THE ELECTION.

Southland Times, Issue 1720, 28 March 1873, Page 3

THE ELECTION.

(to the editob op the times). Sir, — Mr Cuthbertson is to be considered fortunate in baring secured tbe services of the News at such an early date in his candidature. These services are unwittingly rendered, the chief contributor being " Fair Play," whose sign and seal would appear to be tbe " cloven hoof." This writer's style betrays the peculiarities of a well-developed "sneak." Although Tenom flows so glibly from his pen, in the shade of a nom de plume, like all true cowards he is incapable of looking you straight in the eyes under any circumstances. (The animal " sneak" seldom wears much flesh, but is generally possessed of what may be termed an oily leanness, carries its head with a poking air a little before its body, and mores its eyes without moving its fact) This person evidently sympathises strongly with one who contested a Makarewa election, and announced himself as acandidate in the full assurance, no doubt, that such announcement, heralded by his Elector-cum-Fair-Play personalities, would transform opposition into a dissolving view. Those who know the man are aware that he confidently expected to be returned at the head of the poll, and no one was surprised that he should be greatly and yexatiously disappointed when his total defeat was the award of the electors. But the public were certainly unprepared for the extraordinary phenomenon which fee subsequently presented — that of a man so sick from defeat as to continue for months emitting bile copiously into that not unsuitable receptacle", the Southland News, under the impression evi dently that he was heaping his vilenees upon the successful candidate, Mr Duncan M'Arthur. In his desperation ho forgot to consider that, the election being over, a continuance of his personal abuse (which he mistook for political capital) could only be regarded by the public as a display of miserable chagrin. I think tbe abuae of such an individual may safely be regarded as a compliment by the person against whom it is directed ; hence my opinion, as expressed at the beginning of this note, that Mr Cuthbertson has indirectly secured the good offices of the News. I imagine that the other candidate, Mr Wood, can hardly feel grateful to a champion who show's such a apecial aptitude for serving " him of the cloren hoof." The candidates now in the field are equally good in some respects. They occupy 'T«ry much the same ground politically. Both express approval of the Public Works policy. The question is which of the two is the best ? Mr Wood has in many respects deservedly won the good feeling of the Invercargillites. He has many good qualities, and has time at his disposal, but is hardly ripe for the honors which he now courts. It will be remembered that at the general election which succeeded re-union, Mr Wood was not even asked to be a candidate — in consequence, no doubt, of his association with those delegates who on a memorable occasion betrayed their trust, and caused their own party to become a house divided against itself. I beliere it was generally conceded that Mr Wood was then more sinned against than sinning ; and his election to the Mayoralty of this city, and more recent election to the Waihopai district, are evidence of returning confidence in him on the part of the community here. But I think the electors might be reasonably advised to rest content in the meantime with having given Mr Wood the thin end of the confidential wedge, and, if he succeeds in driving it home by good conduct in the Council, to promote him to the Assembly on a future occasion. In addition to Mr Wood's good qualities, Mr Cuthbertion is in possession of superior knowledge and education. He has moreover, since he came to dwell among us, proved himself a man of ability, energy, and resource. The insinuations of his political enemies regarding the proverbial "billet," out of which so much capital is attempted to be made, simply amount to an .acknowledgment of his superiority. Their organ, the Ne.vs, has utterly failed in bringing anything to bear against Mr Cuthbertson except the veriest twaddle. If, then, his enemies fail in damaging him on the one hand, and on the other admit his fitness to hold a "billet" in the Assembly, they themselves stamp him as the better man of the two.-— I am, &c, Abgtts.