ON THE SUB-LEADER.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 412, 29 March 1879, Page 2

ON THE SUB-LEADER.

(To the Editor of the Patba Mail. Sik, —In reference to a letter signed “A Settler,” which appeared in the Wanganui Chronicle , and partly reprinted and commented upon in your sub-leader last issue, such direct allusion is made to myself that I crave space for comment. The authorship, unless the writer be a babbler, can but be known to the writer himself and the Chronicle editor. Any denial on my part would not shake a biassed mind. To others, it is a matter of indifference. As there can be no mistaking who is meant —allusion to the man, familiar tone of the. letter, present occupation, and past connection with the Mail, being so directly personal—l can but be grateful for the school book and magazine announcement, adding only—A good supply kept in stock. At the same time, I may be allowed to take exception to the insinuations and to some of the inventions. Some will be thankful to “A Settler” for having furnished the present writer for the Mail —whether of the Pulpit or a full-fledged Pressman with a peg whereon to hang some smartness, as being a change from Shere Ali and tbejike. I have never been mean or vain enough to seek unasked space in a newspaper to air my notions—to parade the extent of my reading or number of handbooks at command. I have been satisfied with whatever occupation I have been engaged in, without encroaching on or coveting

anotlnrs. If the Pulpit-Pressman prefers slander to truth, so be it.

It lias not hern rny habit to parade of having the interest of Pate,!* at heart.”•People judge ;by actions, not talk. EvenA Settler ” makes no such..profession, - but ,States his, case ..without circmfi.locution or hint for applause. . As to the. loss of editor; *nOne know better than the proprietor of the Mail that' bis request for ine to continue as such was point-blank refused; and being asked, or father pressed; to reconsider, stated that it was unnecessary—my mind was made up. As judged by common remark, it is not the “ substantial ’’ness, but the hasbiuess of the writings since the “ calamity” which has led to unfavorable comment. “ A Settler ” has done good service, if for nothing else than bringing the Mail back from Shcre Ali to local matters and news, an improvement being noticeable last issue. In the subleader of personal probings which the new writer in the Mail has thought fit to show his smartness against myself, for the reason tiiat “A Settler” thought fit to give a very gentle and useful bint, he says—“ Perhaps ‘A Settler’ receives payment at so much per column for contributions, for which reason we are dragged before the public—anything to make news.” It shows a self-convicting amount of innocence on the part of the writer for him to suppose that Letters to the Editor are paid for as contributions. Editors, as a rule, are very shy of attacking, knowing how fully retort can be made, and are least likely of any men to pay for jt in the shape of Letters to the Editor. : As; for myself, vanity will never lead me to rush into print, and I shall consider it no disgrace to receive pay for such literaiy work as newspapers do pay for. There have been no lack of application for my services in that line—quite unsought ; and though, as evidence, perhaps, of his wide - mincledness, the Pulpit - Pressman wouhl limit “A Settler” (which, as interpret SJ by the Mail, means me) to a single friend, quite enough have volunteered in this district to give support as to guarantee me from loss were I willing to start a new paper. I may hint to the limitedvisioned hut wide-minded writer that there are friends of mine in other parts. I have been, and fortunanely am, able to earn a living either by my pen or hands, and am sufficiently colonial not to be afraid or ashamed of manual labor.

Whilst not expecting' to be allowed latitude for personal probing, as per sample in your sub-leader, I trust such fairness will be shown as to allow thus much appealing.—l am, &c.,

JAMES KENWORTHY.

[As the writer of the above letter takes all the remarks in sub-leader of last issue to himself, so be it. We wish to state that a gentleman who has not always lived in Little Pedrlleton, and whose ideas are not walled up between the Wanganui bar and the New Plymouty breakwater, has for some time been a contributor to our columns. Before we sustained the loss of which li Settler” has unkindly informed us (we say unkindly, for we were happy in our ignorance), he contributed those occassional articles which sufficed to remind the readers of the Mail that there was still part of the world outside of Patea. The lost editor took to these kindly, and more than once suggested where news was slack that something on ‘furrin’ parts would be acceptable. The gentleman in question, however, not write the sub-JeafJer in our last issue ; ii, was written before he even knew that “ A Settler” bad been twaddling in the Chronicle, and when his attention was called to that fact, he wished the matter to be treated with silent contempt. We must add that he is not in any sense the editor of the Mail, and bears no responsibilityccnnected with it. We are sorry that this spiteful attack has been made upon him for being acquainted with the topics and literature of the time. Thereistruth in thestatement that Mr Kenworthy was asked to remain on the .Mail staff ; but it was a matter of indifference whether he accepted the proposal or not, so the amount of pressure brought to bear was not very great. This is all we have to say.— Ed, Mail,

QUERY. (To the Editor of the Patea Mail.) Sin,—Will you be good enough to inform me, whether the County Council, when appointing -one of its members to such billets as Pound-keeper and Dog Tax Collector, does not disregard the meaning of sections 99 and 100 of the County Council Act.—l am, &c., SCRUTATOR. o