ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 770, 19 January 1877, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible, for opinions expressed hj correspondents.] o A VEXED AND DISAPPOINTED FLAGEELATOR. (TO THE EDITOR OK THE DIJNSTAN TIMES.) Sir On reading the pages of your Cromwell contemporary last week, I was much amused by an epistle from a contributor writing under the nom de plvme of “ Stockwhip,” and which I cannot allow to pass unanswered. I would first ask who is “ Stockwhip,” and why does he express himself contrary to all accepted public opinion, and 1 would also ask, why it is that a man of such ability is not a member of the County Council ? His effusion, although containing a largo amount of venom and spite, nevertheless, puts me in mind of a lady’s lett»r, all the matter being contained in the postcript, and I can only draw the conclusion that “ Stockwhip ” is some disappointed office-seeker, whose special abilities the members of the Council failed to appreciate. What are his notions of a Clerk to tho County, -whoso services would only bo at the disposal of tho Council when ho pleased to think fit to attend to tho duties of his office ? more especially as tho Act requires that the Office shall bo open at stated hours, or docs “Stockwhip” entertain the idea that tho members of the Council should tako it in turn to perform the duties of Clerk themselves. As to the location of permanent Offices, which ho says “ is tho cpiestion of all others most deeply affecting tho public mind,” lie surely must think tho public mind is as shallow as Ilia own. Ratepayers must think there are matters of far greater importance to he dealt with than where the Council meett,

and so long as the County Council doos its work properly, people interested will ho very indifferent ns to where they may elect to meet. Whatever “Stockwhip” may think to the contrary, 1 most certainly am of opinion that the County Councils were not established for the special benefit or convenience of townships. As to the suspicions “ Stockwhip ” cautions the Chairman “not to arouse,” I think 1 may safely leave that gentleman to fight his enemies by himself, be they “ghostly,” or otherwise. Mr Vincent Pyke is too well known in this district to care for the malicious insinuations of “Stockwhip;” but, of course people can only write according to their own notions of others. “Stockwhip” seems to have judged the Chairman of the County Council according to the narrow standard of himself, and who is doubtless well’dip in the “ ornamental occupation of nail paring,” and, judging from his letter, it would be well for him that he should continue to confine himself even more closely to that interesting pursuit, and not waste his time in throwing mud, like some disappointed schoolboy, because those who know better refuse to let him have his own way. 1 am, etc., Cat o’ Nine Tails. Bannockburn, Kawarau Biding, January l.'ith,' 1577.