MR BIRRELL’S REPLY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1830, 10 August 1906, Page 2

MR BIRRELL’S REPLY.

’(To the Editor Gisboine Time». ; Sir, —I observe that your correspondent, “ One who was there,” is determined to persevere in a correspond-* once, whir’ll to your readers must appear pointless, profitless, and even rediculous, and I certainly would have declined to have been a party to have carried it on further only for the gross misstatement that the meeting I referred to in the Farmers’ Union had never been hoard of till my reply appeared, Now, let “ One who was there ” look up the files of the Poverty Bay Herald of'July 27th, and he will sec how much his assertion is worth As for the later private meeting referred to, 1 certainly will not have the bad taste to drag it into discussion, although what transpired there might have been proclaimed from the house tops. Now sir, I have been asked by many of the residents here, “ What does this correspondence mean What is all the bother about” But I emit tell them ; possibly * One who was there” could. In conclusion ) tlfipk' it js regrettable that there are those in our community \yho \yqi}ld resent very much if they were not considered Britishers and those characteristics of British fair piny were not ascribed to them, and yet when occasion serves can get behind the hedge and pot away at some other fellow of their own race and tongue

v/ho stands in the open. I would, thereibid sa‘y j:o “ One who was there ” that in any future correspondence 1 he may be engaged in, let him’put h;s mfiiie'to the same like a man and a Brilisiicr, aid} although we might not agree he will always command the respect of

li. MACDUFF BiIUiELL. P.S.—lf “ One who was there ” wishes ,to carry on this correspondence further he iiiius't do it by himself.