his resumption of politics be expected to enable bim to fulfil bis promise ? It would be impossible to conceive of a more ill advised or foolish step than he has allowed himself to take. He may imagine in his present state of mind that he is punishing bis adversaries. In reality he is the victim of his own unquenchable and altogether unreasonable hatred, and he is creating the possibilities for an interminable series of humiliations for himself. We have purposely avoided all reference to the details of the proceedings through which be hss just passed in the Supreme Court; but these are matters that no electoral triumph and no overwhelming proof of short-lived popular esteem can efface from the public mind. The whole thing almost compels us to admit there was some truth in the statement of a London Socialist leader to Sir Henry Wrixou, published in his work on Socialism that "commercial pursuits were the hut resort of a scoundrel."—• Tuapeka Times.'

Mr Jellicoe, solicitor, Wellington, has advised Mr Cowan that he is entitled to the Awarua seat Other lawyers there take the same view and the 'N.Z Times' says the matter will probably be fought out in the Election Petitions Court The Wellington correspondent of the Dunedin ' Times' writes that, in event of the petitioners succeeding, the defeated candidate, Mr C. Cowan, will represent the district in Parliament It is mid Mr Ward's friends are endeavouring to persuade him to resign, now that his con- • stituents have by such a large majority shown their confidence in him, bnt he is averse to this course. The two leading authorities in Wellington and Auckland declare that he cannot take his seat in Parliament but on the other hand, it is understood Mr Ward has a written opinion from his Dunedin solicitor to the effect that it will be legal for him to do so. Several solicitors and politicians who have been spoken to are of opinion that the Speaker should at once declare the Awarua seat vacant