CORRESPONDENCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4432, 6 July 1909, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

(We are not responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.)

(To the Editor.) Sir, — I deeply regret misunderstanding Captain Montgomery in his reference to the late Mr Seddon, and I sincerely apologise for doing so. I have not been interested in Rotorua only as far as it concerns ourselves. I pointed out to the Captain that the Sanatorium at Rotorua did not injure the boarding houses or business people, inasmuch as every year you read of immense boarding houses being erected, but the Captain draws public attention to a case of alleged neglect of a patient in the Rotorua Sanatorium, I take it as part of the argument that we should oppose such an institution in Te Aroha. Now. sir, let Us see how this kind of argument will st&id. Last Supreme Court the manager of the Auckland Costly Home stood his trial for alleged cruelty to one of its inn ates, therefore there should not be

any Costly Home. Now, sir, you can go 071 applying this' to every institution in the Dominion, and if the Captain’s argument holds good all those places should be done away with. In reference to my inconsistency about the Cottage Hospital in saying I -wish him every success with the Hamilton Hospital Committee, because I stated it would not be for the good of the district to injure that institution in any way, I can assure the Captain I have every confidence in that body of hard headed business men who control that institution that anything he or I could say for or against a Cottage Hospital for Te Aroha will not affect them and they will not give us a hospital unless they see very clearly that it is not going to impair the good of that institution, and, now, sir. what inconsistency is there in asking the Government to erect a Cottage Hospital in Te Aroha. The town practically belongs to the Government or the Dominion if you like the title belter. In the immediate neighbourhood they have hundreds of Crown tenants, and, surely, sir, they ought to receive some consideration; therefore I cannot see how it is inconsistent in asking the Government to reconri ierthe question of a Cottage Hospital for /tji Aroha. I was anmsed at the CaptTPiin bis reference to my seeking sympathy from the people. Let u s see, sir, how this pans out in reality. I know a body of gentlemen in this town who have been the means of inducing , hundreds of people to visit us every *" They have done everything in their fPf.'or to make their stay enjoyable, have put their hands in their pockets time after time to my knowledge to entertain these visitors. Last New Year’s Eve there wore over one hundred entertained in the Hot Springs Sample Rooms and I have never heard of a subscription list being sent round. This has been a’l done by this body of gentlemen. They have given their time freely and ungrudgingly to assist our town. These visitors have spent hundreds of pounds. No doubt every business man in Te Aroha got a share of it, and what is the sympathy they receive ? They are culled a lot of old fossils, and the Captain tells me in the face of this, I am looking for sympathy here. Now, sir, there is one grand old fossil (Admiral Drake) who has just come into my mind. He was playing a game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe when he was interrupted, no doubt, by a very excited messenger informing him the Great Spanish Armada was coming up the Channel. Just fancy for one moment if you can the answer the old fossil gave the messenger, “Let us finish the game.” No doubt he wanted to kiss Kitty. . I have no doubt, sir, but the old fossils of Te Aroha are of the same metal, with Captain Montgomery at their head. Now, sir, I consider the goutlemen belonging to the Bowling Club deserve the very best thanks of the people here for what they are doing for this town, and let us remember, “ little drops of water little grains of sand make a mighty ocean and a mighty land.” In passing there is one gentleman who de- . serves our thaDks, and that is H. Poland, Esq., M.P., the Liberal Member for Ohinemuri. He interested himself in getting our mineral water exhibited at the Agricultural Show held in Auckland. \ Y 8 ® ab] y seconded by our esteemed Medical Superintendant, Dr, Kenny. Only for Mr Poland’s thoughtfulness wo certainly would not have been represented. I am perfectly sure he will assist Te Aroha in every way he can, therefore I tbiuk he is entitled to our best thanks. I must apologise for intruding so much on your space. I have no object, but if it were possible I would help by any means in my power to forward our interest.—l am, etc,, John Williams.