THE Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 3, 1881. THE COMING STRUGGLE.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 178, 7 December 1881, Page 2

THE Manawatu Times.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 3, 1881. THE COMING STRUGGLE.

" Words are things, and a drop at tnk falling like flew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, yarhaps millions think. '

Bepotie another issue of this -journal sbarlf nave been published the great electoral battle shall have fought, Tost, and; won* ; and while the high, armbitioisß'»rid aspirations of some will be gratifieel', those of others will be wnf ully disappointed. Like a young , wife the lot of Manawatu is already decided, 'and "'tne i ballot box for the next three years will .pjbssess for her neithe^hjbpes! norjfeaW, Not so her [ n ej ghijom , of Fb ilon ; Ban pjitikei, and WfagAyiiii:', they -will have to undergo &Wth&:lthrp,e»:,.pf..-a contested • 'eiectiott,;-an'd'':in:.;' f tli.e V; -:fbrmer constituency a battle of unusual obstinacy is "likefy to be waged. In Rangitiket a etubbotn fight may be looked for, { as tfe» supporters of ;Sir Wtlmim Pox will spare.np pain? to save their chief from a repetition of the disastrous defeat, when "Wanganui left him otrt m the cold. If, however, ■ ft aborning ©rents cast their shadows before," and persons are to judge by ' — of the times, the old t * *••"«». foot for the Knight lias pfottteu; *w .

lasLtunu on tiie iisioruiyfe. Stepbei>&, &nd never again will the eye of the Speaker give the signal far .an outburst of vituperation m the most approved Parliamentary style, The old Knight of Westoe has always had the reputation of being a wily, tactician ; but when the wily and the cunning overreach themselves they always manage to do so to au extent about on a par with their own cleverness. If report speaks truly the Royal Commissioner was the moving spirit m having ]£ivritea tacked on to the Rangitikei electorate, &i\& m doing so he was providing hfs opponents m the constituency with a rape- to strangle his political life. Tfca addition of Kiwitea to Eangitikei gives a very considerable accession to its voting power, but straugeTy enough the electors to a man are fu favor of Mr Stevens as .their- future candidate,, and it is expected' he will get a block vote f-oni that part of his electorate* Should this be- the ease 1 , and even th-a very supporters of his opponent admit the fact, there is little daubt that Mr; Stevens will head the poll with a good majority, and Sir William Pox for the second time berome the victim of misplaced confidence^ With regard to Wanganua no- sane' person for a tnoi men-6 imagines that Mr. "Watt has I a ghost of a show against Sir. Bali lancet, and his opposition is but a | roesuanof contemptible exhibition of I frrxpof enfc spite.- Neither Mr. Watt himself, nor one of hfe supporters have ever dreamed for oae moment that there was a shadow of su-eces*,. and he was trotted out just to show what his clique would do if they could. The seftfc is a moral for \ Baxlanoe, and the election will Berve ! rro other purpose tbau to show hfs popularity. It is not so easy to : spot the winner m the Foxton-. contest, by reason of the multiplicity of candidates and the conflicting, nature of the interests which each seeks to represent.. We feel 1 convinced, however, tha-8 the> contest will be narrowed d&mt to- a struggle between three — Russell, Buxler, and'Wu- : son, and we need not say that all •our Bympathiies are m favor of the ! former; wnom we- hope to see the representative of a district for which lie has hitherto fought so stoutly, honestly, and consistently.