ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 837, 3 May 1878, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

[IIT do not hold ourselves responsible for opinions expressed bp correspondents.] (to tiif. editor of the dunstan times.) Sir,— l must trouble Tim columns of your paper with a matter, the like of which is constantly reclining in thi« country. I refer to the presentation of testimonials to individuals, Ido not for a moment wish to do away with it entirely, on the contrary, 1 say it is nothing hut right that he who lias given time and energy to any undertaking should receive some recognition of his past services upon giving up his office ; what I mean will, ho vever he bettor explained by my relating a couple of instances which have occurred in this town. One or two years ago a certain party who is what you may call well up in the world, left the country for England on a visit ; directly it was known lie was going, some of his friends started a subscription and raised a purse of sovereigns for a man who had plenty already, and who had onlv himself and no family to look after. The next instance happened this week. A man who was always the first to offer his services in anything got up in this town for any benefit, and one who I am confident has lost more by so doing than he ever gained. This man, with a large family, being about to leave the town, resigned an office which he has hold for some years, and all that the Committee did for him was to pass a vote of thanks for past services I am sure if the first one deserved a purse of sovereigns the latter deserved a bag-full, that is, provided it went by merit. But Tam sorry to say, Mr Editor, I do not know of any town in New Zealand where “crawling” is a greater feature than in this Qnnstown, for, no matter what entertainment is got up in this place, unless got up by one of the would-be aristocrats (God save the mark), it is never patronised. Trusting you will find room for this scrawl.—l am, &c., RsrUDMCAN'. Queenstown, April 30, 1870.