A DENIAL FROM MR MACKELLAE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 777, 9 March 1877, Page 3

A DENIAL FROM MR MACKELLAE.

—o—(to the editor of the dunstan times.) Sir.—ln reference to a paragraph in Mr Pvhe’s letter to the Cromwell Argus, and published in your last issue, allow me to say that I read the who’s of Mr Pyke’s telegram to the meeting to which he was invited but failed to attend —1 suppressed no portion of it. That Mr Pyke may have no room for further quibbling or insinuation of unfair treatment, perhaps it would be well to inform the public of the nature of all the correspondence of which the one telegram Mr Pyke refers to forms a part. To understand it, however, it will ho well to say distinctly that both in plain words and by repeated conversations, implyingthe same th'ng, Mr Pyke had pledged himself to me personally to act and vote in such a way that Cromwell would he appointed the regular meeting-place of the Vincent County Connell, or in other words, the “county town.” So strong were his assurances and so many weighty reasons could and did Mr Pyke adduce in favor of Cromwell that when at a distance from home 1 heard a rumor of Mr Pyke’s extraordinary Voting, I refused to believe it. It appeared to me to be impossible for any man to go out and in amongst a whole community for weeks promising directly and indirectly to act in a certain manner, anil when the occasion arrived to act in exactly the contrary manner. Of course when I arrived in Cromwell 1 learned the true state of matters, but I also received a verbal message from Mr Pyke himself (through Mr Mitchinson) to “ try and keep the people quiet, and things would came all right yet,” I didn’t try. If I had I should only have been emulating Mrs Partington’s famous attempt to keep the Atlantic out of her door. I telegraphed to Mr Pyke, however, to the clTecj that I had received his message, and that after the conversations wo had previously had on county business, I thought some explanation of the extraordinary result was required. In due course I received a reply from Mr Pyke that “Am still of the same opinion, hut will not ho hurried,” and promising a letter by mail. Then 1 learned that a meeting to discuss Mr Pyko’u action’s had boon called, and I telegraphed again asking him whether in the event of his absence I should read his letter to tho mooting. At 4,10 p.m. on Thursday, Bth ultimo, the date of tho meeting, I received a reply which said, “ I am not aware of any meeting on County business. Explain.” I replied explaining that a meeting had been called, as I understood, to discuss his (Mr I’yke’s) conduct both as a

Parliamentary and a County representative. ' By tho mail which arrived the same evening I received a short note from Mr Pyke, saying in consequence of my telegrams lie withheld his letter of explanation. You now, Sir, know all the correspondence which passed, and I put (it to you, seeing that tho Mayor had a telegram at 4.10 p.m. on the same date as tho last one from Mr Pyke to myself, declining to attend the public meeting, whether Mr Pyko was not simply quibbling when he said to,me, “Am not aware of any meeting on County business." Tho real point of the whole allair was that a meeting to discuss Mr Pyke’s conduct was to bo held—and he was afraid to attend it. Another word or two, Sir, and 1 have done, I hope, with Mr Pyke. In Mr Pyke’s reply to tho Mayor, declining to attend tho meeting, ho intimates that he has no intention of meeting his constituents at Cromwell till after the next session of the Assembly lias been held. Allow me to refresh Mr Pyke’s memory as to another pledge. He distinctly promised, in answer to a question of my own, that immediately the County business was fairly initiated, he would call a meeting of his constituents in Cromwell and address them on Parliamentary business. ’When ho so promised there were present iu tho town hall Messrs Jolly, Arndt, Brown, Grant, Starkey, Marshall, Marsh, and I think about seven more, whose names Ido not recollect. —1 am, &c., D. Mackfxlab. Cromwell, March 2, 1877.