OUR LATE REPRESENTATIVES.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 224, 13 June 1873, Page 5

OUR LATE REPRESENTATIVES.

{To the Editor of the Mount Ida Chbonicle.) Sir,—As an elector, I attended the meeting held at the Masonic Hall oh the evening of Saturday last, curious to hear how our representatives would explain their proceedings. Thinking, from the amount of applause given, that there was a clanger of them successfully talking over many of the electors, and believing, for the welfare of the that such a result was very undesirable, I have come to the conclusion to write you a few lines, and endeavor to show therein some, reasons why the electors should not again support them: First, then, a word or two about Honest John(?) Your readers may not be aware that he was one of the tenderers for the Sludge Channel, well knowing at the time that the plans would have to be alteredbut, as his partner (the Chairman of the' Miners' Association) remarked it was not his place as a tenderer to point ifc out; indeed, he was, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, justified in positively asserting (as he did, whilst the tenders were not yet decided) that it was perfectly right, and of sufficient depth'to serve all its intended uses, shall I suggest—hoping, if successful with his tender, to make the Colony pay him well for the prospective breach of contract. I need scarcely put the question to my fellow electors if this was honest in the person of one who aspires to the honor, of legislating for the people and to maintain and uphold their morality ? But the most honorable of our late representatives went farther than this. He tried, sir, (and admits and tries to justify it too), to make capital out of his position as the M.P.C. for Mount Ida. He wrote to the Provincial Secretary to the effect that his position as M. P. C. did not preclude him from the right to tender, seeing the work was a General Government one, and that he relied on the Provincial Secretary (Mr Tolmie) to use his influence to get the tender decided in his favor. Now, Ido not say there was anything dishonest in this—he, no doubt, did it for the good of the district—still, I must admit it has unpleasantly occurred to me that his-evident great dislike to Mr Tolmie arises from chagrin and disappointment at the failure of his little game; and I am farther compelled to admit—much against my will, for, I have always believed he deserved his nom de plume— -that the anticipation of making a better thing out of the Sludge Channel than out of rotten teeth, fully accounts for all the nig-nagging he has been credited with. So much for fallible human nature. I left, sir, a sadder and a wiser man, for, had I not lost faith in another man ? Now, can we trust such an one to represent us ? His admitted lack, or rather, total absence of ability, may be overlooked, but dishonesty never. He has, ignis fatuus like, led us awhile, but novy we have discovered his light was not the light of day, let us dismiss him to his native bog.

A word or two about Sir Simon Sycophant. If the first address amused through its hodgepodge character, the other disgusted by its sneaking, toadying style where- interest was to be gained, and its bitter animus where favor was lost or could not be gained. Many were .the ready means by which he- escaped the snares that beset him. Then, the extent to which he claimed credit for his successful ■ efforts in our favor was perfectly astonishing, .and.highly calculated to make an impression, were it not well known he was not entitled to it. _ Referring to the direction of the Council to the Government to provide for the issue of miners'rights and other documents through the Wardens, in their visits to outlying parts of their districts, 1 am prepared to prove that the Goldiields Secretary and the Superintendent were both pledged to make provision to that effect, previous to Mr Mervyn's first appearance in the Council as our member, and a report to that effect appeared in the ' Mount Ida Chronicle' early in June, 1871. The Provincial Executive were also pledged to provide, in the Estimates, for the Maerewhenua bridle track and the Kyeburn coal-pit road, before.the Council commenced, the business of that session; This also can be proved by several welLkhown residents in the district. The Houndßurn Hill deviation had so long been a subject" of agitation, and the Government had so frequently promised that the first available funds should be spent there, that the only credit due to our piodel member-was that of misrepresenting iis in the choice of the route, the result of which is that the expenditure is comparatively useless. Nevertheless, sir, he did good service in connection with, the Sludge Channel. I doubt, had that work depended on his efforts, we should have been'wanting it. ' It is fresh in the memory of many of your readers that the credit is due entirely to the efforts—vigorous: well-directed efforts—of Mr Macandrew,' backed by the persistent agitation of the

.electors during the session of 1871, resulting, during the recess of that year, in the Government deciding on the work as' one of three they had concluded to initiate without'. ', further reference to the House, as soon as; the surveyor's report was in their hands. This may be seen in a report by the Under- . Secretary of Works (Mr Haughton), issued previous to the meeting of the Assembly in 1872. With reference to the sale of blocks of land to Cargill and Anderson, he not only, according to his own admission, opposed the appointment of a Committee of Enquiry into that disgraceful sale,. but did all he could to counteract. the impression made by the evidence of miners residing near ?the scene of dispute, which went to prove that a large portion was well adapted for settlement, some of it was auriferous, races were constructed over a portion of it, and others contemplated. For fuller information I refer your readers to ' Hansard,' pp 44 vol xii As my letter is already too long, I will only say further that, if all that he did not do for which he claims credit, be deducted from his list of good works, the balance will * be very insignificant indeed; but, when to this are added the positive injuries he has done, to the interests of the district and the Province, your readers, I am sure, will join me in the conclusion that he is not only a useless but a positively injurious man to represent us. I noticed his remarks on Ms recent conversion to the denominational system of education met with the approval of my Irish friends. On this matter I will oniy . say a sudden conversion immediately preceding an election, stamps the subject of- it as a dangerous renegade, whom they should scout from their midst, as thbroughly unworthy theii* trust. The man who holds a view at the Council, which he changes or denie9 before his constituents, is a coward and a sneak, —T am, &c, • Arf-ExKCTOH.