ORIGINAL IDEAS AND MR G. F. SHERWOOD.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 299, 27 February 1878, Page 2

ORIGINAL IDEAS AND MR G. F. SHERWOOD.

(To the Editor of the Patea Mail.) Sir, —In your last issue a letter appeared signed by the above-mentioned person, referring 'to a letter published hi your columns signed by me on the question of obtaining a portion of the twenty-live per cent, from the proceeds of sale of the Waimate Plains, for the purpose of improving the Patea River, instead of it going to assist to make the breakwater in New Plymouth. When the New Plymouth Harbor Board obtained the power to rate the land to the Waingongoro River for harbour purposes, I, among others, considered it unfair that they should be allowed to rate land this side of Opunake, and when the County boundaries were proclaimed, and the land mentioned included in the Patea County, I considered then that a portion of the proceeds of the sale of the Waimate Plains should go towards improving the Patea River. But I thought the New Plymouth people could bring too much influence to bear against us. The other day in course of conversation with a gentleman on the subject (in Mr Sherwood’s presence) I found there was a chance of obtaining it, if an effort was made. I then wrote the letter which you published, for the purpose of calling the attention of the public to the question, and also for the purpose of preventing Gr. F. Sherwood, Esq., in a short time bringing forward the question as his own idea. The “ Moorhouse of Patea,” as one of his supporters calls him, would like to bo a sort of superintendent over the Patea County, having the sole control of County, Harbor, and Town Board matters, and such is his despotic style, that he would trample under his feet, any one that opposes him. It is to be hoped that this individual’s actions will be curbed in the Harbor Board, the same as it was in the County Council. It is not right that any one person should have the power of interviewing Ministers at Wellington, without receiving authority from the Board to represent them ; and then, something more tangible than telling the Board that he had done this and that, should be produced, because his opinion of what a Minister said, might be qualified by the Minister himself.

As regards original ideas, some of Mr Sherwood’s would not stamp him as a man of ability, but would bear out the opinion of a large number of persons, that his principal qualifications are—being able to blow his own trumpet well, and abuse his opponents. I will give one of his ideas — He wished to lease the Harbor reserves for 35 years, receiving the rent for the whole of the term, in advance, which must be considered a ridiculous idea for a member of a public body to entertain. This same person would, if he had been allowed his own way, have obtained the liver frontages for the Carlyle Town Board. Such was his recommendation, but myself and Captain Wray considered the river frontage should be reserved for Harbor Board purposes. I consider it would have led to a conflict of authority, if the Town Board had obtained them. Now this same person receives credit for obtaining lands which he was opposed to the Board getting, and if the public was in possession of the facts, it would be found that the credit of obtaining the majority of the reserves throughout the County, belongs to another person instead of Mr SherwoodIn the latter part of his letter, published in your last issue, he states that some persons (meaning himself) will take a different action to carry out the “ idea ” than Mr Dale could even if he would, I may say I do not for a moment pretend that I possess a large influence with the Ministry of the day, like Mr Sherwood does. Did he not accompany the Hon. Mr Sheehan the other day to Waitotara ? Did not the Waitotara correspondent of the Wanganui Herald chronicle the fact ?—but the fact was not chronicled in what capacity ho accompanied the party. If influence is to be gained by such means, I may say at once, that ray nature will not allow me to obtain it. Had you placed a foot-note to Mr Sherwood’s letter, you would have saved me having to write this letter, for I can say without fear of contradiction, that I told you and a number of others, that the letter was written in consequence of having obtained information on the subject.—l am, &c., W. DALECarlyle, Feb. 22, 1878.