OIRGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 452, 20 August 1879, Page 2

OIRGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

[\Vi3 are at all times ready to give expression to every shade of opinion, but in no case do we hold ourselves responsible for the sentiments of our correspondents.] DEFECTIVE CHIMNEYS. A stump orator up West, while holding forth on the corruptions existing in Congress, exclaimed, “ Now, gentlemen, can yon draw a moral from this !” “ No,” said a farmer, meekly, “ but I have a hrindlc bullock twenty-five years old that will, when up in condition, draw almost anything.” (To the E;Htor of the Patea Mail.) Sin, —I noticed in a late issue of your paper, a rather long tetter on defective chimneys, signed by a well-known resident in Carlyle, the contents of which clearly show that the said gentleman is not a chimney builder, but do not so clearly 7 show that ho is not a chimney sweeper—(or he evidently takes a very lively interest in those machines. Yet, notwiths'anding, his ideas as to the cause of the late fire at Mr John Whelan’s are totally at sea, or up a chimney, for it was mo, by being wrongly made, and ivroncjly fixed, that set fire to that ’ere house, and not my friend the chimney at all at all.—l am, &e.,

MANTLEPIECE. [Note. — Whilst agreeing with “ Mantlepiece ” as to the cause of the fire at Mr J. Whelan’s, still wo think Mr

Lett’s remarks worthy of considertion. There is not the slightest doubt that builders do uot pay as much attention as they should to the erection of chimneys. They do not seem to be built for comfort, but for annoyance ; therefore we think Mr Lett had great reason for complaint.—Ed Mail.J r> EGMONT ELECTION. (To the Editor of the Patea Mail.) Sir, —Being a staunch supporter of Major Atkinson, I would esteem it a favor if any of your readers can inform me why Mr John Ballance is taking such active steps to secure the return of Mr Sherwood. I saw a telegram the other day, received by the Wanganui Tie-raid correspondent, which boro Mr Ballanoe’s signature, to the following effect:—“Do all you can for Sherwood. He is the best man for the district.” Is Mr Ballance so much interested in the Patea District, tlia£ lie slioaKl cJzotate to t?ie electors who is the best man to serve their interests ? The mere fact of Mr Ballance selecting Mr Sherwood against Major Atkinson, is sufficient proof that everything is not as it should be, ami that a point is trying to be worked. Let the late Hon John look well to his own affairs, otherwise he might, not have the pleasure of occupying a seat in the House by himself, let alone in company with Mr Sherwood. Knowing Major Atkinson and Mr Sherwood personally, it certainly looks anything but straightforward on the part of a man professing, as Mr Ballance does, to have the interests.of the country at heart, to make such a choice. I should like to get at the bottom of this little plot. No doubt Mr Sherwood knows all about it, and perhaps bo will be good enough to explain why Mr Ballance so much wishes to see him returned. —I am, &c., EGMONT.

WHO IS IT.; ■(.ToiheEdlioi- of the Path: A Mail.) Sir,— -At Majof Atkinson’s' meeting the other ’night, when the' division tool? place, I noticed a clerk of one of our local governing bodies challenging some of the gentlemen who were voting on the opposite side to himself. Now, I consider this was offering insult to injury, as the clerk referred to hadj through his own neglect, debarred a large number present from voting, and is quite conscious of the fact. Probably he is not aware, however, that if any of those hand fide electors who were disfranchised through his neglect, chose to bring the matter before the authorities, he might he made to pay for his neglect to the tune of £IOO. I saw by a late issue of the.MAii- that he had succeeded in getting an extension of time for returning his list of the Patea East electors. Why was riot the. same course followed in the matter of the Carlyle district ? I should not like to see the fine enforced, ns that would not be any recompense .to those whose liberties have been cut off, but I object to allow such conduct to go unquestioned.—l am, &c.

DISFRANCHISED