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Southland Times, Issue 3298, 15 January 1879, Page 2

Polling for the Mataura election comes off to-day, and tlie party of, true progression and the one of extreme measures will again join issue. .We, as in duty_ bounfd, have not hesitated, to fairly weigh the .merits of both candidates, and although not -particularly' attached to either, we have frankly championed the, cause of him whow we regard as. the better man of ■the twain. "To run with the- hare and' hunt with' the hounds " has never been our practice, but in* the interests of the great bulk of the people constituting the moderate party, we have prescribed what we have thought best for them, and in this instance we unhesitatingly prescribe Mr Shanks to be taken in large doses at the polling booths to-day. There is no comparison between the* two candidates; the one is reasonable and moderate in his views, and honest and .straightforward, -qualities which never fail to tell in an Anglo-Saxon"' representative assemblage. The other is extreme in views, erratic, and deeply tinged with partizanship. He is, in fact, less a ministerialist than a slavish foi-, lower of the Premier, and a hearty subscriber .to his . most extravagant notions,--Also he" is not an independent wag ( ia an-

other direction, for if elected he will go into parliament cumbered- with the debt of his appointment to the Waste Lands Board. We sincerely hope that these grave objections to the return of Mr Kinross will be borne in mind to-day. There must be some unanimity amongst the moderate party to prevent it, and we would counsel all who value order and good government to rally round Mr Shanks and make his election sure;