COOPER V. JIMCRACK.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 464, 5 July 1902, Page 1

COOPER V. JIMCRACK.

(To the Editor of the Times )

Sir, —If you will kindly allow me a small space in tho columns of your paper, I would like to write a few words in reply to the remarks made by Mr Cooper at last meeting of the Harbor Board, when the Board was discussing slip matters. He made use of the following expression : II That it appeared to him to be a case of the man in the street.” Secondly, “ That there was ]not a word about it until a letter appeared in a paper from some “ Jimcrack ” of a follow who knew nothing about the matter.” As the tree is known by the fruit it bears, so is the individual Known by the language ho makes use of. The man in the street no doubt is responsible for a good many things that happens, or is supposed to have been committed, and it may not be a “ palatable fact ” to Mr Cooper, for if the truth was known I believo that ho has to a great extent got to thank the “ man in the street ” for his elevation to a seat on tho Harbor Board, and no doubt the “ man in the street ” will remember on a future occasion that he has been despised in r, turn, by an ungrateful representative. As regards tho second clause, which refers to the extent of my particular knowlcdg,, For Mr Cooper's information I might side that I did not acquire it from the street corner or any similar locality ; but by “ hard graft,” mentally aud physically, or in other words, “Practical experience," gained, not as in some cases, hut by most of my time as a foreman or leading hand for more than thirty odd years. Further, no doubt you will admit I have demonstrated tho fact while in Gisborne, that I am capable of building a vessel or working a slip, therefore I ought to know a little on the subject that I wrote about. Another source of my experience was gained by partaking freely of the prescription recommended in my previous letter, and which I now strongly recommend to my friend Cooper. It lulls the sensitive nerves, adds power to the brain, strengthens tho backbone (which the dredge requires) and controls the inner man, so as not to expose himself by any unwise remarks. Before concluding I wish to draw Mr Cooper’s attention to a paragraph in the Engineer's report, submitted at the same Harbor Board meeting, and which goes a long way in supporting my remarks as regards the dredgo’s structural strength, The particular part of that report is as follows: “ Messrs Davys and Third have completed the works agreed to be done, “ except ” the fixing of angle steels and gussets between the hopper sides and skin of hull.” Now, if Mr Cooper can explain through the oolumns of the press, so as the public can understand, what these articles are, how they are mado, and for what purpose they are fixing them now in the dredge; and also why, if they are necessary, they were not fixed before the dredge was launched ? If he can answer those questions, “ not by figures or in cubic yards on paper,” for they arc often misleading to the public mind, we want the real cause, not a supposed one —if he can answer as required, wo will have to admit, and Gisborne must be congratulated, in having two “ Jimcracks ” instead of one, as at present. Thanking you, Mr Editor, in anticipation, I am, etc., JS. IV >i, Oxenham. i F.S, —Please allow me to add to above and repeat, that the slip site is unsuitable for the purpose for which it is being ! erected, and time alone will prove when it !i? required ' ; ot ;ba slipping ns vessels i ' .-.K" o