UNKNOWN

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2986, 20 January 1881, Page 4

UNKNOWN

'jii- following "curiosity" we extract hi-u-i the correspondence of the Hokitika :-:tar. Ib is dated Kumara, and were we not aware that the correspondent there is a Good Templar, we would decidedly imagine that; the writer had penned his effusion while under the influence of " John Barleycorn,', his statements in reference to Greymouth and its residents being purely imaginative : " Spite of all the Westlanders have spent a merry time of it. Tho Kumeraites who have visited Hokitika came back well pleased, and those from Hokitika who paid us a visit returned home well satisfied. The only growlers were those who had been victimised by going to Greymouth. A word of advice to my Greymouth friends—Bon't you over-do the thing, or it, may recoil on yourselves Hokitika uionaj lias made you what you are; Hokitika capital developed the mines of Reef ton, Greymouth hung back. Hokitika capital developed Kumara, Greymouth hung back. Hokitika has assisted in the development of your coal mines. Hokitika found money to bring under cultivation thousands of acres of the Grey Valley lands, and from the first of the Coast has always acted as generous neighbour. So now in your prosperity don't be too greedy. " Live and let live " should be the motto of every true Westlander. So far you have repaid evil for good. Through the dastardly conduct of a political Judas. Greymouth took from Hokitika its Public Works Offices. Then again Greymouth capitalists supported by interested parties, or Hokitika renegades, took away the Hokitika Steam Tug, Government at the same time lending a hand in working the oracle. To the most gullible man hi Hokitika, this must be apparent. How liberal of the Government to advance the three thousand pounds ; (what mockery). And then the Weld-street luminary to pile on the agony. To say that the Hon. J. A. Bonar deserved every credit for bringing matters to a satisfactory termination. Esau sold his birthright through hunger. The birthright of Hokitika has been also sold through greed and hunger, and Greymouth quiotly laughs to tho tune of the Harbor Rate —(ha, ha, ha). Don't laugh too loud ; tho Kumara Nemesis is on your track, the day of retribution is at hand. Not satisfied, Greymouth makes an abortive attempt to spoil the Hokitika Annual Races by getting up sham races at Greymouth. Financially, all admit 'twas a failure. As regards principle, to use a disgusted victim's expression, it was the essence of meanness ; and if at Patrick time the Hokitika people will only get up sports of any description, from donkey racing upwards, there will I go, anything, anywhere, is preferable to the Shylocks and sharks of Greymouth."