MR PYKE AND HIS CROMWELL CONSTITUENTS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 775, 23 February 1877, Page 3

MR PYKE AND HIS CROMWELL CONSTITUENTS.

(to the editor OF THE DCTN'STAN times.) Sir ; ■ If the report of the Cromwell Separation Committee, as published in the Cromwell Argus, of the 20th inst., is to be relied on as correct the Joliy, M'Kellar, Marsh, and O’Neil family appear to be pretty considerably rile 1 at the conduct of the gentleman who holds the dual position of Member of the House of Representatives for the Dimstan district, and that of Chairman of the Vincent County Council. Not content with asking him to resign the one seat, hut i forsooth both, and to that end have prepared memorials for signature throughout the district; the good taste of such a course I will uoi pass an opinion on, or on the verbiage of the Memorials, which are so very respectful that the only notice that can he taken of them is to consign them to the waste paper basket. From the charges in these Memorials the outside public, without some explanation, will look upon our respected Member from the same stand-point as his Cromwell friends, and as neither to Mr Fyke or the district would it he fair that they should pass nnchal'engod, I will, with your permission MrEditor, give what, as I nnderstan 1, the head and front of the offending, that is,, so far as I can glean from the columns of the Cromwell Argus. It appears, during the past session, Mr Fyke wrote to the proprietor of the Cromwell Argus a private letter, dealing largely with County business (the italicized word largely has to be taken into consideration), in which he says, “ I'desire to represent either Nevis, Hawea, o’- Kawaran Riding, Should I succeed my vote will he, and shall be for Cromwell as County Town.” Well, Mr Pyko wis returned for Kawar.au Riling ; and, on tile question of County Town, or rather meeting place of the County Council coming before the Council, Mr Pyke gave his casting vole in favor of Clyde. This is the olleuce, and for which he is to resign his seat in the House of Representatives, as also in the County Council ; and for which he is called anything but a gentleman, hung in effigy, and many other indignities heaped upon him. Now, it has to behornein mind this letter dealt largely with County business, yet only a few words referring to the vote are extracted. What is the context to this small sentence? without that no opinion can he formed as to its value. Assuming, however, the which 1 do not believe, that the context and the extract are one it might he ground for the ratepayers of the Kawarau Ruling to ask hiiii to resign. But wha‘ it has to do with tlifr people of Cromwell and the House of Representatives, 1 cannot divine. Again, 1 should like to know what right the people of Cromwell possess to request Mr Pyke to resign his seat in the General Assembly. Was Mr Pyke returned by the votes of the Cromwell people? decidedly not, hut they used their most strenuous endeavors to return another man, and to my way of thinking, those signing the memorial for his resignation must possess a large amount of assurance. Tile only people who have a right to ask Mr Pyke, or whom ho is likely to pay the slightest to,are those who recorded their votes in his favor. At the meetings held by Mr Pyke in the various portions of the district, there have been unanimous votes of confidence passed in his favor, but since the * decision of appointing Clyde the County Town the people of Cromwell have been trying to got a minority of his constituents to insult him. Why not have taken this action ; previously. In this nineteenth century who j would have thought that there wore men I possessed with so little mind or honesty'. I Why have they not stuck to the matter of ; County Town, and not gono on to matter ! outside of the question. I find by the report of the proceedings at their Separation 1 meeting that the following resolution was

passed: “ That a copy of tlio memorial calling upon M r Fyke to resign his scat in Parliament for the Dunstau district ho forwarded to Messrs Forrest and M'fiinni.’, Manuhorikia, for signature in their division.” Bow, why did they not do the riyht thing and propose sending copies to Blacks, Drybrtail, <tc., and likewise to Clyde. With regard to their wish for separation, why not stick to that. If sincere in this, what a lot of trouble—for nothing—they are at now taking to prepare data, &e., likewise to appoint a number of gentlemen to form a deputation for the purpose of meeting the Vincent County Council to arrange terms on which to merge the Borough into the County. Now, Sir, I shall conclude by saying that if the decision of the County Council was reversed and Cromwell made the County Town, wo should hear no mere of cither sena'atiouor the asking of Mr Pyke to rerign his scat in tie Assembly, but they would, with open arms, receive him, and cheer him for what he had dime. --1 am, etc., A Thinker.