Col. Fraser on Clubs

Observer, Volume X, Issue 623, 6 December 1890, Page 9

Col. Fraser on Clubs

The Liberal candidate for Te Aroha is a bifc of a cardplayer, and ' oluba were trumps ' at a recent meeting: which he held at Morrinsville. When questions were invited, Mr Grant said that the reply which, according to the Aroha Netvs of that date, Mr Eraser had made at Paeroa to the qnestion whether it was true that he was the only member in the House who was not elected honorary member of any of the Wellington Clubs during the session, seemed to him somewhat evasive. He is reported to have said that he was a member of the Wellington Club. Was he a member of that Club now ? Mr Fraser said that he was not — he was a member during last session. Mr F. Horrell said he had heard a good deal about club mat+ers. Had Mr Fraser ever had any unpleasantness in any Club ? Mr Fraser replied in the affirmative. He said that a few years ago a #ood deal of drinking and gambling was carried on in a certain Club of which he was a member, and it ended in a row. To save his Mends, he made himself their scapegoat, and resigned his membership of the Clv' n , a step which he had regretted ever sines. With all respect to Col. Fraser, whom we should like to see returned, we fancy some Aucklanders would give a very different version of the scene at the Northern Club. If a man has done wrong it is graceful to own up and point to his subsequent good conduct as a claim to public confidence ; but old I key Watts was about right when he wrote that He who does a fault at first, '\ And lies to hide it, makes it two. The candidate's explanation does not seem to have been satisfactory to the Morrinsville electors, as he abruptly left the meeting to evade a vote of no confidence.

It will be by a stroke of the Devil's Own luck it Jackson Palmer should succeed in defeating Monk.

The Wellington proposal to call 3ir Geo. Grey to the Upper House has no likelihood of being adopted. Sir George would never take a seat among the old fossils of the Refuge.

Adam Porter, though last to ent-er the field for Auckland city, will not be la^t on polling day. Adam was the fi i- st man, and though he fel , it was not from an overdose of Porter.

Mr Napier writes to state that hf> did not leave St. Patrick's Cathedral beoanaa of the JJishop'a remarks on 'Mixed Marriages,' but in order that he might catch the 8.45 p.m. ferry steamer for North Shore.

Bram affection was the cause of Mr Farnall disappointing a meeting of electors last week. The excuse sounds genuine in his cage ; but if Dr. WaUis had offered such an excuse, many would have been sceptical.

False statements are made to the effect that certain candidates are determined to repeal the law giving one man one vote. The truth is that all parties are agreed upon extending the principle by also giving a vote to every woman.

Sydney Taiwhanga, late M.H.R. for the Northern Maori Electorate, died of asthma at Whalcatane, juat as he had beon re-elected by a substantial majority. A fresh election will have to take place. The Maoris will hold a biff ' tangi ' over Taiwhanga, for though he was not a chief by birth, he had worked himself into the position of a leader.