THE CITY BASE LINE.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2630, 22 July 1871, Page 2

THE CITY BASE LINE.

To the Editor. Sir, —Notwithstanding the abusive reply, of Mr Robert Gillies to a letter signed “ Pro Bono Publico,” I have refrained from pressing you to publish a few remark'! in explanation. However, as Mr 11. Gillies appears unwilling to allow the matter to rest, but attacks Mr Fish upon the subject in the Daily Times of this date, saying that a letter signed as below emanated from him, in justice to that gentleman I again write, and state most emphatically that I have never held any conversation on this subject with Mr Fish, nor to my knowledge is he aware who wrote the letter referred to. I can easily imagine that a similarity of views on the benefits of this survey may be held by the majority of unprejudiced persons with any pretensions to common sense. I must trespass upon your space in order to explain a seeming absurdity in a portion of my former letter, in consequence of an error in th<? manuscript, or a mistake of the printer. The paragraph I refer- to shou d have read as follows :

“It will enable the City Surveyor to place the kerbing (proposed to be laid) in its proper position on the ground, thereby putting every owner in front of whose property the kerbing has been laid in a position to lix not only the boundaries (not level) of his property, but also give them the building level of such property.” Now Mr K. Gillies of all people must have known that the word boundary (not leve 1 ) was meant. But 1 desire to call public attention to the benefits derived by the owners of sections, as shown above. If Mr Gillies or any one else can prove that the base line survey will not have the effect stated by me, 1 will then own to having taken a wrong view of the subject. In the meantime, 1 consider myself equally well acquainted with the merits or demerits of this survey as Mr Gillies, and take credit to myself for being philanthropise enough to endeavour to enlighten my fellow citizens without misrepresenting or taking a mean advantage of misprint v It may he considered by Mr Tv. Gillies a very fine thing to make stock of my having written under a nom deplume, but to sign one’s name in the public papers on a question like this, is a piece of egotism that 1 for one will not be guilty of. What care the public whether it is Brown, Jones, or even Kobinson who writes ; Mr Gillies as well as the public is aware that the true name is in the possession of the editor. With regard to the silent contempt of Mr Robert Gillies, it will affect mo but little, feeling sure that the action taken by me in this matter will contrast very favorably with Mr G.’a late mean attempt to shirk the true question.—lam, &c. Tro buno Publico. July 21, 1871.