Fire and Brimstone.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 175, 24 February 1888, Page 2

Fire and Brimstone.

Wb smelt brimstone on Tuesday night. This is how it happened. After the Town Hoard meeting we were on our way home. Mr C’revvo being a short distance ahead. He wailed until we came tip and then remarked in a jeering tone. “ Hero is the Editor ; l«* careful what you say.” There were several other memliers of the Board present, to whom Mr Crowe was ad dressing himself. Knowing that he must be smarting under the castigation we had given him for his action in the licensing election, we excused Ins jeers; but when he commenced spitting out fire and brimstone we interfered and argued the point with him. He made some most remarkable statements regarding •• the rag,” whirli unfortunately for himself do not k"ep tally with others he lias made when Ins feathers have not been ruffled. The article on himself, he said, was a rile slander, and wo ought to be ashamed of ourselves for putting it in the pnper. Wliat right had we to probe that old sore—the last loan poll; or for that matter whnt right had we to interfere with him at nil. We were only trying to daniugo his business. He had got his living in the Forty-Mile Hush yenrs before we came into the district, and he would la' here years after we had disappeared from it. He then cleared up the mystery of “ the atmosphere" by slating tlmt he alluded to us. And so on and so forth. Now, Mr Crewe, we gave you on Tuesday evening no more than you richly deserved, nnd that the cap fitted but too well was shown by your attitude both at the Hoard meeting and afterwards when you favored us with fire and brimstone. Wliat are we to think of the public man who professes to be in possession of facts that the ratepayers are entitled to know, refusing to speak because he is afraid of “ the present atmosphere ?” What u confession! Mr Crewe put his foot into it nt the Hoard meeting by saying that he did know what was the proper course to pursue in the licensing dilemma, then when pressed for an explanation, he still further put his foot into it by saying that he knew nothing about it. Mr Crewe was vain enough to think that the other members of the Hoard would sympathise with him ; but bo reckoned without bis host, for although they knew wliat was meant by “ the present atmosphere,” they, like hardened sinners, wanted to see him suffocated, as ho undoubtedly would have been had lie attempted the feat of cloanng up the liconsiug dilemma. The members had already listened to the reasons why lio did not ask tho Returning Officer if it was not illegal to exercise more than one vote at the election ; and they were not satisfied that ho had acted the part of a good citizen, when ho knew of the. wrong that was being done, in not drawing attention to it ; leaving out of the question the fact that lie was a member of the local body that issued instructions for the election to take place. Had Mr Crewe shown a desire to benefit the town as well as himself, w'e should have been witli instead of against him ; but his action throughout lias been an extremely selfish one, and we do not feel disposed to quietly submit to the interests of the district being tampered with in order that one man may he benefitted—and that man, too, one who should set a better example, holding as lie docs the positions of Chairm in of the Road Hoard and School Committee and member of the Town Board. It is and old dodge of Mr Crowe’s to attack us personally when we feel called upon to criticise his public actions. Wliat we have to say is said openly ; if he lias anything to urge in defence the public would no doubt he pleased of the opportunity of judging between us. Mr Crewe remarked on Tuesday evening that if a poll of the district was taken on our article, the verdict would be that wo had taken a mean advantage of him. We should be quite willing to submit to the test.