V. P. CLEARS HIMSELF.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 413, 22 February 1877, Page 3

V. P. CLEARS HIMSELF.

(To the Editor of the ' Otago G-aardian.') Dear Mr. Editor, —I observe with pleasure the great attention bestowed by the Dunedin Press on the affairs of Vincent County, of which the amusing article in your Saturday's issue affords another instance. Whilst duly appreciating your meritorious labour, I desire leave to point out a few of the mistakes into which you have innocently fallen. Do not, I pray you, follow the example of your morning contemporary, who will not insert corrections of error in fact even though the name of the writer be appended for publication.

And first, as to " the compact in your own room," as my friend Mr. Manders styleß the financial arrangements made with regard to the goldfields. You seem to think that only Mr. Manders and myself were present at the interview with tho Colonial Treasurer; whereas all the Gold fields members (17 in number) were invited to attend, and 14 were actually present. The result of that interview was formally announced to the House, and the agreernemt arrived at is embodied in the Financial Arrangements Act. Mr. Manders is mistaken in supposing that " depasturing rents " were to form any part of County revenue; but it was agreed that the sum (about £I6OO per annum) derived from "depasturing licenses" on commonages should be handed over to the Counties; and I have yet to learn that the Government intend to ignore that portion of the " compact."

2?ow for the Chairman's action on the " County town " business so graphically described by you. On this matter allow me to refer you to my remarks on the occasion, which are reported in the ' Dunstan Times.* It may be news to your readers, if not to yourself, that neither Clyde nor Cromwell is within the County; that, with some few exceptions, the residents in those towns are not ratepayers nor electors (f the County ; and that therefore, they had no more right to attempt to dictate to the Council where the County officers should be located than the citizens of Dunedin have to dictate to the Councils ef Taieri or Waikouaiti. I thought, and still think, that the question of a " County town" should have been held over

until one or other of the towns had merged into the County. My opinion on this matter was well known ; and I refused to hamper myself with pledges or promises pending such merger. Mark now what really occurred. You say —"Mr. Pyke voted for Cromwell—hurrah for Cromwell !" There you are wrong, Mr. Ed.tor. Again you saj—"Mr. Pyke voted for Clyde—hurrah for Clyde !" Wrong once more. I did neither. Believing the consideration of. the question to have been prematurely forced on, I voted against Cromwell, and I voted against Clyde. But the Council had to meet somewhere and I had to give a casting vote. I did so. I gave it in favour of the place which was most convenient to the majority of councillors, and I may be obtuse, but do you know that upon reflection I almost think I was in the right. I think also, Mr. Editor, that in your account of- the matter you have displayed powers of imagination far excelling any to which the author of ' Wild Will Enderby ' can lay claim. I cheerfuly surrender the belt. Take it, Mr. Editor—take it, wear it, and be happy.—Yours, &c.

Vincent Ptke Dunedin, February 15.