Correspondence.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1010, 26 August 1881, Page 2

Correspondence.

Wo do not hold ourselves responsible for tho opinions expressed by our correspondents.

A VERY EMPHATIC DENIAL. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Mr Mackersy, in his letter in your last iscue, states that " Messrs Macgeorge, Little (who took part in the Clyde meeting), and Sims " attended the Alexandra meeting. He states what is false in saying I was there. I was at the Oood Templars meeting, hut not at the public meeting. Now, sir, it is evident that he was not at the meeting in question, or ho would have known that I was not there, so all he can know about it must be from hearsay. There wouhl have been nothing strange in my being present at tho meeting, as I have attended public meetings in Alexandra, off and on, for the last 18 years. Now, 1 would advise him, when he again rushes into print, to be sure that what ho states are facts.and not trust to rumor for his information.—l s.m, etc., ROBERT LITTLE. Sandy Point, August 23.

“THE LATE ELECTORAL PANIC.”

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—As lam greatly interested in the welfare of the Dunstau district, I invariably carefully peruse the columns of your valuable paper, with tho laudable object of learning the latest intelligence referring to the district, and of looking into the bearings of those petty squabbles which may have originated through tho carelessness, stupidity, or interference of persons who have nothing else to do, after their day’s work is done, but loaf and skulk around the local hotels and pick holes in the jackets of their more advanced and less disagreeable neighbors. Upon opening out my copy of the last issue of The Times after I had carefully dried it preparatory for perusal, my attention was instantaneously drawn to a letter to you, sir, headed, “ The Electoral Panic.’’ 1 need not say that I carefully road that immeasurably insolent letter, and my feelings after struggling and wading through it were in a fearfully mangled and distorted condition. At first, sir, I was charitably inclined towards the writer (Jno. Mackersy), thinking he was attempting a quiet little joke at the expense of yourself and Mr Simmonds, so I kindly forgave him the injury his vile effusion did to my weak nerves. However, on re-reading the letter, I was reluctantly led to the conclusion that Mac. was in sober earnest in his futile endeavors to take to task yourself, Messrs V. Pyke, Naylor, and Simmonds, consequently my ruffled feelings underwent a rapid and remarkable change. I actually commiserated tho self-appointed judge and jury of the doings of our public men, and I wondered how an individual professedly possessing a few grains of common sense could send such a presumptuous, ignorant epistle to a newspaper, and thereby make himself appear in a contemptible, ridiculous light; but 1 comforted myself with the philosophical reflection that “ While there are men and mm wonders will never cease.” However, that is neither here nor there, so to my subject. Mao , being one of those wonderfully consistent (?) men that we so often read about but very seldom see, commences his production (the work of many days and nights) by indulging in a tirade of abuse against you, sir, and Mr Simmonds particularly, and Clydeites generally ; and then, with an impudence equalled only by Daniel Qnilp, turns round and accuses both of attributing lying and scandalous motives to him (the virtuously-in lignant Mao.), and of abusing him up hill and down dale without the slightest provocation having been given tor such an outbreak. Besides being very consistent (?), its my firm opinion that Mac. is a bom wit and doesn’t know it yet. Backward, unassuming men never do know their own individual worth and merits, and generally remain ignorant of the fact until their friends take the trouble to enlighten them. Mind you, sir, Ido not insinuate that Mac. is immodest or egotistical. It is far from my wish to impute that that garrulous gentleman possesses those merits, neither do I wish it to be understood that I believe that Mac. is ambitious. If ho had the opportunity, of course he would sit in the House as the member tor the Dunstan ; and on a push, supposing he was hard up, he would probably undertake the editing of a newspaper. (Of course that would be his dernier restore ) A*.yone can see by his letter that he would be more at home in making-up literary dishes for tho million, than in digging for the treasures of Mother Earth. Therefore, I do not assert that Mac. “is what he seems to be.” I digress. Mao telegraphed to the “N.Z. Times ” that the “Chairman’s son-in-law and others from Clyde ” attended the meeting held at Alexi andra to take into consideration the GoI vernment’s intention to abolish the Dunstan j electorate. In his letter (which, by-the-j bye,should be framed and sent to the Dune- [ din M uaeum as one of the greatest curiosi- ' tics ever possessed by Vincent County) to you, sir, on August 19, he says that three Clydeites—including the Chairman’s son-in-law— were present at the meeting. Mark how he suddenly modifies his assertion ! With respect to Mac.’s pompous affirmation that the meeting is informal and unconstitutional, although I have a very slight acquaintance with the municipal laws of New Zealand, I imagine that the Mayor of any town can convene a meeting of the burgesses whenever he chooses, and that, too, without first consulting the wishes of the almighty- ratepayers, over whose rights and privileges Mao. makes such a ridiculous fuss If our Mayors had to ask for the permission of the ratepayers every time necessity arose for calling them together, very few sane men would bo found willing to perform the multifarious and onerous duties devolving upon the holder of such a questionable position, for the simple reason that the whole of the occupier’s time would be taken up in attending to civic duties and appealing to the “great unwashed.” Of course, sir, I well know that there are men (like Mae., for example) who would, if they possibly could, bind the public officers so tightly, that they would be unable even to expectorate or use their calico cambrics without first obtaining the gracious permission of their officious overseers to the proceeding, or first making a pathetic appeal to the ratepayers to allow them to properly attend to the “ cour-es of Nature.” That part of Mao.’s letter ordering, in a highly repulsive and insolent manner, the Alexandrans to bestir themselves ere their public business is transacted for them by Clydeites, must be placed to the writer’s burning desire to rake up and renew old feuds long since buried in oblivion, and open out old sores closed up by the healing influence of Time. If Clyde and Alexandra would determine to work together for each other’s benefit, incalculable blessings would inevitably be the result, despite the loquacious croakings of Mac., and others of a like kidney. Mac. gets quite sentimental over “ The Pyke” (is V.P. an Irishman, sir?) and Mr Naylor. Probably, a gallon or two of “ dog’s-nose hot” brought about that pardonable feeling in his manly bosom. And then, oh ! immortal shades of Demosthenes, Mac. suddenly turns magnificently magnanimous ! He says, “Perhaps Mr S thought he was acting for the best, so let us give him that credit.” Ido hope sincerely that Mr Simmonds will not have to retire from our sublunary sphere because Mao. has withdrawn the light of his countenance from him. Enlrc nous, Mr Editor, I think that spelling over able tractates on the historical legends of “Jack, the Giant-killer,” and “Old Mother Hubbard,” is more in Mac.’s lino than endeavoring to deliver unasked-for opinions upon matters affecting tho public welfare, or dictating to our public men what they must do, and what they mustn’t do. And perhaps it would bo better for himself and reputation if he attends to his duties, instead of meddling in affairs that do not immediately concern him. His letter appearing in your last issue is a miserable tissue of insensible falsehoods, the whole forming a disreputable mass of fatuous jargon, plainly pointing to tho tact that he is a fit subject for a lunatic asylum. His letter makes the affair appear in a foolish light, and is a watery travesty of the subject, in which the writer comes off second best.— 1 am, etc., COSMOPOLITAN. August 24, 881.