The Member for Ashburton.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIII, Issue 2765, 5 September 1892, Page 2

The Member for Ashburton.

A " POLITICAL PORTRAIT." [*• Pmz," in Christchurch " Press."] Mr E. G. Wright might be taken lor a Doctor of Divinity in easy circumstances, or one or her Majesty's J udges, a trifle unbent. A little over the middle height, he inclines to slenderness rather than to rabustness. A fine sensitive and intellectual face, which would strongly suggest that of Mr Justice Richmond wore the latter somewhat younger, or were Mr Wright somewhat older; good forehead, aquiline nose, grey hair neatly brushed and parted, ending on either side the head in a cluster of neat curls, not. unlike those on a Judge's crisp wig. Mr Wright has a melodious and cultivated voice, the voice essentially of a gentleman. Nevertheless he has a provincial peculiarity noticeable even among educated persons in one, or at most two, of the English shires^he dabs the letter "h" about in the most heart-rending manner, from which I should gather that Mr Wright is a compatriot of Sir Sbmers Vine, who some time since perambulated this colony with a model of the Imperial Institute and an amazing Somersetshire diilect. Mr Wright does not indulge, however, in excessive verbosity. Ho occasionally stirs the Premier up in a gentle and engaging manner, which causes that statesman.to squirm visibly. In the House Mr Wright enjoys the same bench as Mr Harkness from whom hV occasionally extracts;'a lovely smile, the former also from time to time suggests things to Mr Rollesr ton, probably .weak points in the enemy's armour, or classical quotations. The stibject of this sketch, though an engineer by profession and the designer of those notable constructions [ he Rangitata and other bridges, ■■ isridtr afflicted with the melancholy of the average New Zealander, but is quietly humorous and temperately genial to a degree. Mr Wright nas had no recent political experience, but once in other days was a coming, Minittter of Public Works^-a position he would have held with honor to himself and profit to the colory. As a sample of the high discrimination of some constituencies, it may be mentioned that Mr Wright, who is a representative of which any electorate might be proud, was once rejected in favor of the undistinauished citizen best known as the "Rag planter*"