RESIDENT DOCTOR FOR HAWERA.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 190, 3 February 1877, Page 2

RESIDENT DOCTOR FOR HAWERA.

[TO THK 13DITOK OF Tine I’ATKA .MAIL.] Sn;, —Under the above heading I notice n communication from ” Xuw Clmm,” in vonr issue of the 31st hist., and as the statements advanced therein are not only grossly untrue, but also highly prejudicial to tiie welfare of; the iiawora Medical Society, I hasten to lay before the- gent lemon who liave signified their willingness to become subscribers to that society, the true facts of the case. New Clmm,” willrtlie audacity usually displayed by persons who rush into print for no otlicr sake than fur seeing their effete productions in the columns of a newspaper, and who have not the faintest knowledge of the .subject which they write about, stales that “ A Committee was organised, when, suddenly, lor all the public know to the contrary, it drops into a dangerous state of inactivity.”

1 presume that * £ New Chum,” following the example of Mr SI organ, who. he so facetiously accused lately of egotism (whether rightly or wrongly, I leave it to other persons to judge), considers himself to be “ the public,” ami rclyiuy on bis total “ personal ” ignorance, of the proceedings which have already been instituted h}' the general public in the mailer, and also on his now advent into the district, he has taken upon himself the. office of censor, leaving the general public to imagine, that, whatsoever he (as its representative ) states must bo accepted us “ gospel.” Whether the public have entrusted such a responsible mission to “ New Chum,” or whether he lias assumed it himself, matters little, however, to the case in cpicstion, so long as he adheres to the truth, which lie has not done in this instance, and for the following reasons : —Since the subject of introducing a resident medical gentleman into the district was discussed, at a general meeting held at the Block-house, Ilawera, on the 11th of December last, there have been held at the same place two general Committee meetings (one on the 18ih, and the other on the 27th of December last), and one mooting of the “ standing,” or “ working” Committee, on the latter date. At the latter meeting it was resolved, that advertisements, inviting the services of a duly qualified medical gentleman, bo inserted in the leading papers in Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin ; the papers chosen being the daily Southern Crow, the N. Z. Times, and the Otago Dally Times, and that applications be considered closed on the 15th of February next. The “ general ” Committee having left these matters in the hands of the “ Working ” Committee, it is hardly mine, or indeed any of the committeemen’s place to publish an account of how they have been carried out, or to inform anyone of the same, until wo arc required to do so at the next general meeting. This, “ New Chum” ought to know, without an intimation to that direct from me.

However, I am permitted to state, for the information of the • suberibers, that not only has the above resolution been carried out “ in toto,” but, moreover, that I have now actually in my possession copies of these papers in which the first insertion made their appearance. In addition I maj' add, that correspondence has been going on between applicants for the position, and myself (on behalf of the Committee) ever since the beginning of this year, and in response to the advertisements, four applications have been received by letter, and two by telegraph, in all of which the applicants have asked for further information, which has, accordingly, been granted to them to the fullest possible extent. Now, Bir, is this what is meant by “ matters dropping into a state of inactivity ?” The Committee did not sec fit to advertise in the Mail, and as for advertising in a Melbourne paper, why the idea is an absurd one ; as, leaving time even for a

forlnigbt’s advertisement over there, it would he next to impossible to send a letter there ami receive one in return be fore the day for closing' applications arrived. So much for the “ working ” committee's responsibility in the matter. I now turn to that part of; New Chum’s” letter in which he stales, that, “ your readers arc cheered by an advertisement in each issue of the Main, intimating that the Secretary of the II aw or.a Medical Society “ still <xists in the Hash, —but this nvaileth nothing-' 1 Now, Sir, I was never aware that I existed in anything else but the flesh ; but how the fact of this “ availeth nothing,” 1 fail to see. If “ New Chum ” means to insinuate, that, 1 have no work to do with regard to my position as Secretary In the hoeie.ty, —in fact, that it is a sinecure, I beg to refer him to the Chairman of the Society ; or, I would as.k him to sh-p into my office at any time he feels inclined, and there learn whether 1 have any grounds for complaint at his accusation, or not. And, regarding the, advertisement, What on earth has any private advertisement, paid tor oat of my own pocket, to do with him ?” As for the “ fuss and bluster ” part of the affair spoken of, 1 cannot lor the liJ<* of me understand where ‘‘New t.hnm ” obtained that idea from. Did it emanate from the conglomerate mass of fertile matter which h‘‘s buried beneath ni-S obtuse skull ; or was it produced by reading “ghost yarns amt love stories” late at night, an’d, perchance, indulging in sub-sequent-dreams on the subject? If so, I would strongly recommend him to take some of “ Winslow’s Soothing Syrup,” or a packet of ‘ Steadman’s Soothing Powders,’ (for wisdom-teeth I mean) before retiring into the arms of Morpheus. If ho will only follow this course, I shall hope to see and hear of hotter attempts at iconoclastic journalism coming from his flowing pen, ami allow me to offer yon this parting advice ; Never make a dolt of yourself by publishing statements which are the, very reverse of true ; and never write on subjects which yon know nothing about. Mr M. D. K. has acknowledged the authoiship of the letter. Apologising for my letter being of so lengthy 7 a dcseuption 1 remain, Sir, yours, &.C., W. HAMILTON INMAN,_ Secretary Hawera Medical Society. Hawcra, dan. 31, 1877.