MR ASHWELL’S DEFENCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1636, 20 September 1887, Page 2

MR ASHWELL’S DEFENCE.

Tt THE EDITOR. Sir,— ln Mr Twomey’s address to the electors, I am accused of misrepresentation and injustice in my repo'ts of his speeches. I did not report his first speech at Temuka, and although, not being a shorthand writer, 1 am not always able to take down the exact words, I wiil ask any impartial person who was present at the meetings which I hare reported to compare my reports with those

published in the Temuka Leader, and say which is the most exact account of the proceedings, I assist that my report of Mr Twomey's Winchester meeting was more accurate than the Leader’s, and can witnesses to prove it. I have not haa any instructions to turn Mr Twomey’s meetings into ridicule, and have not availed myself of numerous opportunities of doing so. I have endeavored as far as possible, to carry out my duties fairly, and regret if I have not succeeded in doing so. —I>am, etc., J. Ashwell. [Mr Ashwell certainly did not report Mr Twomey’s first meeting. He is not the reporter who had instructions to turn Mr Twomey’s meetings into ridicule. Probably Mr Ashwell, considering that he is only an amateur reporter, did his work as well as he could, but still there was some of it which certainly did not represent Mr Twomey in the most favorable light. With regard to the Winchester meeting, the report was anything but good. In fact, it was the very worst that has appeared from beginning to end, «nd probably it would have been worse but for Mr Twomey pointing out that it was intended to make political capital out of what occurred. However, it is useless to discuss the matter. Twomey has not complained, nor has he referred to it since, and he wou ! d not have noticed it at all, but for the doleful lamentation which came from the other side.— The Editor.] THE MOUNT PEEL ROAD BOARD. TO THE EDITOR.. Sib, —At a meeting of this Board, held yesterday, I proposed, and Mr Robert Thew seconded —“That the Geraldine County Council should h%ve leave to go through with thei£]wij|ker race a Road Board reserve planted with very flourishing insignis tress, about ten years’ growth, on the payment of one pound for the trees to he cut down and destroyed by throwing out the earth from’the race.” These trees were planted when they were not as cheap as they are now, and belong to the ratepayers. It was proposed as an amendment by Mr Deunistoun, seconded by Mr. Robert Mackay, and carried by the rote—“ That the Geraldine County Council should hare the trees without any payment.” I contend this is unfair to the ratepayers, lot. One pound is merely a nominal charge for the expenses of the ratepayers’ money spent in planting, and fencing the resenrj, and shows our right to the trees. 2nd. The ratepayers about Clayton and Eaincliff may object to our great liberality in giving away their property on this side of the rang© for nothing. 3rd. Mr T. Blair, a ratepayer, by accident burnt a few trees in a Road Board plantation, and the Board made him pay for them or replace them. 4, Can the Board after this with any conscience charge anyone or a public body for the future for going through our plantations, say, with a railway or tramway? Ton will see . the exact words of the two resolutions in the newspapers, and it is for the ratepayers to consider if Mr Thew and myself were wrong in asking for the sum of £1 for the probable 20 or more trees about 15ft high to be cut down and destroyed, CF whether Mr Dennistoun, Mr Mackay, and Mr Acland were right in giving away their property for nothing.—l am, etc., C. G. Tusß Orari Gorge, Sept. 17th, 1887. P.S.—What shingle will be required for the water-race crossings, I agreed with Mr Dennistoun’s suggestion that the Geraldine County Council should have it without any payment.