CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1988, 12 May 1885, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

wm omos, To hie Editor, SiR.-r-The mild attack made on my last letter by the champions of the abstainers at the local option meeting on Friday evening last was somewhat amusing, and when compared with the bombast of" meaning |o carry the poll" and tf'prgyenji'a Qlub being Bjtarte'd" fell very tame, especially said bombast emanates from an '"unholyalliance" to which I previously referred. The latter threat is, to my mind just what might be expected from persons whose ideas border on a state of bigotry, but when one sees a full blown Club (I should say a "dwells Club"),. within a few yards of jihe abstainers, citadel, without even an attempt "b'efng piaje Jjy jijjem fo, shut it lip, such threats, sink iritp rns'jgnijjcanco,

and to use a recent Temperance champion's words bespeak;" a disordered liver," or a fear and respect for the'great. A few words on Clubs as allowed by the State, the objects of which are " to provide reading rooms, Libraries, writing materialj refreshments, ches3, draughts, and such amusements as the Committee may think fit; and also to promote genial intercourse among the members." These Clubs have to obtain a permit from the Colonial Secretary, and pay an annual fee, which, in itself places the institution under the eye of the police,- apart from the fact that they .(policemen) • can • visit the premises as often as they think proper in their capacities as excise officers. I state, sir, that Masterton' has not had a Working Men's Club conducted on the principles I have stated, or it could not but have'been a success, and any attempt to prevent a bona fide Working Men's Club'being started in the town when a club of. higher pretensions exists in'our midst, would tend to lower the temperance party greatly,in the eyes of the public. .Let me suggest that they, play one card, at a time and not expose their hand, otherwise they may be euchred in their zeal. lam, &c, Pro Bono Publico. MR REESE IN REPLY/ ', To the Editor. Sir,—rl accept your assurance that the sub-leader referred to in my last letter emanated from' amongst'the fertile imaginings of your "genius homh" that sits and " broods with • miser Care" over every scrap of news that reaches the inner sanctuary of yom sanctum sanctorum, and not from the other fellow over the way as lat first supposed,' 1 may add that 1 do so with some regret, as I hold candour to be a fiist principle; in controversy or conversation, and absolutely essential to a good understanding on any topic whatsoever. Now, lam not going to accuse you of a "plentiful laok" of that quality, as it would argue discourtesy on my part, and would rightly bringdown on my devoted head the avenging wrath of your Nemesis of an ink-slinger, and this I have no wish to do, J know that when " Gieek meets Greek," the struggle on your part would .be in sheor desperation for dear life (or rather bread and butter), and on my part for a principle that influences all men if they only have a spark of self-respect left in them. Most people under these circumstances would anticipate the ultimate result, if I dared to show fight, by saying that Reese is bound to lose; but cautious-thinking people would remember that there are extraordinary circumstances to be provided against in any contest, "The battle is not always gived to the stronsr," and if the remotest possible contingency in this conflict was to be realised, viz,, Reese defeating the ,°ub-Editor of the Daily on his own ground, what would be the immediate conclusion that the people of Masterton would come to ? Why, they.would say it naturally follows that, these men should change places, for a time at least, I would ask, could a greater calamity befal them and the Editor of the Llaily than this dire catastrophy. Fancy 'Reese sitting on an office stool frpjn early lnoni fill dewy eye, busy with shears and paste, making " pqnfujjqn wqrse confounded/' and the pub-Edjtqr with a Stodging alqng thrqugh the mud" and #h of ; tlje Forty-Mile Bush...This }s a state pf affairs that most people lyquld deplore, with half an eye to the fitness,qf things, Reasoning thus, on the position has led me to the conclusion that "diaerefclun is the better part of valor"; Jet the ; 'wrifcer qf the sublender think qf that, and before he wears the victor's cap, to ho sure of a vanquished foe, In reply' to your " epilogue" on my last letter, I don't think that 1 ought to " open my hand" to an interrogation of that kind, as it winds up with an inference that will lead people to suppose that you had Charged me with tampering with the Minister of Lands, the formation of a new Association, ami the progress of the country, all of which sound very terrible; but as a matter of fact you have not charged me with any misdemeanors whatever,' consequently I have nothing to deny, However, if you should charge me with any of the above treasonable acts, I will douy them w kto, and 1 am sure the people will laugh at the dilemma you would find yourself in, as you know that according to a doctrine lately preached here "the onus of proof is with the accuser." The'' Hole and corner work—underhand means," that your correspondent "Settlor" writes about, are of his own creation, and, no doubt, strictly in hv\\m with the general character of a man who,'under cover of his "Nornde plume," swaggers a'lot with his "but" and "if," Let me suggest in conclusion that lie also includes in his parcel to'"tho. "Minister" a copy of his "Hole and Corner" creation, and there can be littlo doubt one perusal of this epistle would be siiflisient to waken the Hon, Mr BaHance to a souse of the enormity of tho offonoe that had been perpetrated against the best interests qf New Zealand. "" '" lam, &c, Alex. Reuse. . [We publish Mr Reese's letter in oxtenso, ■ and will only add that one. line of abfjblijte denial would have dono him !SF lllflj? gSPS ijpn'tjje half-column' 0 THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION, (To the Editor.) _ Sir.-If there is a law in existence licensing houses to retail strong drink, why should four houses in a town like this have the monopoly. A man that expends a large sum of money in building and tailing, flught not tq be ref used became a few'rabid teetotallers ory nut, }fa]} f,jje pubs in Masterton were closed every other place would be a sly grog shop. Publicans have as much right to sell even bad liquor as bakers to sell French twist or fancy bread. Because Mr W. M. Easthope (whoever he lpay l]e) is such a gfcfiynoh teetotaller is 'that a tljere shqulc} bo nq mure cakos'anc| sjrqng , ale ? --....«.•.. ..g lm&?:> | A Temperate Man.