Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1879.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 655, 20 March 1879, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1879.

One, among the noticeable features of ♦ social manners, in the colonies, which seldom fails to strike the newly-landed stranger with pleasure, is the complete absence of that servile adulation which in the old country the poor man pays to the rich, or to what is termed his " betters." Here there is no humilating touching of hats ; no taking the gutter to give any man the wall. No humbling to the dust — no grovelling. A laborer mny ask his overseer if he lias a bit of 'bacco about him. A workman may ask his employer if he intends a " shout." But the absence of cringe by the employed to the employer is happily conspicuous for its absence. Proper respect, when respect is clue, is one thing, and not to be overlooked. Respect to ladies, for instance, by uncovering the head in 'a pissing obeisance, which, by the way, may be mentioned is the spoiling of many a good " bell-topper," nut king it desirable there should be some more economical substitute. This may yet come to pass ; but who, we ask, i» this 1 Colonel Brktt that a constable should be fined twenty shillings, as we learn is the case, for not saluting him,. We know that this particular iJolonel is well noted for having an

Exaggerated notion of his own importance. He is a man which bought at his real value, and sold at a price he would put upon himself, would be a fortune to the dealer. The Colonel has fought for his Queen and his country. At least, he says so, and we may perhaps take his word for even more than this; but many a brave man does many silly, foolish, and even contemptible things. We know, in despite of his bravery, that Colonel Brett is great food for fun and laughter in the Legislative Council for his puerile lucrubatious and for his " pomposity ;" but he is known for nothing else that we are awai'e of. The Colonel is a highly respectable man ; but he is quite deficient in "headpiece," and so he is tolerated ; but there are bounds beyond which the Colonel Bretts of the day must not be permitted to pass. On the 13th iustant, this particular Colonel Brett was guilty of an outrage on the liberty of the subject which has aroused the ire of all who have heard of it. Down at Malvern, a little village in Canterbury, a mounted constable named Bashford passed the Colonel without saluting him. The constable did not know the Colonel, and that gentleman did not wear the insignia of his rank. Yet the Colonel at once proceeded to the police-station, gave Bashford in charge and had him sent to Christchurch in custody of Sergeant Wheatley. On liis arrival in Christchurch, Inspector Hickson, who was not overawed by the position and supposed influence of Colonel Brett, at once ordered .the constable to be set at liberty. Now it is hard to determine whether the autocratic colonel or the muddleheaded, weak-ininded sergeant, is the more to blame in this piece of business. The Colonel must have imagined he was still in India — a great man, amidst a servile race who trembled at his word, and were ever ready with bowed-down heads and bended knees to do him slavish reverence. He forgot that he was in a free and democratic country, and amongst a people to whom cringing servility is almost unknown. Why should police constables be called upon to salute the Hon. Colonel Brett 1 If it be said, because he has been a Queen's officer, the answer is that he is not now on service and does not Avear the Queen's uniform. It will surely not be contended that, because a man happens by some political fluke to be called to the Legislative Council and made a sort of spurious " Lord," all police constables are to be compelled to make obeisance to him. If that doctrine were once established, then members of the Assembly, City Councillors, and even members of District Highway Board might just as fittingly claim to be saluted. We trust that this aristocratic simpleton, silly-billy, the Hon. Colonel Brett, will be made to pay roundly for the outrage upon the liberty of the subject of which he has been guilty. Tlie constable has a strong claim against him for an action of damages foi'jfalse imprisonment, and we trust a New Zealand jury will mulct the honorable gentleman iu heavy damages, if he be guilty of the oflence he is charged with. We trust that this arbitary procedure of the Hon. Colonel Brett will not be lost sight of, and that it will not be allowed to pass unnoticed in Parliament. That a man capable of causing his fellow-man to be arrested for not saluting him should hold a seat in the Legislative Council is deeply to be regretted. The conduct of Colonel Brett is an illustration of the freaks which egotism, conceit, and sillines will lead a man to commit. Of him it may be said — •' Man, proud man, dressed in a little j brief authority, Plays such fantastic tricks before high Heaven, As make the angels weep." We hope that we shall yet be allowed to be told why Bashford was fined by his superior officer. The fact of this will not for a moment militate against his right to a civil action for damages.