A REPLY.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 213, 25 April 1877, Page 2

A REPLY.

[We arc at all times ready to give expressing to every shade of opinion, but in no case do we hold ourselves responsible for the sentiments of our correspondents.]

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE PATEA MAIL.) Sir—ln a late issue of the Patea Mail there appeared a letter from Mr Joyce, in which he made a very violent and abusive attack upon mo. At the time. I thought it best not to notice his letter, as a newspaper squabble with a person like Mr Joyce, would, certainly, not he a nice tiling. But, as Mr Joyce has seen fit to follow up his letter with an advertisement in Saturday’s Mail, headed with the words “Take Notice,” and calling upon me to make a written apology to him, or otherwise he will do something! Really, this is too ranch for my equanimity. I shall be obliged to follow his advice and “ Take Notice” of him, whether I like it or not. A brief narrative of past events relative to Mr Joyce’s position as Foreman of Works, with a slight notice of his remarkable report, will be necessary, in order that your readers may clearly understand our mutual position. At the last ordinary meeting of Council, Mr Joyce’s report upon the main line of road was read and discussed. You did not sec fit to publish the report in the Mail. I shall, therefore, have to quote from memory a few choice bits. Among

other tilings, Mr Joyce recommended. “ That a cutting, one chain wide, should be made on the Spence road, where it joins 1 the main lino. He also informed the Council that the Manawapou bridge was rotten, and that the one at the Manutahi gorge was sound. Now wc all know the very reverse is the truth. But the point to which I wish to call more particular attention. is the gravelling- ot the road. Generally speaking, Mr Joyce only recommended patching the road from the Waitotara to the Manawapou, excepting that portion through the township of Carlyle. From the Patea Bridge to the Sandhills, Mr Joyce stated that it would require, at the very least, eighteen yards of gravel per chain, which is within a few yards of as much as a new road requires. _ I write from memory, but if I am not mistaken, the improvements within the township of Carlyle, including earthworks, &c., according to Mr Joyce’s report, would cost more than twice as much money as he proposed to expend upon all the rest of the road from Opnnaki to the Waitotara. I at once suspected that the man had been tampered with, and that this portion of his report had been written to order. _ It was this consideration more than anything else that impelled mo to use. language towards Mr Joyce and his report, which was altogether too personal, and which I regretted very much afterwards. Fortunately for the public good, Mr Joyce resigned. A special meeting of Council was held on the 18th instant, to appoint his successor. On that day Mr Joyce accosted me on the street, and demanded an explanation why 1 had abused him. His maiui'-r. on the whole, was mild and ci\i!. 1 exp!aim'd to him that he had a very ex-poer/.j-.q(»([ jioMou el wlnu. I rcalL dm sa\, hat that if 1 had unnecessarily wounded his feelings. 1 was very Kerry lor it. At the same time, L informed him 1 believed that hound a'lewed himself to he made a tool of by Mr .Snerwouu. to.it Ids estimate of what was required witnin the township, was grossly excessive. In the most innocent and simple manner possih.e, lie admitted what I said was true, —that he had been influenced by Mr Sherwood. Tie made use of the words, “ I know it was far too much, but 1 was made do it. About that time Mr Winks came down the street, and joined ns. In order to in ike matters quite plain amt also quite secure, I repeated what I said be lure. Air Joyce confessed again in nearly the same words, and rn the presence of Mr Winks, that he. had been influenced. From what I saw and heard of Mr Joyce, I came to the conclusion that he was not at all corrupt, but merely a simple-minded man, who knew so little of his duty as Foreman of Works, that he did not know lie had done wrong. I feel certain that he had looked upon the Chairman of the Council, in the light of a master, and thought it was his duty to do simply what he was told by him to do. I was sorry that I had said hard things about him, and again expressed my regret. He- accepted my apology in the most cordial manner, and we parted apparently good friends. I was, indeed, much surprised when I saw his advertisement two days afterwards in the Mail, with the heading “ 'fake Notice.” It is quite plain that Mr Joyce has no mind of his own. Some evil disposed person, and nearly as weak as himself, has got hold of him, and / Leon putting all sorts of nonsense into his ' head. At our next-ordinary meeting, I shall bring Mr Joyce’s statement before the Council ; in any case, I should certainly have done so. In conclusion I may say, that it is with the greatest pain th;*f 1 am forced into my present position. The idea of flaunting such matters before the public in the columns of a newspaper, is repulsive, yeti cannot see that I can do otherwise than face the difficulty. What I have written, I have written in self-defence, and confined myself to matters which the public have a right to know.—l am, Are., T. Middlkmas, Hawera, 23rd April, 1877.