The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1873.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 105, 12 October 1878, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1873.

TTNCONsqioxreiiT the " Wanganui Chronicle " has done us a kindness by extracting, into its columns an attack upon the editor of this paper, which appeared m the " Eangitikei Advocate." Strange to say, although we exchange regularly with the latter journal, on this parti-, cular occasion we have not been favored with a copy. This may be a coincidence ; it may be more j the publisher of the paper alone can decide, and we will not say what has been the cause. An "Occasional Correspondent " to that journal m stating that certain correspondence, had been laid upon the table of the House, with regard to the Bailway Manager, goes considerably out of his way to abuse the editor of the Times, winding up with the following :^-" In spite of Mr Dungan's assurance that he could prove every word of his allegations, the result is that -there turns out to be not a word of truth m them. It seems to have been the emanation of professional jealously and personal spite, and not at all creditable to the 'journalist ' who was guilty of making the false charge." We will not be so rash as to assert that the Hon. Mr Fox is the gentleman to whom we are indebted ior this unsought-f or judgment ; but this we will say, that if the "Own Correspondent's "letters which proved so interseting, were penned by that gentleman, then we will hold ourselves his debtor for the present favor. The leopard cannot change its spots, and be he "Own" or "Occasional," .'the—Mr Pox cannot hide his identity. A.s we are but a member of the provincial Press, and not a member of the House, we have not as yet received the return upon which "An Occasional" gives such a pronounced opinion, and we therefore withhold pur remarks until that time. In the meantime we reiterate with 'redoubled force all that we before asserted. Nothing we retract, nor yet desire to qualify. We asserted that a schoolmaster m the Government service m Palmerston had a free pass as the representative of the " Wangantu Herald"' to roam along'the Government line from Foxton to Wanganui ; we asserted that a tailor m Foxtoh, working at his busi^ ness. was upon precisely the same footing for the " Chronicle." .We stated this m the letter fo Mr Pyke ; we stated it m these columns before ; we reiterate it now, and we defy Mr Eothbbam to deny its truth if he aan or dare, the "Advocate's" "Occasional" to the contrary. We make the challenge openly, and we can prove it by scores pt settlers m the district. When we are/accorded the privilege granted the ; Correspondent of our contemporary^ we will refer to the matter again. Bresuming' that we are right m our sup. : position as to the autnor-r-ahd of that we have little doubfr— -t he coolness oi I Mr Fox m setting /himself up as a : censor, is certainly refreshing ; and after his own conduct he should cer- i tainly be very careful about throwing stones! We made pur charge openly through our columns, as well as privately ; we did not grasp the lianvl of ■ fellowship and smile, yet m a brutal and cowardly manner stab the ohai'ae^ ters of those self same persons under a npjn de glume, as Mr Fox ■■hajs fcoen taxed with doing. A pretty judge truly is he about what is oreditable or ptherwiße ; and a precious authority upon journaJisttc or any other etiuod -

In consequence of extreme pressure upon our space, we rvq compelled to hold over bur -leading avficlo, several paragraphs, our Carnarvon and Ofcaki Correspondents' Letters, and several other items. The dearth of labourers m this district still continues, and we hear it m almost impossible to procure able-bodied men. Mr Duncan Poole, of the Oroua Bridge has constant employment at the highest rate of wages for two hundred men, and m a week or two shearing will commence, which will render (ho difficulty the greater. In response to the request of the County Council, the Minister of Immigration had replied that inasmuch as 2000 immigrants m excess of the number forwarded last year, had been ordered to be despatched, he did not feel it wise to increase that number. We imagine Mr Macand row need have had no such scru'ples^he would have found that, providing the men wore of the right stamp, double! the number applied for would have been quickly absorbed. We have seen the sketch of the " apparatus for cutting sods off sides of roads," invented by Mr Haynes, the County Engineer, and should judge it will do its work effectually. The apparatus consists of a strong V-shaped frame, upon which flvo si eel-pointed, shovel - shaped cutters are fixed. It has a guide-wheel and handles, same as a plough, and is to be drawn by a horse. One great advantage is that sods can be cut to any thicknesa by adjusting the cutters ; it will nho cut over a round or hollow surface equally as well as on a level surface. The County Council upon seeing the sketch voted £20 to have one made, and to experiment with same. Should it turn out as anticipated, it will be a vary great saving to the County m removing grass from the sides of the roads. Messrs. Snelson and McNeil having both determined to retire from the representation of the Taonui Eiding m the County Council, we understand a requisition 13 to be presented to Mr James Linton to come forward for the vacancy. There can be no doubt that if that gentleman can ba prevailed upon fill the breach, he will be the right man m the right place. Tlie experience which Mr Liuton possesses m County matters, from his connection with Muncipal und Highways Offices, would make him invaluablii as a member of the Council, more especially as it is possible some of the members for other ridings may not havo previously been members of the body. At the weekly meeting of the Palmerston Literary Society, on Thursday evening, Mr liichai'd Le:iry read liia essay on the subject " Whether the Civilised or the Uncivilised State is the More Uniformly Happy ?" The speaker claimed for th& latter the credit of greater enjoyment, and asserted that wherever civilisation had invaded the domain of the savage, vice, and treachery and misery followed m its train. The paper was logical nncl argumentative, the author— like a skilful general— having foreseen and forestalled attack by carefully guarding his weak points. As a literary production the essay \v:is fsiirly entitled to take rank -in the highest order, abounding m well-pointed metaphors and telling similes, while afc times the langunge was both poetical and chaste — a splendid specimen of word- painting. The essay, which lasted fully an hour m its delivery, was listened to with wrapt attention and pleasure, and at its termination Mr Leary was greeted with well-merited applause. We would suggest thufc on some future occasion the author would deliver it to public outside the Society, when wo feel convim-ed it would be not only heard with pleasure, but iuafcruction.