To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Times.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 148, 13 November 1863, Page 6 (Supplement)

To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Times.

Dear Sir, — I fear that, the discussion which lias arisen between the Herald and myself is assuming the proportions of personal' altercation rather than a matter of public interest. I must, however, again trespass upon your space, with a view to the refutation of the extremely gross assertions hurled at me by that paper in an article •which appeared in the issue of Saturday last.

I shall not stop to enter into the‘subject of the imperfections or perfections of my writing, as that has nothing to do with the question at issue, beyond just showing that whatever those faults may be, I have not used my pen in support of the strong against the weak, nor in support of iniquitous corruption or profound and licentious jobbery.

Neither shall I weary your readers or waste your valuable space by a further reference to the subject of my resignation beyond a positive reiteration of the account given of that matter in my letter of the 6th instant. Whatever the arrangements of the late Chief Surveyor might or might not have been, they have nothing whatever to do •with me or my arrangements. Nor shall 1 remark further upon the subject of the Chief Surveyorship than by repeating my assertion that that office would have been mine, but for the untoward circumstances of my having a strong antipathy to any further connection with the Provincial Government Service, and which antipathy was but too plainly manifested by my presuming to oiler myself as a candidate for the vacant"seat in the Provincial Council. It is not likely that I should venture upon these public assertions if I was not in a position to make t.bern good. Nor do I intend to enter into a discussion of my views upon the subject of the state, past, present, and future, ot the Department which I unfortunately so long affected. It is possible in the lowest depths to find a deeper still. 33nt I shall proceed at once to the pith and marrow of the Heralds vindictive, and, if I may venture to use the term, pre-eminently scurrilous attack, and which is elegantly conveyed in his own language thus—“A public officer—a surveyor we will say—receives large sums under the designation ot premium, in exchange for which lie imparts a knowledge of his art, and rates the persons paying suck sums as survey laborers at Gs. per diem.” It gives me great pleasure to bo able to say that this cap fits tno to a nicety, and that, with tiie exception of the term “ large sums,” I admit tiie soft impeachment with much self-gratification. Nor, as the special result of this “job,” I have been enabled to place two young gentlemen of high character, education, and abilities, in a situation where their valuable services are appreciated, and where they earn considerably more than it. was ever tny good fortune to succeed in doing. And I should have been enabled to add another to the list of my successful pupils but for the folly of the youth himself. This affair was no secret; it was not conducted on rny part with any attempt at concealment, but on the contrary it was a well and publicly known fact. I was at*liberty, as all persons connected with public works are, to employ whom I choose, and I need only refer to the quantity and quality of the work done by me to show that my selection fell upon most worthy men. It is my proud boast that “Government stroke” was unknown in my camp. So •useful, so valuable did these young men to whom I particularly refer prove, so attentive, assiduous, and trustworthy were they, that I did not hesitate to obtain from the Chief Surveyor leave to rate one of them at 10s. a day, in order that by his assistance the surveys entrusted to my care might be the better carried out. This circumstance, which the Herald wishes to torture info a defamatory evidence against me, like all other attempts in that direction made by that most abusive of printed papers, falls harmless to the ground, and so far from covering me with shame and ignominy, covers me with imperishable laurels, as the fact of these two young gentlemen having, under my instruction, in the short space of two years so'emiucntly fitted themselves for immediate and profitable employment as surveyors, goes to prove not only their own abilities, but my profound knowledge of my profession, and the care and attention which 1 bestowed on the instruction of my pupils. In conclusion, and in further reference to this matter, I appeal to the profession generally whether it is not customary to receive premiums from young men wishing to obtain an insight into the mysteries of the craft. I do not hesitate finally to say that I attribute the bitter and repulsive articles repeatedly hurled at me by the Herald as articles dictated by the most determined hostility against myself entertained by the editor of that journal, and that nothing will ever convince me that those articles are written with the sanction or under the direction of the Superintendent of this Province, notwithstanding that I am a consistent opponent of that gentleman. I am, &c., O. L. W. B Oil SPIEL’D.

P.S.—So far from my being in the least disappointed with the present arrangements made in the Survey Department, nothing gives me greater pleasure than that that department should have fallen into such good hands. All J regret is that Mi’. Weber has more to do than ho can possibly execute with credit to himself.