ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 779, 23 March 1877, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

PYKE v. MAGKELLAR,

[We do not hold ourselves responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents.] - o CROMWELL AGAIN 1 —o—(to the editor of tub dunstas times.) Sir : In every possible way the Cromwell Argus exhibits its narrow views and untiring spirit of malignancy in connection with this absu rd County Town business, every publication teeming with this and nothing else, until the topic has become like the place from which it emanates a veritable existing nuisance, rendering approach to cither neither pleasurable nor profitable. Its latest effort appears in the issue of the 20th instant, when an honest independent meeting of Electors assembled together, here to repel a monstrous and impudent attempt on the of a few Electors at Cromwell to coerce the resignation of the District Member, is characterised as a Hole in the Corner meeting, and as a small band of “ Pyke’s worshippers.' - It is easy to asperse, especially to one, who is proverbially addicted to mud-bedaubing, the only weapon available apparently to the Cromwell Argus. But would it not have been wiser and ip better taste, if the conductor of that journal had restrained his braying until the action of the Meeting referred to had arrived at fruition, whether good fruit or bad, instead of at the very outset uttering futile words of condemnation which carrv conviction to the mind of any unprejudiced person that they are the ravings of a soured and disappointed person who expected that, because Cromwell was not chosen as the County Town, every Elector in the County must necessarily feel aggrieved and act according to the views of the Cromwell Argus, and the very few who hold similar opinions to those promulgated by that newspaper. Yours, &0., Sour Grapes. Clyde, March 22, 1877.

ANOTHER EE PLY.

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE DUNSTAM TIMES.) Sir, —ln your issue of tlie 10th inst. appears a letter signed “ William Eames”, in which be says, “1 observe a letter from Mr G. M. Starkey, &c.,” and “Mr Starkey’s statements would lead tbo public astray provided they believed it,” and then goes o i to dilate upon Mr Pyke’s severe illness at Clyde. Now, Sir, if Mr Earaes, before attempting to contradict the statement contained m rny letter, had taken the precaution to read it he would have found my “ statement” referred to Mr Pyke in Cromwell, and that I m ide not the slightest allusions to the state of that gentleman’s health in Clyde. For aught 1 know Mr Pyke may even now he lying “ very ill” in Mr Fames’ Hotel (constantly attended by Dr Button, and also by an attendant specially engaged for him). 1 have too much respect for Mr Eames to think he would bo guilty of toadyism even to the gentleman who at present (ills the office of Chairman of the Vincent Comity Council. But, really, seeing that such a very large majority of Mr Pyke’s acquaintances are willing to give him the ere lit of being able to look after himself, I think Mr Eames might do worse than to bear in mind the fact that many men have amassed fortunes in this world by minding their own business,—l am, etc., Georoe hi. Siarkev. Cromwell, March 20, 1877.

(xo the editor of the dunstan times.) Sir, —It is intensely amusing, to my thinking, the abuse heaped on Mr Pyke, not only by writers in the Cromwell Argus but in every paper in the Province. The literary lion who committed such havoc when he was editor of the Southern Mercury has at last been caught in his own trap, and editors are determined not to spare him. AVliilst admiring the hurst of righteous indignation against falsehood which Iras suddenly been evoked from all quarters, 1 cannot help thinking it is only a vent for disappointed speculators who have purchased sections in Cromwell on the chance of its becoming the county town, and now (lad them a drug irr the market That Mr Pyke did promise to vote for Separation, and then voted for Abolition in preference, there is no denying ; that ho promised to vote for Cromwell being made the county town and afterwards gave his vote for Clyde, is equally certain. But in both these votes it will be found on calm reflection that ho acted for the benefit of lire people. Few men have been reviled for political apostacyas Mr Pyke Iras been, and yet he has never, so far as I can remember, either in Victoria or New Zealand, voted against the interests of tiro people. It is true the people of Victoria petitioned to have what was generally known as “ Pyke’s Act ’ repealed, hut they also petitioned to have it again restored when they found out their mistake. But is Mr Pyke the only one who has broken his pledges to the Cromwell electors? Did Mr MacKcllar fulfill all or any of the pledges he made before he was elected a member of the Provincial Council ? I presume he pledged himself to vole for the benefit of his constituents, and yet I only remember three votes ho recorded, or rather two—one was against the Waikia Road being mane, because he had a saw-mill in an opposite directin'!. Another vote was against the fanners being allowed to increase their holdings to floO acres instad of 200, and not withholding his vote for. the repeal of the Gold Duty, he unblushingly received L4OO a year as Goldfields Secretary. Yet he writes to the press of hanging Mr Pyke at

his leisure, because ho voted according to Ids conscience and not according to his promise. Indeed, the tone of Mr MaoHollar's letter is quite in keeping with Ins own political conduct, saying one thing and thinking another. Does ho think the position of Chairman of Vincent County similar to that hold by the late Superintendent, or that the Chairman will give his whole time and attention to it, or the higher salary a person in office receives tiro more work he will do. Did Mr MacKellar when Goldfields Secretary and in receipt of L4OO per year, devote all his time and attention to the business of the country. Is it not a fact that while he was a member of the Provincial Government .... he was also a partner with the largest con-' tractor in the interior, and while every paper in the Province rang with the infor-’ matiou that Hector Reid, of Dunedin, was the successful tenderer for repairing the Cromwell bride at a figure over L2OOO, Mr Maclvollar’s partner was quietly going on with the repairs. It may ho very well for a gentleman of Mr MacKellar’s ability to enter the political arena with nothing to do, and nothing a year to live upon, and retire nfter two sessions a comparatively rich man, but it does not prove that Cue person so doing devoted all hisenorgics to the business of the country. The sin of becoming rich at the country’s expense, notwithstanding the accusation of Ins enemies, cannot he laid to the charge of Mr Fyke, as 1 am afraid he will not leave to his heirs LIS,OOO per year, as the late Sir Donald M'Lean has done.—l am, etc., Unit. Vincent County, March 10, 1877,