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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 289, 5 December 1881, Page 3

TO THE EmTOII OP THE " EVENING MAIL." Sir, —l am glad that my letter —decorated, perhaps, a little too freely with flowers of rhetoric —haa called forth from Mr Fittall a frank expression of regret for the annoyance he caused Mr Richmond by the quection he put at a recent meetiog, and I am now only sorry that Mr Fittall cannot see that such questions are altogether cut of place at political gatherings, and that the example he ha 3 set of putting them is never likely to extend or to take root in a people of English descent with whom liberty of conscience is their most precious inheritance. As to the othe? matter, lam quite aware that he never said tbat the " preaent Government had kept the fire -mouldering at P.rihaka, &c., for mere party ends," but if Mr Fittall will retire once more to the seclusion of bis room he will perceive that this was n fair interpretation of the words hs did actually use, viz., that "he thought tho Government had timed their little victory at Parihaka with a view to the elections," and that to impute, what, considering the possible consequences involved, I will call such inhuman strategy to the Government is in the last degree unchristian. I will only add that I have merely the advantage of Mi Fittall in having reid of Buch creatures as " ghouls and vampires " I share his ignorance as to their actual existence. I have an idea, however, that they sre mere phaDtoms 01 the poet's brain, notwithstanding that according to an obscure writer " there are mon things in heaven and earth than are drea mt of in onr philoEophy." —l am, &0., A Hater of Cast. December 5,1881. To THE EniTOE OF THE " EVENING MAIL.' Sib, —The exasperated and excited stat« in which Mr Blyth replies in your valuable journal of yesterday to my letter would hi somewhat incomprehensible, were it not that it evidently shows the Richmond Camp not only to be very vulnerable but their chance; extremely insecure. In fact the tone of Mr Blyth's letter is an admission of decidec weakness on the Richmond side. As he ob jects to my fo called " insinuations " as tc the intentions of the gallant band of 70 whose signatures Mr Blyth was at such r care and vexation to procure, it wculd be best for me to take this opportunity unhesitatingly to assure him that it is wel! known that they will not all vote for Mi Richmond, as the polling day will prove tc his cost As to his other charge, Mr Blyth'< interpretation of my expression " not to say expense " is his own construction of it, roi mine. Before I wind up, let me advise Mr Blyth when he next appears in print to b( more moderate in his deunciations of i candidate whom he has had scarcely anj opportunities of personally hearing anc judging, and whom the " deeds not profes sions " of the Waimea constituency will i week hence again triumphantly place in the position he has so long and ably filled. I am, &c. One op Me Shephard's Comsi ittek whc has teavelled bound.