MR. BREMNER IN REPLY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 569, 27 February 1878, Page 2

MR. BREMNER IN REPLY.

TO TUB EDITOR OF THE KVEMXi; MAIL. Sin, —I have read your leader in yesterday's ih.sue, and the advice which you would have given, viz., "don't rush into print tinder the false notion of doing yourself justice," I accept as conclusive, so far as the Evknixc; Mail is concerned, liy retiring from the unequal contest. I had no ambition to appear in print, and if my letter did not grasp all the features of the case it must have arisen through misconception of what you really wished to elicit. However, I cannot help remarking that it does seem strange to me your overlooking the fact as stated in my letter that the passing of the bye-laws had the effect of making Mr. ,\ Mr. Mercer—Harbour Master. You appear most anxious to know the relations between Mr. Mercer and myself, and I willingly give you the information, viz.:—Owing to the completion of the railway works I did not require a .storeman, and lie had been under notice to leave for mouths before Mr. Allan resigned ; in fact, he was an applicant for the office when Mr. Allan was elected. What you facetiously said about him being a, faithful servant was literally true, but to that extent only was I indebted to him. There was no money obligation on either side, and I question whether my

plain statement of his qualifications in any way improved his position as an applicant for the permanent appointment. His temporary appointment happened as follows :—Mr. Allan, the Manager, quito unexpectedly received the olfor of an appointment worth L3OO sterling per annum, as against LIGO sterling, and asked the Board to forego the required notice, which they agreed to do, and Mr. Mercer was appointed, and it is a sign of their approval when they subsequently elected him out of a good many applicants.—l am, ivc., J. It. I'kkmnkk, Member Moeraki Harbour Board. Hampden, February 20, 1878.