CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2095, 15 September 1885, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

[To the Editor]

Sir.-Will you kindly give me space for a few words. I cannot allow Councillor Meredith's statement in the 'Star' of the 9th inat. upon my application for a shipping reserve at Uriti, "that there was a good deal of personal feeling underlying Mr Moore's applications," to pass, without an emphatic denial. 1 have no feeling or interest apart from that of those of my neighbours, who are similarly situated with me, and our desire is simply th have the right to have free access to and use of the Uriti shipping place, I think' theaccusationof "personal feeling" comes with very bad grace from one who has in his place on the Road Board, strenuously advocated claims for' compensation for the Uriti Road until they have reached the very large sum of £37416s 2d, or exceeding £4l per acre for nine acresj in distinct violation of Clause 68 of the Road Boards Act, -1882, which providea that "No member shall vote upon or take any part in the discussion of any matter before the Board, in. which he has, directly, or indirectly, by himself, or with his partners, any interest apart from any interest in common with the public, and any member who knowingly offends against this section shall be liable to a penalty of not exceeding £SO for every offence, and on being convicted thereof his seat shall become vacant." Sir, I directed Mr Meredith's attention to this Clause, twice before the Board, and on two matters recently discussed by the Board, in which he took part; ho was in onecase owner of the land, and in the other Trustee. If that is not direct interest and personal feeling, I dont know what is.

I am, &c., G. Moore.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l had decided not to trouble you with my opinions on any subject, but, having brought my name so prominently before the public, and passed such a high compliment to one of so little ability, or, as one of your correspondents was pleased to term me, so utterly ignorant, I feel

called upon to thank you most heartily for your condescension. It seoms tome the writer of the letter in yesterday's issue must have been troubled with a considerable overflow of bile, and I regret that I am compelled to decline the acceptance of all the honor he is so anxious to force, upon me. I pay so little heed to any letters which appear in the Daily, that J have never seen the letter referred to which is said to have been such a severe castigation; consequently, I did not feel the castigation, and if it was anything approaching the childish attack of the" One who sees, &c.," lam glad I have been Bpared the infliction. I consider it a high compliment to be held up as the one who stands up for the interests of Education as against the monopoly of a school. No matter what "A Parent" may say, or "One who sees, &c.," may declare, 1 am of opinion that the interests of education will not be properly attended to without the division suggested. I aiii quite agreeable to bear the brunt, and will, at any time, meet my opponents on the public platform, or, if they have not tlie courage of their conviction, any where they choose; but I would decline to have my hands tied figuratively or otherwise. If" One who sees, &c., JI is, not ashamed to sign his proper name to his effusions on a question of such vital importance to every member of the commuuity, let him do so, and I will answer him more fully, and let the public judge. Meantime, I do not fear that his present style of writing will induco one sensible man who has signed the petition for. two School districts in Masterton,- to regret having done so ; on the contrary it will tend to prove to. those who have been induced through misrepresentation to sign; the opposition paper, that their cause is a veiy weak one, when it requires such strong "diabolical", language to bolster it up. With . about £I3OO paid yearly in teachers' salaries, I am of opinion than the temporary school already secured and tho second school already promised to the residents of Masterton, should not be allowed to fall away for lack of a little attention, such as a second committee would be.likely to afford. In conclusion I would say that it is my intention to carry out the wishes of those whom I have the honor to represent, and to the best of my ability further the interests of education.

1 am, &c., \ T. P. Girdwood. Masterton, September 15th 1885. [Mr Girdwood is fully entitled to a reply to "One who sees," without a word of comment from us. He however asserts that tho counter petition got signatures through misrepresentation, and we feel bound to take up the point and say that we have the names of several who ordered the removal of their names from the petition in favor of - division, as they had been induced to sign by misrepresentation, Can Mr Girdwood substantiate hit charge of misrepresentation in an equally telling manner ? " Ed. 'W.D.],