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Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 78, 18 July 1877, Page 3

TO THE EDITOR. Sic, — At the risk of being refused space for this letter and of wearying your readers, I must again m the in-> terests of truth beg to be allowed to answer " Saxon " wno* has' dissected, with laudable industry, and care my last letter, but I venture to say wi&out m the slightest degree shaking my first position, or redeeming his promise to girove that 'my former statements were* < incorrect. Why did .he not, proceed to his proofs which would, have at once ended - • the controversy and. drawn from me a humble and cheerful apology. * Instead of that plain and straightforward course, however, " Saxon " ignores all his ready promises, and merely quibbles about what has nothing at all to do with the questions m point. What does it matter to" the public who "Saxon" may be, an outsider or insider 1 , or who " Simplex " may be: Whether he be or not the absent member,' or whether he was astonished or otherwise, at " Saxon's' " wonderful defence. Who • cares to enquire about the identity of the writers since they both write under assumed names. If it can be shown that our Licensing Court is infallible, and - above the reach of honest criticism or that it is not allowable for a simple man to venture to express even a humble opinion about the action ' of that Court m its corporate capacity then I will at - once drop any pen.' But until that is , shown X uphold the side of truth, justice,-. and temperance, against a thousand Saxons. But to turn to "Saxon's" • latest effort. - He. seems to think it is ' much more commendable- to ■ defend the accused, even if m .the wrong, than to draw attention to a public evil by which the very lives of the travelling public are endangered. I beg' to differ with '•Saxon.'-' He may feel chivalrous m his defence. I feel I have done my - duty,- although I' confess it is an unpleasant'duty. I'did not know that the . Court would, not defend itself. Why should it not have done^so if it knew I j had not spoken the truth ? I jEear it would .gladly have, dispensed with"Saxons" defence, which Jias^only--1 helped to ' draw the facts of the case more strongly into the light. ' I was astonished, not that an outsider should defend the Court, but that anyone should seriously attempt to - do sdby mere empty denial and promises of proof s_in the face of facts patent to a whole community.' " Saxon " thinks I , ■ should have .laid my grievances .before the Court. If lam the absent member

how was I to do so when I got there only m time to be too late, but the fact of the matter is I had no grievance, I merely express what I consider a public one, and I hold that rushing into print > was/the legitimate mode of expression. I will gladly allow the public to judge if lain- rightor wrong/ As to the modifications of my ; first statements, I will also leave ifc with . those who were present ■to.deci.de if, 14 minutes or 2 hours, is nearest the truth, ;• I think that would only be fair as.:..'' Saxo n" : evidently allows - that he had his information at . second; hand, and was not himself present. I conceded a few < minutesxni ac- * count-pf : the discrepancies of different time: Jseepersj but an hour and three quarters is more than I can con- . cede.-/-.: ■'• " :.-. . : ■■ - -■ ■ - x '■' ■ /v With, regard to the petition which the knew had been signed against on^e of the Kcense^'hduses, it csime too la|e ' W be/sent to'TOe? Clerk of the? Court; but the constable : migjit /at" least have been asked if he anything against the character of the'; house", but this he ' affirms Was not the case.. But as " Saxon":implies r ther^-is some latitude to be rgivenii the adniimstration; of jthe.la,W» therefpre, I« thint^thiß Court might at least have ßaited and seen .the petition, even if they could not give it its full weight. In the ne^xt paragraphs '• Saxon " labours .with exemplary patience to make me cbntradict myself, as if that would annihilate facts, but he is, or pretends to be,- too obtuse to understand that he is; talking r of L .one thing and I of ■-another JV::^;■Eifl ! th^.._a(Jtionc■.•6■f a public . court to; be interpreted by the character of its indiyjlduai members;? Or is it impossible, for a .court composed .^pf cori:scientipus>: painstakingi and, courteous gentiemenfto* commit a mistake unconsciousiyP.l^tmnk" Saxon" ought to make rather 'surdri of his premises be.fqre;heair i; his ? lpgic so freely again. WitK respejc^ to the T ai|coiijrtesy, the ;less f said;the better,, as that is merelya person al inatierV arid inHlie first instance was/ .mentioned m quite, a casual arid ¥übbrdiriate yray. • But' there would riot have beeri'the" slightest .thought of discourtesy if /the absent member had • received th4'rio^ee which the Act directs. Agairii if^S&pri's' "l rule is—" If the first attempt' to :dP gdod fail, I give it up2"^itSs nqfe^y rule ; it is, briefly, ; v again." • .If :he - thinks that ! because .an r evil ;• has existed for . a number < of years it. has a right to undisturbed/ existence I do not; - 1 hold-that the/longer an evil- .has existed, the -more; strenuous should be the efforts -to cure or lessen it. Sanguine of reform as; i : ;am, v I ,. hardly hoped to see, a house; likeJWhyte's at r ohau| and, did not siay so. v ßßus^ s whether ," Saxon ". Tvill belieye^t or, nbt,,the. (expenditure of even ? a thousaridM P&s9£^u&tiWh.yie'& Hotel costj on' soriie of our road-side vinns,; would} ybe & great improvement. As to tEe 'insinuation that self-interest ia my influ^cingfimptireyclrcan' truly ■■ say that,fpr T 'ftii^lastß^^pr it) years Iliave traveUed this' coast : by day and night at all. seasons, and have not spent more than a few hours at -any of the ferry v •;;■■; nbr : - have .1 required to. us^, the ; ! ferry boat half-a?dQzen -tim'etf*- 'i. So that^ if those houses were; swept out of exist-; ence to^mbrrow^ it would riot affect me, dangerously;j -;But /with strangers it is! different,'. feray houses are needed, and I seeno reason wHy the accommodation ■ invthem should iipt : be atleaist clean and "coirifprtable.;; v / ( c . I fail to /see- why I 'should not be - allowed, to make' jany enquiries after I wrote my 'first^letter; unless it be that since they h^^fen&elyicorrobbratedmy\first^^statements^they preclude^ the. /possibility of ," Saxpi's " promised proof si . 1 cattseareaspn why he should - regret it;' but l ■ node why the public should. I must again state, as "Saxon's" miempryjseems" slightly: defective", that'l .; neyer denied;, thfe; .examination ! bf the constable,-rjand as 'io^lpsely, is it not su'fiicierit* to say., that not one question was asked, him; either :6r!£>hau.; Incpnclusipn} l musC confess my. •ignorance o}xJbwp points r— -'first, I 'haye/not! \the r pleasure:. of 'Mr ; Heeps' /acquaintance, and so- 1; do not know if my fhuiribie opinion and his humbleness are near akin; arid secpridj I dp not know the difference betwreen % "cpriimpn-sense" and'a '* Pickwickjari^'^ construction. I dp,wish to. be understbpd m a corrimon sense, arid if -in that sense 1 my words can ;be, proved uritrud, I , am ready to make'; - any apology necessary; ; butnot till then., lam, &c>,: -X "■ ;.'.'•;• v/iv-', •;",:;;" ' / ■ xT : J "■/ .'•'.■ '■ /■• - '■■ ■■! /.A /> - ; - ■'■; Simplex. , [ After .the very full statements made by both our cOTresppndents on this subjecti we think they , will agree with us cHhiat ; np public lienefit : can be .attained by \its further Ventillatipn.-r-ED. IM[. T.]