AN UNJUSTIFIABLE ATTACK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 503, 8 December 1881, Page 4

AN UNJUSTIFIABLE ATTACK.

To THE EDITOR. Sir, —People who know will not be much impressed with the sub-leader' appearing in this morning’s Mail, which can only be characterised as a malicious and uncalled-for attack upon Mr George Shellock, the Rakaia poundkeeper. Mr Shellock, in that small editorial, is accused of very reprehensible conduct. But what are the facts? Government has sold agood deal of land in small sections, and the purchasers not as yet having got good fences around their gardens, were nearly ruined by stray stock of all descriptions breaking down their fences and smashing up their gardens. Several lives were nearly lost in consequence of people tethering cattle and horses on the road, and Mr G. Shellock received instructions from the Road Board to impound, without favor, all stray stock, so that the peace of the neighborhood might be secured. There is no common at Rakaia, as the article asserts, and many will be amused at reading the account, knowing that Mr Walsh after busying himself to get up a requisition to Mr Wason to stand for Wakanui, faithlessly turned round, and has ever since been canvassing for Mr Ivess, simply because, in reply to a question at Rakaia, Mr Wason said he believed Mr Shellock did the duty which he was called upon to do. So much for the article, Mail, and Mr Walsh.—lam, etc., Rakaiaite,