ROBIN AFLECK IN REPLY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 632, 10 May 1882, Page 3

ROBIN AFLECK IN REPLY.

TO THE EdITOE. Sie, —Mr Thomas Taylor does not geeth to have taken kindly to the remarks made in my last letter, nor has he improved the position in his reply. What I stated were facts, and facts are stubborn things that no one need feel ashamed of. If there was any of that natural modesty still extant in your correspondent he would never have penned such an egotistical effusion as appeared in his first letter. If he had wished to disprove what I said, the name was no obstacle. The poet says, “What’s in a name?” but Mr Taylor thinks otherwise. For my own part, I think “ Robin A fleck” equally as good, and that it looks quite as welll in the papers as “ Thos. Taylor.” If Mr Taylor is ambitious to have his name paraded in The Guaut'lAN and Mail that is no earthly reason why I should follow him. I simply stated, and may do so again, that if any person did make use of Mr Taylor’s name m connection with Mr Saunders it might possibly have been used in far worse company. Had Mr Taylor contented himself bv disclaiming such company, “ Robin” would never have troubled himself in the matter, but when ho launches forth in his gushing burst of admiration for Mr Ivess, and was so sure that it would be to the greatest interest of the best portion of the Wakanui constituency and the whole colony that Joseph Ivess should be returned, ho just showed what card he would like to play,

quite independent of any ballot box. Youi correspondent labours under the popular belief that without the names of “ Thos, Taylor” and “Joseph Jvess” the work would be a blank. Sir, I have carefully thought the matter ovlt, and have conn to the conclusion that the colony couk move along, and passably too, without tin valuable assistance of Messrs Taylor anc Ivess. As a humble individual I hav< been told that I shall come off secont beet; 1 have no desire to strive agains fate. Mr Thos. Taylor has, according b his written statement, secured a plac amongst the “ best portion.” lam there fore quite prepared to reflect over m; position in the second best company unti the ballot box shall reveal not who is th best or worst, t'' who is the first man i: the field, and lei me hope that that raa will not represent one portion but th whole portion—not one combination, bu the united electors of Wakanui. In cor elusion, let me say I’ve had misfortune IprfUlf aodnxut’, bat ay a heartaboon thei