TO THE EDITOR OF THE LYTTELTON TIMES.

West Coast Times, Issue 575, 29 July 1867, Page 3

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LYTTELTON TIMES.

Sir, — Your correspondent "Pontoon." speaka the truth, but not the whole truth, in connection with Mr Bonar's position as Mayor of Hokitika, and it so happens that the part of the truth suppressed is much more pertinent to the matter in question than the part told. It is true that Mr Bonar was elected to the chairmanship of the first Municipal Council by a majority of one vote only ; but it is also true that the numbers polling on the occasion were only seven — the Council consisting of nine members — and the two candidates, with great good taste, refraining from voting.

It is true that at the time these niue Councillors were elected, the number of persona qualified to vote, under the disfranchising interpretation put upon the law by the Commissioner, who was the returning officer, was exceedingly small ; but it is also true that Mr Bonar held one of the very highest positions on the poll on that occasion.

It is true that Mr Bonar, after a regular rate roll had been completed, was requested by memorial from upwards of seven hundred registered ratepayers to resign office and submit himself to re-election. But it is also true that thib memorial was addressed in common to the whole body of Councillors, with tho single exception of Mr Evan Prosser, who had been elected to fill a special vacancy occasioned by resignation after the completion of the rate roll ; that the memorial had no special personal application to Mr Bonar whatever ; that it was based simply upon an allegation that at the fiit>t election the whole of the candidates had pledged themselves to seek re-election as soon ab a larger constituency was created ; that Mr Bonar was amongst the first to express his willingness to resign, if the Council as a body agreed in thinking such a course conducive to the public interests ; that they were legally advised that no such contingency as a wholesale resignation was provided for in the Ordinance, and that had a new election taken place, Mr Bonar would certainly have stood very high at that time on the list Councillors returned.

I consider the statement made to you that Mr Bonar was called upon by seven hundred memorialists to resign, in face of the fact that the memorial was addressed not to him Epecially, but to the whole Council of which he was Chairman, and that it was based upon grounds altogether distinct from those of a personal character, as exceedingly disengenuous. Your obedient servant, Tiros. L. Bright.

Fish in the Amazon. — Professor Agassiz, who has lately been engaged in examining the fish of the River Amazon, states that he lias not found one fish in common with those in any other fresh-water basin ; that different parts of the Amazon have fishes peculiar to themselves ; and, as an instance of the teeming Variety of the Amazon, lie adds, that a pool of only a few hundred square yards showed 200 different kinds of fish, which is as many as the entire Mississippi can boast. la the Amazon itself 2000 different kinds exist, a great proportion of which are most excellent eating. Several are extremely curious, one especially, which has the power of walking or creeping on dry land, and of worming its way up the trunks of trees. — "Athenreum," March 23. Lord A. and Lord Brougham one day voted on the same side in the House of Lords. Whereupon Lord A. said, " This is the only time you and I have rowed in the same boat." " Yes," replied Brougham ; " but we use very different sculls." \

(For remainder of JVezws see 4th Page.)