South Canterbury Times. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1883.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3323, 26 November 1883, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1883.

We do not grudge the Key. Mr Gillies the enjoyment which his twelve months’ “ laugh in his sleeve ” seems to have afforded him. We have read his letter, published in our issue of Saturday, and with one sentence of it we may say, in limine , we cordially agree, viz., “It has perhaps been a little wicked in me, keeping silent so long.” If there has existed a misunderstanding on the subject of the rev. gentleman’s connection with the High School it would have reflected more credit upon him to have cleared it up at first than to have indulged in a Mepbistophelian “ laugh in his sleeve,” while witholding information which would have corrected a popular error. However, Mr Gillies’ conscience pricks him, and there is hope for him yet. His undoubted ability in argument would do good service in the cause of his church, to which it is to be regretted he cannot confine himself. We accept his explanation of his position on the High School Board —He is not a life-member, but a nominee of the Government, removable at the pleasure of his nominators. This certainly “ explodes the affair,” as he says. That there should be a nominated member on the Board is not his fault —but a palpable defect in the Act itself. It is to be regretted that any trace of the mischievous nominee system should be found in any Act in the present day in New Zealand. We do not seek to fasten the blame for this on Mr Gillies. But we cannot help wondering why a man of such robust understanding, of such undoubted parts, and such pugnacity, should not prefer to be the representative of his fellowcitizens rather than the creature of a Government. If, indeed, the Government be fairly represented by its nominee, then the Government that put Mr Gillies into office is a most meddlesome and high-handed, and an altogether vexatious Government, Has Mr Gillies ever paused in bis twelve months’ cachinnation to ask himself (as one would think a good citizen would) whether the people at large approved of his being in office ? We fear not ; we fear, indeed, that he has knowingly held office in defiance of the popular will. In the very strength of bis position lies his real weakness. We counsel him to anticipate the request of Government by resigning office, and then to offer himself for election at the hands of the burgesses. In conclusion we have only to remark that Mr Gillies strictures upon the malevolence and spite of those who do not appreciate his action in High School matters, have no effect upon us. We have never entertained any spiteful feelings at all, and we have always frankly conceded to Mr Gillies such praise as any actions of his might warrant. But we have never approved, and we never shall approve of his High School Board, knowing as we do that it has been a fruitful source of strife and illfeeling.

We are deeply concerned about the moral condition of our neighbor— Oamaru. It is in a bad way. Salvationist apostles are persecuted almost to the death there, sly-grog selling goes on merrily (and not at all sitb rosa for everybody knows it) and the demi monde find it a sort of earthly paradise, Altogether, the condition of Oamaru must be regarded as alarming. The latest development of Oamaru sportiveness was in connection with Woodyear’s circus. The “N. 0. Times ” says that on the opening night “ some graceless and ill-advised persons tried to make things disagreeable for the company by interfering with the money-takers, cutting the tent in some places, trying to get inside without paying, and behaving generally as a lot of pigs might bo expected to behave, if providence happened to degrade these quadrupeds to the level of Oamaru larrikins. The police, however, were to the fore, and acting with intelligence and promptitude, the evil-doers were baulked in their designs.” We are very glad to learn, on the authority of our contemporary that the police are actually awake iu that town. We confess that we had formed a very poor opinion of their vigilance, in fact we had sometimes wondered whether it was the custom of the police department to draft off all the used-up members of the force to Oamaru. We are glad to have the idea dispelled, and we await the growth of Oamaru morality with renewed hope.

Our morning contempory is “ to the fore ” again in the capacity of inter-preter-general. With praiseworthy consideration for the poor ignorant burgesses, it has kindly published full directions to voters, even illustrating its remarks by a special diagram. We sincerely trust nobody will go astray, or get mixed now. If we might be allowed to suggest anything, it would be that every voting paper at the election should have tacked on to it, a copy of the “ Herald’s ” sub-leader on the subject of voting. Really our contemporary’s solicitude is very touching , and we trust the burgesses will not fail to acknowledge it. The “ Herald ” displays gross ignorance in stating that “ in an ordinary Mayoral election each ratepayer is entitled to give one, two, three, four or five votes, according to the amount of the rateable assessment of his property.” We should advise our contemporary to study the Municipal Corporations Act, and ho will find that burgesses have only one vote for the election of Mayor. Such being the case the strictures passed upon the High School Act and its framer completely break down. The Member for Gladstone, and the

public cannot but look with contempt upon a journal that deliberately stoops to falsehood in order to malign a political opponent. If we wished to injure a public cause or oppose a candidate at an election we should be content to ask the “ Herald ” to advocate the cause or support the candidate, feeling certain that both cause and candidate must suffer.