"VIATOR" IN REPLY.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 55, 28 April 1877, Page 3

"VIATOR" IN REPLY.

TO THE EDITOB. Sib, — I promised mmy letter of the Bth inst., written at Palmerston, that I would write you more particulars of my journey. This I intended to do, and m fact have now m preparation a few more " notes " intended for your paper, but | accidentally getting hold of a copy of i your issue of the 18th inst., and seeing "New Chum's" reply, I deemed it fit to take my pen and make a few remarks thereon, and tell you vvliafc I have heard on the subject. To start then, I am glad that my " Notes " hare brought such an erudite scribbler as " New Chum " to the front, and I cannot let his scribble pass without thanking him through your columns for the latter part of his second paragraph. He proceeds then to give me what he thinks my quietus by saying that my bag perhaps has "something m it," and a consequent advantage over me. Now, I like that rub immensely ; he must have thought that a capital hit, but I would draw his attention to the fact that there are some very respectable men m the world bagmen, and some, very respectable bags. During my stay m Palmerston I made a few acquaintances, and I think amongst the number " New Chum," but as he is new at. this sort of work anyhow, I would suggest (and he asks me to suggest something for the good of the community at large) that he writes no more, because being the first of his family who ever was afflicted . with the disease called cacoethes scribendi ; the cure thereof entails some expense with no return save vanity pleased, for I hear he was so much pleased to see his first composition (revised by a friend) m print, that he took a tour round the adjacent country, telling the people that some ," New Chum " had replied to " Viator's " letter, and given him, as he expressed it, a " hot 'un," and it is said that getting at last so excited that he posted copies .of tile issue containing his noble reply to bosom friends who are not subscribers to your paper. Thus you see I have done some good already, if only by the increase of the sale of your valuable journal. (The commission account we will settle when we meet). An artist's first picture, an author's first book, are, we know by experience, objects of great attachment, and I suppose if one could only obtain access to the inner temple of " New Chum's " sanctuary, we should see a copy of the " Manawatu Times of the 18th April, enshrined as a maiden work to be remembered for days, months, and perhaps years. I have, as I before stated, some more notes m preparation ; or, I rather ought to say, some more " morbid twaddle." But call it what he may, I am at it again. As to this district requiring, as "New Chum" says, above all investigators, I think, perhaps, it would be more advisable to knock off investigating a little, for my idea of things m general as regards this district, m a statistical point of view, is that they will not bear much investigation. There seems to me to be a want of capital, but I intend touching on this subject m a future letter. lam collecting a few data to guide me, and then shall come out strong on this point. I find m this district, not only a want of capital to open up a vast and I have no doubt remunerative tract of country, but I may say a narrow-mindedness with few exceptions. Men with the rhino do not appear to see their way clear to good investments. However, as I shall be better able to treat this subject m a future letter, I will leave it for the present, and then I may -be able to offer snggestions perhaps to both charcoal-tinted settlers (God 'Bless them) and, /complicated puntbuilders. In conclusion I beg to assure " New Chum." that he cannot be misunderstood, for he wrote that letter not so much for public benefit as to assist a friend to give a rap to a supposed " Yi- . ator," and I, for my part, shall be only too glad to leave New Zealand as I found. it, t not having seen her " better " any during my sojourn south. Yours truly. Viatoe. Wanganui, April 21, 1877.