TO THE EDITOR.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 36, 13 December 1901, Page 4

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir: I must again crave your indulgence lor a short space in.your coliunns to address a few words to Settler, who may possibly consider himself slighted if no notice were ' taken of his last brilliant effusion. He says that 1 thought him ungenerous because he wrote about a certain matter, and did not post bbra at copy of rt. 1 think, sir, if he is able to read plain English, he will find nothing of the sort, in my letter. My words were that he might have hi d the “courtesy” to do so;. He says lam unreasonable. I admit that It was- so, for two reasons; first, in expecting anything but a grunt from a hog; secondly, llerred through ignorance, for now that he has so plainly shewn us his own method of seeing the newspaper, I can see that I’was very unreasonable in expecting Mm to send me a copy unless he appropriated the public house copy r which it would b e'very unreasonable . of me to suppose that he would do. He further alleges I said that I had been writing about the bridge for 25 years, and had got nothing but promises. Sir, I think either he or anyone else will have some difficulty in. fi'ndihg in my letter anything that can be so construed; his statement therefore can only be classed as a wilful perversion of the truth. He also says he has not been asleep tor 25 years (no one said he had ; Lsimpiy asked if he had been) and he further says that I know it. Sir, this is a very rash assertion on his part, unless he is a mind reader ; even then I think lie would have some difficulty in proving either what I do, or do not know, clever as he is. He says lam very cunning to have spotted him so soon. Sir) I do not think t lal cunning is a very strong trait in my composition ; in fact, 1 have been told on more than one occasion that I sadly lacked it, and I must confess that I have sometimes been had for the want of it, and, Sir, as it appears he has appropriated a very large, share of the world’s stock of the commodity, I cannot expect to have much of it. I will leave him a’nd those of his calibre to enjoy the whole of it, if it suits them. As to having spotted him, if it is any satisfaction to him to know it, I can tel[ him that I am happy that I have failed to recognise him, and should greatly regret doing so, he having exhibited such an evil looking spirit of himself that I should be exceedingly sorry to (even in thought) make it applicable to any one I am acquainted with ; further, as there would be no honor or glory in dragging him forth and exposing him to the fair light of heaven, and as such action might bring one, if successful, into conflict with the public health authorities, I must abstain from attempting to do so, or even stirring him up with a ten foot pole. He supposes there is no law against a man signing himself Settler if he likes. Sir, I have always been under the impression there was, and is, a law in the code of morals and fair play that would make any person, having any respect for himself, hesitate to emulate the tactics of the mid-

night assassin. But he says he shall not ask my advice anyhow. I shall not intrude it, but will merely suggest that he should adopt a signature more in keeping with the portrait he has painted of himself. Sir, how do you think Octopus would suit, both creatures appearing to obscure themselves with an inky fluid of their own emitting. Sir, I wonder who he is most riled with, myself, or my “ man,” Mr Mckenzie. I think it very possible that Mr McKenzie would not feel very much elated at being the man, for the creature who signs himself Settler. He says he does not want to take my billet; very kind of him. I asked for his co-operation (it was very imprudent of me to oiler it to him, but rashness always was a weakness of mine, and age has not yet taught me to be more circumspect). 1 suppose he would prefer to loaf on my eflorts and good nature, and reap the benefit from what others have sown. He further says that “ 1 have done so well for us in the past.” Then what is he kicking up such a low about, and showing his gratitude? He hopes we will get the bridge, but as I have failed to spot him as a settler of this district, his interest can only be of a secondary nature, but should he prove to belong to the Pokororo district I am not sure whether it would not be doing an injury to him and the community at large to deprive him of the cleansing effects the water of the Motueka River would have upon him. In conclusion, I wish to say this is my final notice of him, even if he should fill he correspondence columns of every news 1 aper in New Zealand. As Paddy said, I hi till him to his face, that I will treat him with silent contempt.

G. H. Slatter. Longreach, Pokororo, Dec. 12, 1901.