THE SLUDGE CHANNEL.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 331, 9 July 1875, Page 2

THE SLUDGE CHANNEL.

. (To the.Editor of the Motojt Ida Chboiticie.)

Sib, —I observed i a your issue last * week another letter against the sludge channel contractors, ; sicned- ; " Scrutator," which is evidently [an addition to Fiigit's " communication it 'a previous i?sue. For convenience sake I shall this time call-him " Fugit-Scrii-i tator," In his first letter" hie coniplaiued .of the detention of-.the work an.d the want of energy on our-- part proper carrying of it out*; but this time lie seems to attack' our conduct towards our men and; other private affairs j/in fact so much so that he fully lets the cat out of the bag so that it. is now- evident to- every—oile what'l thought' it was at 'the f first of narrow-minded storekeeper's jealousy, so ,m uch so: that epnaider it a great degradatiorrto'i'epiy to..such a dastardly harangue: Firshe .says I showed some ingenuity : in' attempting to refute _" Tugit ! s " charges by cqunter allegations and assertions instead of facts ; but X think the public will consider my replies both clear Mid distinct to every charge,' as "I simply stated facts which fully showed his charges to ! be both falsa and' unfounded. Next, he says that we have got an extension of time for -the completion..of the work in consequence of the damage done by the flood. For that information we are very thankful, as it is the first time we heard , of- it' and,. I am : sure we-never asked for it. Again, he wants to know when the work is going to -be finished,- which/ he says, is. the. real question'at- ; isstte,'and one which, -he —thinks, I have labored to evade. I plainly tell chim now that it will be finished as soon as we can possibly do it, and that will likely ,Tse before it ;is required; -I I am . one- would profit its early completion , than ourselves.. e admits that there might bev culty. in obtaining labor; but.-he- says, from what he knows himself, that the standing-advertisement for-100 men.'is onl y fictitious, and that we" do not : try to retain men when we have them, arid only make.promises— pTom^ses,.! alas ! to be broken*now, I hereby challenge him to mention, any man that we have broken promise with, or in -any wafy defrauded out of one sixpence, 'or Siie - hour's work. If the standing advertisement was.only fictitious surely he cannot say that our application ' td his -Honor tlie Superintendent for 200 men. was also whefi Ve pledged. PP. r ?6.lyes to mentioned i Q niy last;?; nor can he deny but that we authorised him to' employ all 'the men that he can get-—and extra wages to himself to manage them', 'where h'e would have an.opportunity to display alll his great; energy and ability,- qualities which, he thinks, we are so deficient in/- r > = : ' ■-•'= - • '

.^me's,.the,-great 'grieyatlee/, of all, namely, tte store j «sa!ys, we .discharge, men if they, fail. to, purchase is both false and jinfounded,-as ? men maf rbe seep going to Nasehy in.crowds : every I Saturday night to'purchase their "Week's supply. • 'I assure yi ti discharging men is a very rare_occurrence,-as we have always adopted the plan of. allotting each -mail an equal portioii/Wh'e that cannot do his whaek always leaves of his own accord ; : but if Mr " IfugitScrutator " has no other grievance why ■did hejnot.t&ke the chance when it was vacant, as for .nine months ..there was .no store on the place, and the njen were obliged to carry their provisions from Naseby. even offered the free use of the -building ' to • any- one who wojild brmgsupplies onthe ground, and Lam pretty sure "JFugit-Scrutator" is one that got the offer, but who had I not .to try it juntil" (hen saw I another trying tonaake a living at it. Such.is.the style,of .some of. ourNaseby folk. Howeverphe is' quite welcome to come at any tiifie"with his stall, and I'"will! patronise him 'hiy self if4haPwill please him. -.-r r

In conclusion, he .says; th at rif " Fugit's " last was not altogether unchallenged, it was .at least , not satisfactorily refuted ; but let him not mistake me this time, for~l~p6sitively say that his charges against xis ; are < and unfounded; and-I hereby ,challenge him to prove think it is a great pity.- that; such a genius aaif'JPugitrSerutator "; doesino't think of giving poor simple, individuals like us - good advice instead of always growling,;,but perhaps he,is ohe^ofthe class, that; isbetter uat • findings faults than in suggesting remedies. - • - 1 I wish to'inforfn him thatThave got better w'ork to do 'in future than in Writing replies;to such, cowardly.;and unprovoked attacks; I understand he had'to pay pretty-' smartly' to ; one of our very eloquent local scribes to put his communication into readable shape for him.-r-I am, his ever well-wisher, - John Cbeightokv