THE COMING ELECTIONS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3242, 21 November 1881, Page 2

THE COMING ELECTIONS.

[To the Editor of the Daily Teiegeaph.] Sib,—l perceive that Mr Thomas Laws is somewhat wroth over my letter of the 15th instant, re the candidates seeking to be elected for the representation of Napier. He is pleased to regard it as " a dodge of small calibre to damage the candidates, Mr Buchanan being especially singled out," and seems happy in the thought " that in the sixty lines of printed matter waded through" by me " not one specific charge is made against him." In reply to these statements of Mr Laws, which I have no doubt are very satisfactory to himself, I may state that my letter, as having reference to Mr Buchanan, was written, not with the intion of making "charges," but with a view of bringing under the notice of the electors some of that gentleman's past public performances, leaving to Thomas and others the perfect liberty of constructing them into " charges" or compliments as best they pleased. I may, however, state that the " sixty lines" of matter were .written with a thorough regard to truth. What Mr Laws ia pleased to designate " vituperations," "hard names," "visionary fancies," and the like can be found in our public records, and before Mr Laws can reasonably expect us to believe otherwise, simply because he says they are not true, be should let us have the counter proofs. I challenge Mr Laws for a contradiction. In reference to the breakwater question, Mr Laws says that, so iar from the question of Mr Goodall's visit, Mj| Buchanan subscribed five guineas to assist in bringing that gentleman to Napier, and adds, " Let us have things as they are," and by way of compliance Mr Laws shall have them, and to use his own words, just "as they are." The meeting referred to in my last letter was the second or last meeting held in Banner and Liddle's its object being to consider Mr Goodall's offer to visit Napier and report upon this important work. The terms of this offer are well known, and need not be referred to. Mr Smyth proposed, " That Mr Goodall's offer be accepted." For this motion eight hands were held up, and for delaying its acceptance four; amongst these four could be seen that of Mr John Buchanan. If that was not a burking of the question JMr Laws will perhaps kindly explain. I have no desire to be uncharitable, but think, that, as it appears so extremely difficult for Thomas Laws to give a correct version of what happened only a few days ago, his remarks having reference to matters of " days long ago," can be taken at their proper value. I will not dispute the five pounds subscription, nor enter into the importance attached by your correspondent to that liberal donation further than remarking that five pounds subscribed under the circumstance is not sufficient to wash Mr Buchanan clean of his many spots in the eyes of the electors of Napier. Mr Buchanan E would take to be a man as capable of calculating the advantages in having a harbor twelve miles from his home instead of seventy as any other that I Know, and feel inclined to think that, with a breakwater at the Kidnappers, and a railroad through the Tuki Tuki Valley, could well atford to allow the breakwater at the Bluff, and the " railroad to the moon" he so generously promised us at last election to stand over as for future consideration. Mr Laws I expect to find a very popular man in the new township. —I am, &c, Squint. November 19th, 1881.