NOTES FROM NELSON.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 282, 17 July 1886, Page 2

NOTES FROM NELSON.

(from our own correspondent.) Ourselves. At one bound this, week the Lyell Times, so far as Nelson is concerned, leaped from comparative obscurity to the pinnacle of fame and popularity. Shortly after the delivery of the mail on Monday morning every subscriber to this valuable journal became an object of regard, and during the day knots of ratepayers could be seen at the corners discussing the opinions of the Times on the chances of the candidates nominated. The general opinion seemed to be that " lvorari " had l tnded himself into a very nice little nest of libel actions, and legal opinion was taken on the matter. The learned counsel was of opinion that several of the critiques " verged" on libel, but that "Korari" was evidently acquainted with the la'v on the subject and knew how to keep within the four corners thereof. I am almost sorry now that I did not go a little further with some of them, as in these dull times a

libel action would tend to liven up things a bit, and give us something to talk about; and as the plaintiff in the case would have to pay all the initial expenses I would have all the fun with very little cost, and as one of the " tag-rag and bobtail " informed some of his friends in my presence the other day that I had nothing, there couldn't be any damages recovered from this individual. So, in auy case I am on the safe side, as I intend defending any libel case personally. But the agony came out in Tuesday's Evening Mail. Three candidates found vent for their feelings in printers' ink. Their letters were of such a nature that everybody who keeps a scrap album intends giving them prominence therein. Mr T. Harley, J.P., wrote one himself. He usually employs his clerk to do his dirty work, but on this occasion the clerk jvas engaged in fulminating a tirade for another candid.ate. So it came about that J.P., wrote the letter, and the heartless editor of the Mail was cruel enough to publish it in all its naked deformity. A pretty exhibition it was. Mr Akersten also was raw—very raw. He gave the ratepaj'ers a very flattering but incorrect account of the estimate he was

held in by the Public Works Department, and although the Colonist, for very cogent reasons, had refused to publish either his or Harley's letter, he seemed to consider he had written an unanswerable reply to my mild description of him and his chances. Now, as I am aware that he has been in communication with this paper, I issue him a very fair challenge. Lie was the architect, overseer, general boss, and utility man over the construction of the Nonnanby bridge. Let him publish in these columns, or leave at any accessible place in Nelson, the plans, details, and cost of that woneerful and ingenious structure, and Iwiil take back all I have said about him.

But some people never learn wisdom by experience. Wednesday evening's Mail brought out four or fiye letters, and the Lyell Times got pretty well advertised gratis; and the correspondents in the previous issue of the Mail got their gruel. Immigration. The New Zealand Times (Wellington) published lately a very racy account ot the way in which the Immigration vote is spent in this Colony. It gave a good deal of the correspondence which had taken place between three of the agents now airing their knowledge on New Zealand in the old country. Two of them are known to me—Mr Clayden and Mr William Courtney. The latter may be known to some of you readers as a contractor on the West Coast, about the time of Fox's river rush. Mr Clayden was served up pretty hot by the Times; he is in some waj connected with Nelson ; he was whilst there very fond of seeing himself in print; and by sheer impudence has succeeded in getting a pleasure trip home, for himselt and wife, at the expense of the Colon\ T , and keep while there. lie and his family and " his sisters and his cousins and his aunts" came out to the Colony, and the Immigration vote suffered, and has been suffering since. The leader in question has explained to a certain extent why the Civil Service of the Colony is on so large a scale. The letters written by these genteel beggars are so numerous and so persistent that a staff of clerks is absolutely necessary to answer them. When I take my seat in Parliament I intend putting my foot down on this waste of time, clerks, stationsry and ingenuity required to cope with the mania for free passages home. There must be hundreds of clerks, and tons of paper used up annually to reply to the hungry Claydens who are thirsty to describe the advantages New Zealand possesses for small capitalists. The other fellow who is living at the expense of the Colony, at home just now, (William Courtney) was an old coaster in the early days. I first knew him as Light-house keeper, Nelson, some 20 years ago. He was ambitious and emigrated to the West Coast. I helped him, and he in gratitude slated me for a few hundreds : other people, led away by his persuasive tongue, helped him and he slated them. He tried Taranaki and the people there helped him and he slated them, and lastly the Government helped him, and he is now going through them. Now while Claydens and Courtneys are paid by Government to induce people to emigrate to this Colony; we are losing the bone and sinew of our country for far away fields like Kimberley; is it not time that our representatives should put their feet down on such ext;avagant alms giving to genteel paupers as these are. It is not only the actual cash required to keep these beggars, but the army of clerks required to reply to their begging letters and the letters of others who are now accredited agents of the Government; such as Captain Jackson Barry and other liars of reputation. Two Sides to a Question.

It does not fall to the lot of every man to appear as plaintiff and defendant in the same case, bat such was my luck on one occasion. It happened thus. In an upcountry district, in the south, I held various appointments; was in fact the Johnny-all-Sorts of the place. Among others, I was district surveyor, valuer, rate collector, &c., for the Road Board. I was also hon. secretary of the library. This institution was rated at 4s 2d per annum, and the committee argued that as it was a quasi educational arrangement they were exempt from taxation. The Road Board said that as the rate appeared on their books there was no help for it but to take legal proceedings, and I, as secretary, was instructed to put all the paraphernalia of the Resident Magistrate's court into operation to recover the amount. I conscientiously followed my

instructions from the Road Board, and in due time the bailiff served me with a summons as defendant to appear and answer the plaint. The day for hearing arrived, and I had prepared myself by reading up the Acts pro and con, and when the case was called I stepped into the witness-box and established my case from that point of view. The magistrate asked if the defendant had any questions to ask. No reply. I stood down. "Call the defendaut," said the beak. " Hoxford libery," yelled the bobby. I stepped into the box again. The bench took off its spectacles, rubbed them, took another look at me, and asked me if I hadn't made a mistake. " No, your worship, I am the defendant," I meekly replied. " Well, state your defence, although after the authorities you quoted just now, I don't see how you are going to get out of paying," remarked the bench. Then I went to work and showed most conclusively how absurd the contentions had been on the part of the plaintift, and what a wrong and misleading construction had been put ou the Acts in question; and the magistrate in summing up said he was of opinion that there had been good arguments on the part of the plaintiff to sustain his claim of 4/2, but on the other hand the points raised for the defence was overwhelming, and he must enter up a nonsuit with costs. Applause in court, which was promptly checked by Sergeant O'Grady. Korari.