Correspondence.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 424, 15 November 1861, Page 2

Correspondence.

TOE SUPEKINTE.NDENCY. To the Editor of the Colonist. Sir— *■ A Wellwisher to Nelson,' in the Examiner of October 19th, betraye a style which savors much of a neio hand.at the bellows, and appears to put his letter forth as a feeler as to the possibility of success of some new candidate, in the chapter of chances, against our Superintendent. The-times have been, when we had but one paper in Nelson, that such a letter would be considered tinansioerable ; but the shallow method of asking insinuative questions of the readers of {heExaminer will not now, I trust, pass muster with them. Does a 'Wellwisher' wish to be brought forward as a candidate, that he asks—'Does this' (that is, his asserted non-appaarance of public interest as tot the election of Superintendent) aviso-from the/ac ♦hat the present holder of the office has given utiiversal satisfaction since he has been in power?' &c. Of course it does; and I very much opine a 'Wellwisher' knows it, notwithstanding his innocent way of putting the question. Again—'But is it worthwhile to examine whether •Mr. Robinson has really acquitted himself? ' and * of Mr, Robinson'? personal character 1 shall say

nothing in disparagement.' 'You know,' says Brenan on Composition, ' that the word shall implies something of doubt or uncertainty, and that will is quite positive and determined." Why therefore did not our querist say at once and candidly— 'I will not, because 1 cannot, say anything in disparagement to his personal character.' After throwing odium on *some of the professing friends of the Superintendent,' and lauding tho 'good sense of his leading opponents'-—as if 'personal rancour' could be found on one side only, and good sense only on the other, this hot-and-cold-blowing bellows goes on in the same breath or sentence to say—' I wish then to be understood, in any remarks I may make regarding Mr. Robinson's career, to reflect in no way on his private character or conduct, which I believe to be highly estimable.' ' The real question,' says ' Wellwisher,1 at issue' (who raises the issue but himself?) 'is one I now propose to discuss, whether Mr. Robinson did all that could be done ?' &c, may be read thus—The question I now propose is, whether it is worth trying at the eleventh hour the chances for success of another candidate, and, if so, whether it would take much trouble to find one? I should advise ' Wellwisher' to withdraw the first half of his letter, calculated as it is to generate that * personal rancour' which he pretends to deprecate 'in some of the professing friends of the Superintendent.' The well-known fable tells us that the tired and chilly traveller in the Sylvan's abode blew on his fingers to warm them, much to the admiration of his entertainer, who had a little knowledge of the world; but soon after blew on the mulled wine to .cooJ it, which so provoked the Satyr's indignation, that he thrust him out of doors, saying he would rhave nothing to do with a wretch who had so vile a quality as to blow hot and • cold with the same mouth. Sir, the application of this fable remains to be seen. A, November sth. Tr*