CORRESPONDENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2061, 23 April 1907, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

HOSPITAL SECRECY. To the Editor of the Gisborne Times. Sir, —In your issue of Saturday last I notice publication of correspondence recently taken place between the Hospital Board, Dr. Morrison, and myself, which renders an 'explanation from me imperative, in order to obviate any misconstruction as to the reasons for my request to visit a patient of mine in the general hospital:— Firstly: I am indirectly responsible both to his employers and himself for the operation which was undertaken on him in the general hospital, on the grounds that it was my order he presented at the hospital door for surgical treatment. Secondly: I was anxious to ascertain personally the length of his probable convalescence, on the grounds that he was placed under the Employers’ Liability Act on my opinion (which entitles him to only half-pay during the time his, accident incapacitates him). As monetary considerations weigh with most people, my assurance that only one operation was necessary, and that convalescence would not exceed four weeks, while placing a moral responsibility on me, weighed with him in his decision to follow my advice, i Thirdly : I know my patient to be i a very great favorite amongst his , companions at the Taruheru Freezing Works, most of whom I come in contact with either professionally or in the field of sport. It would have enabled me to at least say I had taken sufficient interest ; to see him when disquieting rumors

wcu'o afloat. After all, Sir, “a follow feeling makes us wondrous ■ kind.” I thoroforo wrote a polite note requesting permission to visit him in a friendly way, which ns'you are nwnro mot with a curt refusal from Dr. Morrison, as also from tho Board, which latter prohibit my visiting, tho hospital on tho usual visiting days, without tho expressed desiro of tho patient.—l am, etc., JAMES C. COLLINS. Tho following reply has been received: —Dr. James D. Collins, Gisborne. Mr. Eostor’s ease. Sir, — Direced by the Chairman. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of tho 17th instant, ami to inform you in reply that the Trustees do not see any reason to interfere with tho course taken by Dr. Morrison, which is in conformity with the by-laws. Yours faithfully, T. A. Colonmn, Secretary. THE PIUCE OF LAND. To the Editor of tho Gisborne Times. Sir, —In the report of the Land Board us published in tho Times of Tuo.sd.ay, 15th inst., it states in reference to sections 1 and 4, AVaimato, “It was decided to raise tho rent, to £3 10s por acre.” Is this so, and if so what is being extracted from tho soil? Awaiting some light.— l am, etc., QUID NUNC. [Tho Times report is quite correct. The District Surveyor recommended that tho price bo raised to £3 ss, and [bo Board made it what was stated.— Ed. G.T.] THE MAYORALTY. To the Editor of tho Gisborne Times. Sir,— Being at present out of all local bodies, and having for years served with Mr Townley on tho same, I. think I am capable of giving an expression of opinion on Mr. Townley’s actions as a public man. I may say that there is not another man in Gisborne who differed from Mr. Townley on public matters more than 1 did; nevertheless, I consider Mr. Townley a most honest, conscientious, and trustworthy public servant, and although Mr. Townley cannot claim to be infallible, the ratepayers have in him a man in whom they can rely for honesty and integrity. It would bo an ungrateful act on their part if they did not place him at tho head of the-poll on election day. Air. Townley, whom I have known for over thirty years, can defy all critics in regard to his honesty and trustworthiness. He has given many years of his energetic life gratis for the welfare of the district, and it is therefore only fair and just that you should show your appreciation of all those qualities on election day. I would therefore ask the ratepayers what I never asked for myself —to vote for Mr. Townley.—l am, etc., E. P. JOYCE. Tho Editor Gisborne Times. Sir, —The argument which appears to be mainly used against Air. Townley by the supporters of Air. Lysnar, is that wo want a change and that the former gentleman has been in tho Alayoral chair too long. Further Air. Lysnar’s supporters pay him the poor compliment of saying that if we put him in this year there will bo no man so easily defeated as he at the next poll. It is remarkable that those arguments are used for one would have thought that tho 30 years’ confidence of the ratepayers which Air Townley has enjoyed was a sure indication of his honesty, zeal and industry, and even now the opponents of the Alayor do not deny his activity in the Borough’s service. It may be that Air. Townley is oldfashioned and -non-progressive as alleged, but if it is so it would be interesting if his opponents would furnish us with some illustrations, for • his address emphatically points out that he is fully alive to tho import- • ance of an Outer Harbour and progress generally, while his past record shows that we have to largely 1 thank him for the water supply and other improvements which have .e----centl’y been effected in the Borough. The other Candidate on the other 1 hand has professed much but done ; little and has certainly never indicated in any way the slightest aptitude for the position. He is obstinate, didactic and ill-informed and couse- 1 quently a very poor debater, while in Council his utter ignorance of the rules and common courtesies of debate render him most singularly unfitted to act as a Chairman of any body. It is indeed astonishing that anyone who has read the papers even casually or who has carefully watched liis public career for the past ten years can be lured , into supporting ! him. He has always been noted ap 1 an obstructionist rather than an intelligent critic and makes it a prae- 1 tice to oppose everything. On tho same principle which induces a crowd to follow a man who beats a big drum, he has attracted followers by his noise, yet can be point to any one progressive resolution which he has 1 moved in the Council during the past twelve months. On the other hand in Air. Townley we have a man who whatever his faults, commands the respect of all sections of the community, and upon whose professions the Public can rely for honest fulfilment. I believe 1 am correct in saying that he is the author of the water supply which will be completed in a few months, and it is to be hoped that the Burgesses will return him again at the top of the jioll so that he may have the honour of opening tho water supply and superintending the completion of the scheme with which lie has been identified. —1 am, etc., AV. LISSANT CLAYTON. Gisborne, 22nd April, 1907.