THE "CHAMELEON " POLITICIAN.

West Coast Times, Issue 6120, 22 January 1886, Page 2

THE "CHAMELEON " POLITICIAN.

The Wellington correspondent of the Auckland Star gives tbe following account of a politician in search of a seat:— The elections are already being discussed here. Since last election, a disturbing element has been imported in the shape of Mr Wakefield, editor and part-proprietor of the Evening Press. The member for Selwyn has no show for that constituency again, and he is now moving heaven and earth to unseat someone in this neighborhood. He thinks be is goiog to run on the teetotal ticket, and by way of preparation the columns of the Evening Press have for some time past been undergoing a change, and now assume a highly moral tonr. Mr Wakefield first turned his attention to the Te Aro constituency, now represented by Mr C. Johnston, who always votes at bis party's call and in the same lobby with Mr Wakefield. But Mr Johnston is to be opposed by Mr Fraser, the bead of the temperance organisation here, and Mr Wakefield, although Mr Booth appointed him his standard-bearer in Parliament, could hardly put himself against his chief without too plainly showing that he did not care a fig about his ticket so long as he got a seat with its assistance. We next find him transferring his affections to Thorndon, Dr Newmans seat. The little doctor is, even uioro than his colleague for Te Aro, a staunch Atkinsonian, and I hear that the party had to intimate to Mr Wakefield that they hardly admired his tactics in seeking to unseat so staunch a member for his own party. It is said that Dr Newman hardly feels himself safe for Thorndon yet, because it is quite on the cards that Mr C. J ohnston will not care to face Mr Fraser a second time for Te Aro, und that he may require Dr Newman to give up Thorndon to him — and the interest of the Johns ton family could give the seat to almost anyone, no matter how great a political lout. In that case Dr Newman and Mr Fraser might fight it out for South Wellington. So far, however, I do not hear of any opposition to Mr Fraser, who, although such an objectionable member, seems to have friends; but to return to our chameleon friend, Mr Wakefield, finding Jo Aro and Thorndon out of his reacn, next turned bis attention to the Hutt, at present occupied by Mr Harry Fitzherbsrt. Here there waa a iittle bolder play. A femi-ofncial announcement was made, and a quiet oanvaßa wa« proaecutod, all in the interests of temperance. The columns of the Evening Press suddenly sparkled with an intelligent interest in the Hutt affair?, and the embryo membsr made a great after-dinner speech on the spo*) b it here again the Fitzherbert family interest was too strong, and that interest is powerful enough to return any political noodle, and Mr Wukefield has to look further ahend. Tbe latest rumor is that he is casting covetoua tyes on tbe Foston Beat, now held by Mr Wilson, one of the whips of the -Uking.m party, but any attempt to oust Mr Wilson would hardly uuit the book of the Atkinson psrty, and i( #Joub reaUy stem as if Mr Wakefield is to go a begging for a ocat, unless he should prove consistent, and again change sides, declare himself a follower of Mr Stout on the temperance ticket, and then fight Dr Newman or Mr Fisher.