CORRESPONDENCE,

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 242, 19 September 1872, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE,

THE MILTON POST-OFFICE. (To the Editor.)

Sic, — I have to trouble yon with a few remarks on what, until lately, might be considered a local subject, and which I might have submitted to onr local paper, were it not that, in the matter to which 1 have to refer, the conductors <»f that paper have evinced an obliquity of perception — a one-aided and party feeling, and a disregard for the opinions of the public, almost unanimously expressed at a public meeting, which was called by the Mayor of Milton, with possibly borne puppet string pulling behind the Bcene, to condemn not only my gratuitous off«r of a site for a post-office, out also, if possible,

*o involve Mr. Murray, the member for Bruce, into what they would fain mako out as an underhand job. I have been some time in the world ; but I have not been long enough to learn to stoop to the low intrigue that has been- imputed to me, aud I am happy to say that, at th« public meeting referred to, such was tho almost universal expression of opinion in my favor ; and yet now, weeks after that event, the " Herald," evidently with a purpose, publishes with a chuckle the, I may say, impertinent reply of a public servant— the Postmaster General— to Mr. Murray's question as to the erection of a post and telegraph office in Miiton. In justice to myself, I cannot quietly submit to the covert insinuations which Mr. Vogel's reply seems to imply. As for tho | contemptible clique in Milton, who purI posely would miscoriHtrue my motives m the free donation of a by no means paltry gift, I shall not wilfully encroach on your space with any comment. He, Mr. Yogel, with characteristic vanity, says "of all the small matters he had to deal with, the one referred to had given him the greatest amount of trouble, and he would explain the matter fully, for the information of hon. members." This trouble can in no way be imputed to me, and the representations that " were made to the Government that an actual necessity existed, for th& 'creation," I suppose the would-bo great man means erection, " of a new^ post-office at Tokomairiro " are generally admitted. The first stumblingblock in the way of the new erection being placed on the site of the present building being, 1 believe, that the Government Architect — Mr. Vogel's father-in-law—had drawn the plans too large for the ground it was meant to occupy : and when the twelve extra requibite feet frontage, near the Mayor's house, were agreed to be sold to the Government, a (btiioulfcy arose as to the purchase of the .uue, in consequence of which a site was oucred for sale by Mr. Soutter, who, after three months experience of the red tape of Wellington, declined to be further trifled with, and withdrew his offer, consequently the labor and expense of the visit of the Secretary of the postoffice was utterly futile. Seeing the difficulty that would arise from further delay, and believing that no alternative would be so satisfactory to Mr. Yogel as to have a reasonable excuse for withholding a more couvenieut building, I , at an accidental meeting with Mr. Murray, stated that, before they should be beac, 1 would give the ground myself ; but on tho condition that my <>tL;r should be submitted to the Government without being exposed to all the captious squabling that was sure to arise. Government made inquiries of disinterested parties capable of giving an opinion, also of the postmaster, who reported favorably, and my offer was accepted. Then came the great indignation meeting, which so signally recoiled on the heads of the organisers ot it, and you will allow loe to quote pj,it of a paragraph bearing thereon from the "Times"-'*' of 13th June last, as an accurate statement of facts, and which proves emphatically that the great majority of the inhabitants are favourable t<> the new site, "That was no secret throughout the township, but apparently it had not reached, the ears of the "leaders of the opposition till the beginning of the week. After the deeds had been Bigned, sealed, and delivered, their chagrin at > being thus so quietly outwitted may be imagined. The matter was discussed at a meeting of the Town Council on Tuesday . night, when a long resolution remon- * strating against the injustice, &C, dec, was passed, and ordered to be telegraphed to the Superintendent and Postmaster General. ... A special messenger was despatched over night to command the presence of the offending Member of the Assembly at said meeting to explain his conduct, and if need be, submit to rebuke. The meeting was held, the hall was crowded, aud tho Mayor presided. Mr. Murray explaiued ' his conduct,' and strange to say, was received with enthusiastic cheers. The opposition then brought forward their resolutions against the removal of the office, talked of gross injustice, breach of faith, ignoring vested rights, &c, &c, and one aud all protested they had no personal interests to serve in the matter, bub spoke fuelingly. After having exhausted themselves and their arguments, their resolution was being put to the meeting, when Mr. Cunningham suggested the following amendment as preferable to the motion:—'That in the opinion of this meeting, the site offered by Mr. G. Coombe for post aud telegraph offices, and accepted by the Government, is suitable and central, and well adapted for the convenience of the public.' Mr. M-Latchie seconded, and the amendment was carried by a very large majority, amidst prolonged cheers. Three cheers wert ehen called for Mr. Coombe and given enthusiastically. Tho same in like manner for Mr. Murray and Mr, Ferguson, Postmaster, and the Government." To return to Mr. Vogel's reply, tlio Government was equally at liberty to refuse or accept my offer, but when it had decided to accept, Mr. Yogel had no right to expect that I should submit to be shuttlecooked about, to suit hia vacillation and surrender my agreement, though had I anticipated the annoyance, Mr. Yogel would have been saved his sneer at the 'generous donor,' and though he might be smarting under the severe handling ho received from the member for Bruce, in the debate of 22nd ult., ho has no right to judge and less to misconstrue my motives. I can say that my communication with Mr. Murray was limited to what has been stilted, and acted upon forwhat was believed to be the public good. - Politically I did not support him. The insinuation that my generosity was prompted by the hope of a " few pounds more rent for a publio house " is misapplied, as it would have paid me double to have built on, and leased the ground o{ which I have made a free gift. " 1 may be a Publican, but lam no Pharisee. Take every feature of tho case, and contrast my conduct with that of the Mayor. Who' authorised him to write to the Government, "g+atjng that there was no im-* mediate necessity for a now post-office at all ?" and then Mr Yogel " thought it waa lime to interfere ; and Bee whethertheexpeusa could be avoided.'* But I will refrain from further r«mark3, and apologue fi>r claiming so much of your space for thhonco. — I am', Sir, youin, Sac.,

G. Cooirai.