THE PERSEVERE.

Grey River Argus, Issue 116, 9 October 1866, Page 2

THE PERSEVERE.

(To the Editor of the Grey River Argus.) Sir, — In perusing the leading article in your issue of Saturday, we could not but feel much surprised at its tone, and had it not been that j r ou so plainly ask for a reply, we should have been inclined to have passed it by without comment ; indeed, but for the remarks you pass upon Captain M'Meckan we should have taken no notice of it whatever. We cannot fancy why Captain M'Meckan' should be attacked by the editor of a paper without , that editor first taking the trouble of 1 inquiring into matters. It is no doubt a very laudable endeavor to form a Steam Tug ComjKiny, and we ourselves heartily wish it success, but why Capt. M'Meckan's conduct should be brought forward as a stimulant to the apathy of the Grey public we are at a loss, to conjecture. It is well known that the Persevere ia not equal in power to many other boats on the coast, still it is universally acknowledged that no captain could better handle the boat than Captain M'Meckan has done, and we ourselves feel gratified in knowing that not only amongst the captains of vessels frequenting this port, but the Greymbuth public generally, he is held in high respect. Had Captain M*Meckan been able to go out with his boat on the evening in question he' would have done ao, and had it not been his anxiety to do so, in all probability he would have had a surer chance of accomplishing hjs object, for in endeavoring to come in too early on the tide his boat was rendered incapable of again facing the bar the same evening^ We certainly much regret the inconveniS ence to the Grey public with reference to the Panama mails, and to the, Panama Company in the detention of the s.s. Otago, but as the agent of the company was perfectly convinced that the Persevere could not go out in her crippled condition, and that it would be unsafe to attempt it, his explanation will doubtless be, satisfactory at head quarters. In respect to the first shipment of gold direct to England via Panama 1 for which honor is, claimed for the Union Bank, altliotigh we regret the Bank waapisappointed in shipping, we cannot b,ut think that shipping gold from the West Coast via Panama is not only short sighted on the Bank's part x but "penny wise and pound foolish." We cannot see any benefit the West Coast is to derive, from the gold being exported via Panama. For every oz of gold shipped to the^Australian colonies, we are sure of some increase to the population, therefore a direct benefit to us all, and we fancy a leading article advising gold buyers to sell to those Banks only who would, guarantee shipment of the gold to the Australian colonies, would be as great a benefit, if ' not greater, to the inhabitants of Greymouth than a more powerful s^eam tug. We are, &c, ■..._. D. Girdwood and Co, *Greymp,uth, Oct. 8, 1866. [Nothing was further from our intention than to convey any impliett censure on Captain M'Meckan, as Ms reputation is too well established in Greymouth. We merely invited an explanation of a circumstance which the information we had received seemed to call for. Perhaps the above explanation will- be deemed .satis-? factory by the public. t-Ed. G,- R, A.]