CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 10, 5 September 1861, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Times. Sie, —When I first troubled you with a reply to the effusions of Mr. Weller, on the subject of Harbor Improvements and his unprovoked attack on the Director of Works, I hoped that I had found a correspondent who, if opposed to these works and their management, would at least have had the honesty to enlighten the public as to the details of the mismanagement of which he so patriotically and disinterestedly complains ; such, however, is evidently anything other than his intent, which I have already adverted to, as the little game of Weller and his good friend Gilpin, and have shewn it to be a mere question of self-interest coupled with a little, or rather good deal of spite against the Director of Works—in fact, the usual course adopted by pretenders to vested rights when these are about to be tested; and, as the question of Harbor Improvements is one in which wo of Napier have a more direct interest than others, it is clearly our own fault if we allow ourselves to be fooled into the spending of money in places where it can benefit no one, as in the case of the expensive and disconnected branch roads, in remote and uninhabited districts, which have given employment and money to some birds of passage certainly, who took care to fly off with themselves and the money too, being like Sam Weller and his friend Gilpin, neither land owners or merchants, but only residents, and having no interest whatever in the province. Yet Sir, it is only right to take every proper means in our power to see that the works are efficiently as well as economically carried out, and therefore it is to be hoped that the Council at its next session will go carefully into a strict examination, not only of the past expenditure, but also of all projected arrangements, unbiassed by wilful or ignorant misrepresentations, affording an opportunity for land owners and merchants to arrange for road and water frontage, which must be secured from further monopoly. I have not yet however, done with my meddling friend Sam Weller, who like the cabby on receipt of the shilling exclaims, “you call yourself a gen’lemun,” and thus hopes to draw a red herring across the scent to shirk the question,—who likes fighting, provided the enemy would not fire in return for his small shot, and hopes to end the matter by a disquisition on h : s identity, of which I neither know, or care to know anything; and, though I cannot let Sam have all the firing on his side, yet I feel an apology is duo to him ; and having insinuated, as he says, that be was a land owner, or at least a merchant, I have to express my regret at having supposed him to occupy so respectable a position ; but, I must be pardoned for also expressing my surprise, that a mere resident, in Napier, independent of course of all pecuniary arrangements, or occupying any subordinate position therein ; should, of bis own free-will and malice pro-pense take such a lively interest in the Harbor Improvements and the Director of Works —of course were he a sub., I would suggest that his principals should take a little more of that abounding t alent for pen and ink work out of him with which he is so permanently gifted, lest they may get the credit for his labors for the good of his country. But to be sure this is beyond a moment’s supposition ; therefore I would ben- of Sam in future to remember, that though he may hear malice and hatred in his heart towards the Director of Work*, yet that it would look more charitable to keep bi s tongue from evil speaking of and slandering his neighbors, who will mind their own business if Sam will only attend to his, instead of creating and exciting bad feeling amongst the Napier folks amongst whom he and Gilpin reside; or, if they will not desist from officious meddling with what docs not concern them, the sooner they reside elsewhere the better- As for myself and my claims to be a swell, which I can't recollect hav-

ing put forward in our correspondence, or elsewhere, I shall merely quote iu explanation of my answering him at all “ If ad Gilpin still adorned tho counter’s side, “Bent o’er the desk, or, horn to useful toils, “ Been taught to make the paper which ho soils “ Ploughed, delved, or plied the saw with lusty “ He had not wrote of Wright or I of him” [limb and reciprocating the hope that the temper of Messrs Gilpin & Weller will cool down bv degrees.

I am once more, and till the next time, CIVIS,