ROB ROYISM.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 435, 21 September 1880, Page 2

ROB ROYISM.

To the Editor.

allowed

Sir,—Kindly allow me to reply to the . letters signed " Henry Piper " and " Caution." No doubt "Ratepayer's" letter was high treneon itself, and " Gravis ira regum semper " —the wrath of kings ie always dreadful. The animal's bile and beneath notice. Pshaw! where is the reason which should guide all men's * actions in this bosh and poltroonery, and where the argument ? There is a marked difference between the two writers in their «- manner of justifying the action of the Road Board. " Caution " asserts that as the roads have cost a certain sum they • must be conserved, and so far as preventing their wilful destruction either by cattlo or otherwise, lam with him—i.e., if he can show us that there shall he no distinction ~ - of pereons or places, and how it can be done. ' A well-considered measure of this kind would have my hearty approval, yet _ I do not see how it can be done by impounding a few cattle off picked places, chosen by the Road Board, and this done, too, as has been openly admitted, in a ** harsh manner, and at the bidding of whom ? I certainly have no intention or wish to use hursh language to those gentlemen who devote a portion of their valuable time to what should bo the public* welfare, but I was fairly dumb-founded when I read tho concluding paragraph in Henry Piper's letter. It is so ingenuous I It runs as follows: —"If the ranger oversteps his duties, he is amenable to the law. The ranger's duties aio defined, and the roads particularised in the memo, he signed, and if ' Ratepaj'er' had any rea- •, soning power he would have informed himself of the particulars before rushing into print." I must confess I should have ■< very much liked to have seen this precious document —this memo., as it is called, so that I might have possibly prevented My comb from being cut. No doubt as the roads are particularised on which Mr H Hewer should act, this Head of the Bay law would over-ride the Canterbury Trespass of Cattle Ordinance, or any other law, provincial or general. Gazette this memo. * w by all means, so that the ratepayers may know the law ; send a copy to our worthy Resident Magistrate, so that he can have the statute by rote. Let Mr Fenton put in pegs where the cattle shall trespass to and no further, and we will oease to consider the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board members as disciples of Draco any more.— I am, etc., ANOTHER RATEPAYER.

To the Editor. Sir,—The protection of our public pro: perty seems to be engaging the attention of those we have elected to look after our welfare, and not before it is necessary, as any traveller can see who wishes. Looking casually over your advertising columns I noticed a call to those interested to attend a meeting with reference to the ranger's appointment. This bore a general riom do plnme, and the same as a. letter signed Rob Roj Redivivus. Of course that virulent but sapient writer's name would not have been traced to this production, only by his pompously braying out th fact. Since he has spoken of does not he and a few others continually levy it in a quiet way by shutting up their paddocks and turning their herds of milkers to graze upon the public and complacently look upon a struggling community repairing the damage done. Well, the meeting as called* was duly attended, when lo ! the guiding star—i.e.» the chairman —was none other than the gentleman who at bo much pains, identified himself witu h jb Roy Redivivus.

I am not going to weary your readers with a detailed description of this very f rue ami eaßy meeting, but simply wish to draw attention to a few facte. The philanthropic charmer in the largeness of his

heart wSslhjS to protect hie poor suffer ing neighbors from those rapacious individuals, the Hoad Board members, but ■with his obtuse, one-sided way of looking at things that personally interests himself he cares not to show how most of those he feigns to protect arc; injured by his and a few other's actions. The meeting did not unanimously agree that the Road Board should be interviewed, and a stop put to. that wretched Hewer's proceedings an an amendment to this was proposed but the presiding genius with a dignified liberality scouted the idea of so preposterous a proceeding the proposer of winch was pooh-poohed down. The Body presiding over our thoroughfares will bear in mind that the meeting referred to besides not being unanimous only represents a Binall number of those whose voicee should be heard before any alteration takes place Disclaiming all wish to interfere with the Board I beg to throw out:the following wgestion that the Board define what roads they propose to put _und£ the Ranger's protection and advert.se them so as Ratepayers can form an opinion and give their supporters or otherwise when called upon. If this were done and it wae shewn to be a general benefit, the Board ne ed not fear the result. W^