ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 17, 6 January 1863, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

WE DO NOT HOLD OURSELVES E.ESPONSIBi.II!' FOR THE : OFINTONS EXPRESSED BY OUKJ COEKESPOiffDKSTS.; ' £ To the Editor of the Invercargill Times. Sik, —l am a colonist and a Scotchman, and I have a .grievance. Will you kindly permit me to publish the tale of ray wrongs ? An Englishman ia said to have a right to growl, and generally speaking, he avails himself pretty extensively of his privilege. lam well mware that ray own countrymen have their little peculiarities, but on the present occasion, they shall be passed over in silence, and I will (with his kind permission), do as John Bull always does. Sir —l growl, aud at the same time,-ask you to join me in exposing what I must cousidera serious infringment of fhe laws of modern civilization. Going into one of the many large hotels with which thia " city " is studded, I called for a dinner, and after considerable delay, the dinner made its appearance, —minus one of its most essential concomitants. Mr. Editor, there were no potatoes, and I could not help thinking that the-men who start an escort, go in iorall sorts of jetty accommodation, give a Bachelor's ball, support iwo newspapers, and, in fact, conduct everything in a manner which would be creditable .even to Otago, misht grow, or import, a larger supply of the very necessary vegetable of which I am speaking. Pardon me, Mr. Editor, if I try to detain you for a few moments longer. I told you, sir, as a commencement, that 1 meant to growl, but my remarks shall <be <condensed into as small a compass as is consistent with the importance of the subject. Within four and twenty hours of the above potato-less -dinner I naturally wished again for something to eat, so 1 entered the establishment of another Licensed Victualler and gave "my order." The waiter allowed me to dine, but informed use, in a confidential manner, as he removed the remnants of the fieh, that "the establishment was« quite out of potatoes." I rose at onoe and left the place with mingled feelings of disgust and hunger. In my own house, and at the accustomed hour, I have since then dined several time 3, eating the well-boiled potato, nourished from its infancy by my own hands. I ate that potato, and whilst the last faint tinge of its flavour lingered about my palate, I thought that Southland Caterers should make such arrangements that those who happen to be hungry may newer be asked to dine without a "Murphy. 1' Wishing you, Mr. Editor, a happy new year, and potatoes more numerous and of a better description than are usually seen in Inveicargill. I beg to subscribe rayself. E. J. C.