THE COMING ELECTIONS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3212, 15 October 1881, Page 2

THE COMING ELECTIONS.

[To the Editor of the Daily Telegraph.! •Sir,— I am sorry that I cannot return the compliment paid to me by your correspondent " Fair play is bonny play," and congratulate him on the appropriate norn de plume attached to his letter of Wednesday last, as I fail to see in what respect it illustrates that grand old adage* In the first place he denies the accuracy of my statement that a pamphlet reviewing Mr Ormond's past political career is in circulation in the Bush settlements, and in the same sentence of bis letter says " the only p&mphlet in circulation in the Bush is one written by Mr Scaly, of Tiraaru, entitled 'Are we to stay where we are?' and only incidentally referring to Mr Ormoad." Incidentally of course. I would therefore ask your correspondent how it is that this particular pamphlet, supposed to be "written long months ago," should have such circulation in the Bush when it ia such an obscure production in other parts of the province, particularly in Napier, where it is sold if not circulated for an object somewhat " sly." In next place his criticism of the portion of Colonel Brett's speech respecting a Hawke's Bay J. P. is so utterly unfair that his misrepresentations can only be accounted for by the possibility of feis laboring under temporary excitement while reading my letter. He attributes Colonel Brett's words, as reported in Hansard, as mine, and characterises them as a "leading piece of mischief," and by poinfing to definite places and names he endeavors to direct them into channels intended by me. Nevertheless until your correspondent can show that Colonel Brett's words respecting the Hawke's Bay J.P. or, that the morals of the Waipawa J. P.'s are 80 much superior to those of other places as to place them beyond suspicion, it would he ntither " fair " nor " bonny play " not to suppose that it is just as probable he resides in the Waipawa County as in any other electorate in Hawke's Bay. And I still contend that at the present time, when the political atmosphere is in a state of fumigation by " electioneering touts " and others, forcing upon electors all kinds of clap-trap, the electors should be careful as to how they act, in case they might find themselves in possession of costly commodities. With reference to your correspondent's remarks re a cer> tain J.P. gazetted by Mr Ormond, all I have to say is that I regard his statement as a wilful fabrication.—l am, &c, Squint.

October 14, 1881.