South Canterbury Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1883.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3307, 7 November 1883, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1883.

"We are not disposed to do Mr Mitchelson, the new Minister for Public Works, the gross injustice of damaging him in the eyes of the public before he has had an opportunity of showing us what manner of man he is, but it really does amuse us to observe the effort which the Government organs are making and the shifts to which they are driven to invest the new minister with a reputation. The following statements have been made about him—that he is a proficient in the mechanical art; that he is an honest man ; that he has managed his own business with prudence and success ; that he is in the full vigor of manhood ; that be is a self-made man ; that he has been a silent member of the House, and has never joined in the legislative Babel. These are excellent attributes for any man, but to specify them as qualifications for office—well, it does seem a little “ thin.” “ Save me from my friends !” may well cry honest, mechanical, prudent, vigorous, self-made, silent Mr Mitchelson.

If some of the Irish ex-informers would come over here, we would set them to a congenial occupation. We would make them “ inspectors of the disposition of the night soil.” If they cannot be got we shall have no resource left but to “ rear up ” a race of informers for ourselves. There is no more pestilent nuisance in this borough than the burial of night soil by residents in their grounds. The practice is continually being carried on, yet nobody ever seems to be caught flagrante delicto. The Inspector of Nuisances cannot find enough grounds to institute a prosecution upon, and it is obvious that unless some other agency can be found this abuse will never be stamped out. We draw attention to the matter in the interests of the people who have the misfortune to live near the persons who carry on the abominable practice—for it is most dangerous to health, and is a matter of far more serious moment than people are apt to suppose. We have some hope too that this reference to an unpleasing subject will serve to call the attention of offenders to the injury they are doing to themselves and the community by their abominable conduct.

It is not only “ horsey ” men, “ knowing ones, et hoc genus omne, who will exult at the victory, the magnificicnt double triumph, of Martini-Henri on the Flemington racecourse. This splendid double victory will never be forgotten. If the horse were to land anywhere in New Zealand to-day, we believe he would be received with frantic enthusiasm. A horse that wins a Melbourne Cup is a horse without many equals ; and Martini-Henri has surpassed all his equine predecessors. His performances in Melbourne will have founded the fortunes of the Auckland Stud Company, We cannot forbear a tribute of genuine admiration

for the horse that has won such laurels; and we cannot but rejoice that the great sporting event of the Southern Hemisphere has been “ pulled off ” by a New Zealand horse.

Mr Forster, for Mr Hamersley, this morning remarked to the Resident Magistrate, that the newspapers had prejudiced the case of the prisoner Charles Fobel, by publishing a list of previous convictions against him. He produced a copy of the “ Timaru Herald ” in support of this statement; but he spoke of newspapers—using the plural number. As the South Canterbury Times and the “ Herald,” are the only journals in the place, Mr Forster’s use of the plural number conveys a false impression, viz., that the record of convictions was published in this journal, as well as by our morning contemporary. Such was not the case. The record was not published by us, as such publication would have been manifestly unjust to the prisoner.