LETTERS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 311, 10 December 1873, Page 3

LETTERS.

(To the Editor.) Sin, — Since your paper has come out twice a week, you seem to be inundated with letters, many of which are very absurd, and almost all show a cacoethes scribendi, rather than a desire to search for facts and information in the proper quarters. By way of illustration, I will, with your permission, give a cursory review of those appearing iv this day s issue. 1. "Waggon Horses" and "Police Justice." — Had. these parties sent polite notes to the Inspector of Police, with their names and addresses thereto, no doubt their grievances would have received attention. 2. "School Pic-nic."— The "Old Girl," before venturing into print, should have gone back to school to learn to write without jumping at rash conclusions, and asserting certain things as facts, which she had just introduced with " probably," She would be much more likely to see her desires carried out were she to initiate some practical step herself. 3. "Schoot Prizes."— "Mamma," in Peelstreet, intends to state facts, but draws largely on her imagination, her letter abounds in "ifs." She should satisfy herself by personal inspection, and not write about what she apparently does not understand. 4. " Tapanui Mail " — is undoubtedly a grievance ; but the best way to remedy it would be to write at once to the Chief Postmaster. 4. " Educational Prospects " and " Unlicensed Liquor Traffic," — The proper place for these remarks is in the Provincial Council. Let " X.Y.Z." become M.P.C. and " Amateur Detective" apply for employment to Mr. Commissioner Weldon. 6. The " Waitahuna Cockatoo," you have already disposed of. 7. "Red Spur's" is a sensible letter, seeking to make people more desirous to conserve the gold mining interest; but this would be more effectually done, had the writer shown his sincerity by subscribing his own name. 8. " New Town Hall."— These writers can do no good ranting m«<H ahnnt in this way. Why did not they, at Coverlid's indignation meeting, make a move in this direction. If "Impartial" gives a glance at the specification, he will see his own absurdity. 9. " Citizen of Lawrence " may yet aspire to become a citizen of Petticoat Lane. 10. Poor disappointed " Builder." — I may let him pass. Now, Sir, I would recommend that you should either erase all absurdities before putting each letter in type, or return the letters to the several writers to be re-written after looking up such information as bears on the subjects treated, so that you would be in a position to lay before the public something worthy of a perusal. — Yours, &c., A WELIrWIBHKB. Lawrence. 6th December. £" Well-wisher would apparently, smother public opinion. Constant reference to the heads of departments would create constant annoyance. It is not right that a public grievance should be discussed by one complainant and one defendant Every person iinterestedin the rectification of public omissions or blunders, and what all are interested in, should not be confined to a dialogue. Newspaper correspondence is one of the few checks to editorial extravagance. The real eiitor of a paper is, and should be, the public ; and a faithful news editor is, at best, nothing more, nothing less, than an officer who shapes, but does not control, that public opinion which "Well-wisher" apparently would effectually extinguish.— Ed. "T. T."]