MR. STEWARD'S REPLY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 712, 22 July 1878, Page 5 (Supplement)

MR. STEWARD'S REPLY.

TO THE KKITOK OF THE EVENING MAIL. Siu, —I think, after the so-called explanation given by Mr. Steward, it is unnecessary for me to take up much of your si),ice, and liad Mr, Steward been candid at the nomination, it would not have been requisite to have addressed you on the matter at all. It is, however, unfortunate that Mr. Steward did not devote the few lines given to criticising my style to a further explanation of some of the peculiar financial arrangements with the Bank. Why, for instance, did he not tell lis the relative cost of telegraphing the money and waiting for the mail. I am told that a saving would have been effected of i per cent., about L3OO, a sum which would have gone a long way in travelling or picnic expenses. Such a saving as that is, perhaps, too small a matter to engage the minds of our Corporation. Mr. Steward admits now that the London bondholders made it a stipulation that the endowment should be set aside before the money would be forthcoming. This it was hardly worth his while trying tii keep back at the nomination, as a complete statement would have been more likely to evoke confidence than the misunderstanding caused by his answers. Mr. Steward also admits my calculation as to interest, only that he dates it from March instead of April as I do. It seems to me that Mr. Steward only makes matters appear worse by his letter. The resolution of the Council, quoted by him, goes to show that although the debentures were advertised (not sent home as stated by Mr. Steward at the nomination) in February, and this is now July, no definite arrangement has yet been made with the IJank. After such an admission as that, I hope the citizens will see how things are managed.—L am, tfce., T. W. Hi.st.op. to tiii: i:t>itok of the evening mail. Sin.—l observe with feelings of astonishment that Mr. John Hardy has acknowledged that he was the parent of the glowing requisition presented to Mr. Steward. Was he paid for this ? was the question which naturally arose to my mind. Seeing that "Jacques," an intimate acquaintance, in fact, a bedfellow of Mr. Hardy's, has so unmercifully denounced our irreat Waterworks scheme and declared that the whole thing has been bungled, and that there would lie no ilow of water through the pipes when laid, is it not somewhat s trail ire that Mr. Hardy should have gone to the trouble of getting up a requisition to the chief of the " bunglers."' and hawked it round the town for signatures : unless, indeed, lie was specially paid to do so [ It may be .said thai Mr. Hardy is not influenced by the statements of his other self—

" Jacques"—the funny dog v.-]io writes nous.-use for your contemporary : but seeing that I am in a position to assert that Mr. Hardy lias personally endorsed what ''Jacques" has ! written, this objection is entirely knocked .in the head. "We, then, have the strange picture <-f a man who has declared the \V aferworks scheme a failure, seeking in (Very way to promote the return of the principal of those who are responsible for this failure. Is this not strange, indeed ? Does not this fact point to the extreme probability that he was specially employed by Mr. Steward to get up this precious requisition ? We all know that Mr. St.-ward is too fond of power to willing! v retire from any position, of honor, to quit the Mayoral Chair without a struggle. " I am the man for Oamaru." is his motto. : e: Tli.ive done everything for Oamaru," ! is his boast : and <: nothing can be carried ' out without mo." his fondest belief. And John backs him up in this. Will the rateoavers follow John's example. I am, t >;-e..'' " Shake the Hoxoits. «. TO TFK KM'lol: or "I IrIC KVMNINO HAIL. Sr-:. —ft annears to me that some people are troubled with memories that are onlv called such out of compliment. Mr. I lard v replied to my ietrer. in which hosaid. " I have heard it confidently stated tlur the requisition to Mr. Steward was compiled by himself, and (together with the lisr of names of parties likely to sign it) liand"d to an individual, for the purpose of canvassing for signatures." This is Mr. Hardy's reply :—" Such a statement hardly requires contradiction ; but I iiwv be allowed to say that the requisition" '.v:i3 written by mo at the request of one of Mr. Steward's Committee, and was not seen by Mr. Steward until the signatures wore attached to it.—lam. ifcc." I will tell the ratepayers why I came to this conclusion, and leave it to them to judge whether or not I was justified in iloiiie so. Several persons were assembled in the Imperial Hotel one day in the middle of last week, Mr. Hardy was one of them. Of course the conversation turned on the now all-absorbing topic, and Mr. Hardy said, putting his hand in his pocket, " By-the-bye, Mr. Steward has given me a list of those who are likely to support him." He then withdrew the list from his pocket, and showed it to me and the others present, and I heard one of them say on seeing his name amongst the likely supporters, something to this effect: — " Give my compliments to Mr. Steward and tell him that I will not consent to allow my name to remain upon that list." It was then signed by Mr. Tempero. It is well known that Mr. Steward is anxious to be returned, and it would be no particular discredit to him if he did do what was inferred by me. It is all bunkum to

suppose that any man would spend two years of his life in a public position, and strive to spend another, if he did not like it ; and if he likes it, why should lie not make every legitimate effort to 3ecure his return. —Yours, &c, Jones. o TO THE EDITOR OF TUB EVENING MAIL. Sir,- —I notice in your morning contemporary a letter signed "Shillelagh." It would have been wise and manly of him had he signed his true name, and not have skulked behind the national weapon of his country. It ought not to be put to

such base uses, as his countrymen, thank Heaven, generally use the weapon in a better cause than that of satisfying their jealousy and pique. It is to anyone provoking, after he has been in business in a place for a long time, charging the largest profits allowable, and doing the heavy and using customers as one pleases, for a youth barely out of his teens, to become a marked contrast in all things appertaining to business, in the extent ■•'" it, in the manner in which it is do::-.'. I. ■'■■■ eovfHence of the customers and o; ; ■• ;.>;_ ::s, as shown in the elec-