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

MR SIMMONDS IN EXPLANATION,

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Permit mo tlirougli your columns to reply to the extraordinary effusion signed “Jno. Maokersy," and published in your last issue. As the Government have considerably modified their original proposals re the electoral district, in the direction suggested by the Alexandra memorial, I would not have wasted time in replying to Mr Mackersy’s letter, had it not been so full of misstatements calculated to mislead the public, that I consider it necessary to give them a refutation. Mr Mackersy accuses me of having an exuberant imagination, but I think he eould give me XOOyds. start in that line and beat mo easily. He states that the Mayor brought the question of the abolition before the “Borough Council, which expressed an opinion that the proposed change would not affect the district except for the better, and the Council considered the Government were in the best position to judge.” The fact is, nothing of the kind took place. The Council did not express an opinion on the subject, except to say that as the proposed alteration affected the whole district it would be better dealt with by a public meeting than bya Council which only represented the township; and there the matter ended so far as the Council was concerned. The Council did not agree to hold a public meeting on August 3. Mr Mackersy had better corr-ot his exuberant imagination by referring to the minutes of that Council meeting, which have since been confirmed by a meeting at which he was present, and which do not contain one word to substantiate his statements. The meeting called for Saturday was held late in consequence of a meeting of the Good Templars being held the same evening, and it was considered desirable to afford the members an opportunity to be present. It was, consequently, 10 30 p.m. before the proceedings commenced, and did not terminate before 11 15. Tf Mr Mackersy, by the force of his exuberant imagination, chose to make out that the meeting was held between 11 and 12 p.m, lean only leave the matter to those who were present to decide between us. As to the part that Mr Macgeorge took at the meeting, and of which Maokersy makes “uch a fuss, it was this : A motion was proposed to forward the memorial to Mr Pyke, and Mr Macgeorge suggested that it should be sent direct to the Premier. This was agreed to by the proposer of the resolution, which was carried in that form. Poor Mr Macgeorge ! He little thought he was striking such a blow against the dignity of Alexandra, or that the inhabitants would be called upon to protest againsr. such an unwarrantable i'lterference with their liberties, when he made that suggestion! The meeting was duly advertised, and publicly held in the Town Hall ; and the resolutions were carried with mt a dissentient voice. In the face of these facts, two or three individuals take upon themselves to telegraph to the Premier and a Wellington paper that the meeting was informal ; that it was instigated by Mr Pyke’s friends ; and that the majority here are opposed to the action taken. If Mackersy and Go's telegrams meant anything, they meant that I had used ray official position to forward a memorial to the Government on false pretences, and one that was opposed to the opinions of the majority of the people of the district ; and when such an unjustifiable charge is brought against me, if my language should not be strictly Parliamentary, moat people will agree that it was justified by the provocation. Blacks to a man was opposed to the Government proposals, yet the exuberant imaginations of Mackersy and Co. caused them to telegraph that it was in favor of them. Mackersy and Co., like tho three tailors of Tooley-street, who call themselves “We, the people of England,” profess to represent the opinions of the entire district, but I am doubtful if tho people would consent to have a question, which vitally affected not only the district but tho entire goldfields, decided by a few narrowminded individuals who view every question through the medium of local jealousy, and hatred of Mr Pyke—a fact which is rendered painfully apparent by the whole tenor of Mr Macuersy’s letter. As to the assertion that 1 have committed the whole town to the views of Messrs Pyke and Macgeorge, its a sufficient answer to say that tlie memorial 1 forwarded to the Premier was adopted at a public advertised meeting, and it will at least bear the same weight as private telegrams sent by two or three individuals, who have the impudence to assert that they represent the opinions of the people of the district without having tho slightest authority for their assumptions. [ am, etc., JAMES SIMMONDS. Mayor. Alexandra, August 25.