THE CANDIDATE FOR INVERCARGILL.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 225, 7 March 1866, Page 2

THE CANDIDATE FOR INVERCARGILL.

TO THE EDITOK OP THE SOU'i'iLLAKD TIMES. Sib, — Under this heading there appears a letter in the Southland News, signed " Argus," whicli, in the interest of the community it would appear desirable to answer. The writer wishes to know on what ground Mr. Heale can be called a fit and proper person to represent the community in the Assembly ? The answer of every man who knows Mr. Heale would be, that his knowledge of the affairs of the Province — his acquaintance with colonial politics — long residence in the colony — personal acquirements — friendly standing with most of the leading men of the colony, and the respect shown for his opinion (whenever it has been obtained) by the G-eneral Government, point to him. as being the best man to represent this community in the General Assembly. It would be much to be regretted if any one should allow himself, to be brought forward against one so eminently qualified to work with credit and benefit and to do good in this province^ The statement of "Argus" that Mr. Heale's reply to the requisionists "is a very clever bit of plausible gammon," is falsified by the reply itself to which I refer the reader, and such an assertion could only be made by one who so badly; describes the man he pretends to know, is to " add a commodity which all who knew the man when he was here, must i know he hacL lots to spare." As there is no man who ever was with Mr. Mr. Heale on business, or in his society for half an hour, will not declaim against a description opposite to the truth, I may leave this as I have done the • attack on the reply. That Mr. Heale's interest and feelings are identified with those of Sothland is known to be necessarily the case. That he let the Provincejin for the " Mokomoko job, as " Argus " describes those works, is an abuse which if true is equally applicable to the originators of the Mechanics' Hall, Freemasons' Hall, churches of various dominations, of anything provided for in times of prosperity but not now required Every closed building or shop is merely * private Mokomoko outside the door* of

of which there once might have been some seventeen customers wanting to enter, as seventeen vessels were actually in the pool hen the jetty was determined on. It is known that Mr. Heale, since he left for the North, has been anxious to forward the interests of this Province, and thathehasgratuitously givenhis services to that ead on several occasions, and that he only now comes forward at the request of gentlemen who know that his services to the Province would be valuable. The combination of Mr. Heale's name with that of the Eailway Engineer's is too evident of the serpent's tooth to require remark. If Mr. Heale desires to represent' a Northern eonstituhcy, he could do so. It is only his interest in Southland that induces him to enter the Assembly at all. " Argus " implies that Mr. Heale is a " mere adventurer." May I enquire whether " Argus " himself is the " political sham " he speaks of? Yours truly, StJGAE. Invercargil, March Bth, 1866. j