NORMANBY.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 417, 16 April 1879, Page 2

NORMANBY.

{To the Editor of the Patea Mail.) Sir, —I was much surprised to read in your Saturday’s paper a statement from “Your Own Oorresponnent” atNormanby, that “ there was no contest between two bodies of the townspeople re the site for Railway station, Telegraph and Post offices, &c., but that tiie contest was between the whole of the townspeople and an adverse clique at a distance,” &c. As I happen to know something of this subject, I venture to say the above statement is utterly false, and from the day the Government accepted the liberal offer of land from that enterprising firm, Messrs Thomson & McGuire, a fierce contest has been, and is still raging.

11l order to be understood, it will be necessary to say that a few earty settlers, living in one street, arrogate to themselves the name of the “ Townspeople,” and that later settlers are called “ an adverse clique at a distance,” which term includes the liberal donors of the land. These early settlers ventured to represent to the Hon Mr Macandrew, that the whole township was agreed in the matter, and the Government and the public, through you, will, unless contradicted, accept the same as true.

I again assert nothing can be further from tiic truth, for this “ little clique,” consisting of two or three small storekecpeis, two publicans, and one or two others, do not at all represent the townspeople in numbers, and as for wealth or intelligence, they have very little of the former, ami less still of the latter; but they happen to live in one street, at an extreme corner of the township, and from their narrow and selfish views, desire the station placed close to their doors. But the more enlightened and intelligent settlers (the capitalists) entirely approve the site so wisely decided on by the Government, as being in every way the most desirable for the said offices.

I can quite understand the feelings which rankle in the bosoms of this “ little clique ” on seeing clever man “ at a distance ” walking in and taking the good things which might have been theirs. But that they arc “dolls” is perhaps not so much their fault as their misfortune ; they must therefore stand aside, and see better men reap the reward of better intellect and ability. And should this “ little clique” who arrogate to themselves the right to speak for the whole townspeople, feel very much aggrieved at the rapid strides that capital and civili -.-ration are making in the district, they had better retire to the bush, and follow the callings of sawyers, bullock drivers, diggers, &c., with which praiseworthy industries some of them may be well acquainted. I could, Sir, write an amusing account of the way in which tins deputataiion concocted their resolutions a tew minutes before the am’vat of the Hon Minister, and also the fact that a “ Mounted Bung ” in hot haste (who sometimes rides against time, and loses,his “siller”) galloped io:ind, urging the more respectable to “ roll up,” but they would not. I fear, Sir, I have trespassed too much on your columns, and will conclude by s afing that the intelligent men, and men of capital (with one or two exceptions) hive retired from the “ little clique,'’ well knowing the question is finally settled, and in common with every other sensible man, earnestly hope that the Government will lose no time in giving this fine country the inestimable advantages of Railways and Telegraphs. Apologising for occupying so much of your valuable space.—l am, &c., VERITAS. April 14th, 1879.