The Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. Tuesday, September 2, 1879.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 879, 2 September 1879, Page 2

The Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. Tuesday, September 2, 1879.

In three days more a most important crisis m our political life will be at hand. We shall 'then be called on to declare by ballot which of the three candidates before us shall be our representative. By our actions on that day we shalj. either be made or marred. We shall either return a man who will actively and untiringly keep our requirements before a Ministry with which he is m. accord ; or, we shall jjaid m returning one who has been, and who will be, "m the cold Bhade of opposition," and who, during a long period m which he has failed to represent our wants, has given us nothing to thank him for. It is really a much more important matter than most of our leaders think, because they do not look further than immediate results, but if they will look a few months or quarters ahead, it really means this : Return the right man and we obtain rapid improvement ; a stir and activity where all has been dormant ; an attentive ear lent to all our wants ; and a granting of all our requests, where practicable. On the other hand, return the wrong man, and the settlers of the Bay remain " as you were !" or perhaps you " mark time slow," taking an occasional pace backwards. "As m .the past so m the future." We trust, then, that each of our readers wiil give what we have said his serious consideration. We know what it is to have a member m Opposition. It haß been our misfortune ever since we had one ; for we have never had a member who pulled with the Ministry. If Captain Morris had possessed the patience to have remained true to his colours a few weeks longer, we should have known what it was to h*ve had a f rieud at Court, and we really thi n k it very hard that the candidate, for some private reasons, should have sacrificed his constituency to his own private ends ; for he certainly did not turn his coat at our bidding, or request, or for our good. It has cost us a considerable mental struggle, long and careful consideration of the* question, and the principles involved, and probable results, have brought us to the conclusion that we must put our opinions of the vagaries, broken promises and short-comin«s of Sir George Grey m our pocket till we are m a better position to express without damage to the community we so earnestly indentify ourselves with, and look so anxiously m the direction of its progress, and we therefore think it our duty to put personal views on one sideand place the case fairly before our masters, the public. There is every probability, nay almost the certainty, of the Grey party comine back to the House with a large majority. We cannot shut onr eyes to that fact. We must, therefore, advise the electors that they ought to return a Grey candidate if this district is to receive attention 'from the powers that be m the House. Having all these things m view, and having come to the conclusion that we must return such a candidate, and as Mr. McDonald is the only one m the field, we really have no option but to return him. Not, be it understood, that m other respects we disapprove of the choice. On the contrary, we think Mr. McDonald eminently suited to represent the requirements of this district, the more so sinco we require a man of great energy, powers of endurance, iron nerve, and one who will not take "no" for an answer, but will certainly accomplish that which he undertakes. It is not until after mature consideration, we feel that the best interests of the Bay and the prosperity of everyone m it would he secured by returning Mr. Allan McDonald. Wh have no desire to detract from the claims of the other local candidate. Mr. McDonald is a very old friend and intimate ally of Mr. Macandrew. Between the two, there has for very many years existed a strong personal friendship, and whether m or out of power Mr. Macandrew always had and always will have great influence m the House and m the lobbies. Mr. Sheehan will look to Mr. McDonald for a<Vce and rssistance upon all native affairs affecting the interests of the East Coast. He would certainly not do so m the person of Mr. Woodbine Jornson. Mr. McDonald, by his very force of character, strong will, determination,

and undomibtable perseverance, will carry great weight outside the House, and it is here that the requests of members are urged and listened to, much more frequently, and with greater success, than from the Parliamentary beuches. If Mr. Johnson persists m his candidature, it is certain he will meet with disappointment and defeat. But worse even than this, he will endanger the return of the other local candidate. We do not bring ourselves to believe that Mr. Johnson is running m order to split the voting, by which Captain Mouris' chance of success will be increased. Because if such be the case, Mr. Johnson would have no show upon any future occasion. He would be looked upon as an enemy to the district. Mr. Johnson is, we are quite sure, too honest to do anything of the kind. We believe that finding Mr. McDonald being certain to secure a majority of votes over himself, that he will 'retire gracefully when he may feel sure that instead of losing many supporters, he will at the next election have doubled or trebled them.