THE LATE MEETING AT ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 648, 15 July 1876, Page 2

THE LATE MEETING AT ALEXANDRA.

Sib, — At one of those present at the l*t« Political Meeting, held at Alexandra, T was much pleased to «cc *' Waipa's " letter in jour issue of th« 11th inst. Tho day of the meeting was a most inclement on*, in consequence of which tho attendance was small, and did not represent th« public opinion of tho Waipa iettlori. The few that opposed Ifr Poshe'n sweeping resolution, I not Load, were nil old settler*, thoie who contrast tho plentious »nd prosper ns present wliioh w* enjoy undor the present Government with the clrnary and almost hopeless stato of thing* under their predecesjors who persue I a din* rent policy* To thoße who look below tho 6urfuce, it i« etny to see that the resolution parsed at the meeting nro but pnJTi of the sidewind with which Sir Ot orge G-rcy thought to upset the Miniitry, viz.? tho Piiko Swa-np question. Those who know Sir George Grey beat, and acknowledge hit astuteness, know also that hii pjlicy ii not, and hns not been a straightforward one. And, ai the leader, Biich are fche follower. The prsient House of Kepresentntives was especially cleoted to trj if the people of New Zeiland wished to continue nil the present petty little (jovernmenM wliioh are always a*; loggerheads with each other, or, to form one strong Government, who would repr^ant a united —not as at present, a'disuniled — NewZ-alnnd. Sir Or Grey and his follower* make a great outcry about the larjje cxpondituia of tho Defenco Offico, for which they lhaj, I think, to a £iuit extent, thank themselves. I bavo observed, sir, th»t if you wish to have anything dono in too short a time, it costs more, «nd is likely to bo worse dono than if it occupied tho ordinary time. So far vi I have observed, the Maoiijs nro ft people slow to mnke up their minds on jmpoitint questions, anr*, if pressure is brought to bear on Sir D McLean — who know* the native mind ao well — to force them to decido their policy, it will coit vi more, and possibly bo worse done than if we let the matter remain unfettered in tie hands of him who knows best, viz.: the present Native Miuistcr.— l am, &c, Caulos. Alexandra, July 13, 1876.

Sir —I woader if the thought ev«r occurred to ' Waipa that ho hail not offered ono shadow of proof for one of his long list of assortion*, slandering most grossly tho tettlors of this d'atciot. How c\n he dare to say that th*y are now ashamed of having taken part in our meeting ? What can ho pretend to know about ihame, if. ho ii not thoroughly ashamed of himself ? I would strongly advise him not to creep out of his hiding placa unless he wants a dip in tlie Waipa for his mean and untruthful assertions. A man should bo prepared to giv« 10m 1 ) proof of what ho says before ho denounces us as being uctuattd bv ' venal end corrupt motives.' If ' Waipa* can read his letter in print without a bluib, I am afraid that human nature must hare sunk to a very low ebb in hit part of tho river. So should ramem* ber that faot« aro stubborn things, and are not to be disproved by vague assertions. If he wishes to express tho opinion of this district, let him call a public meeting as often as he likos ; and mean as he must be, we will give him fair play, and not creep about if we aro defeated, saying it was only because our friends were ashamed to put in an appearanre. — I am, &o, Paiu P&AYi Aloxandra, July 12th, 1376.