WAIKATO RIDINGS.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 941, 4 July 1878, Page 2

WAIKATO RIDINGS.

reference to the special meeting of the.Waikato County Council, at the conclusion of which 1 refrained from answering some narrow-minded and illnatured personal remarks, I did so considering that no ultimate good would be grained by adding fuel to the fire at that! particular time, but not with any intention of sitting still under them. "With regard to Councilor Clark's rabid persona : invective, I can afford to treat that with just so much consideration as the source from which it emanates deserves. I would, simply say, in passing, that I know of w# more pitiable or contemptible object than a man in a public position, held in leading strings, watching like a hawk for a nod or smile of approval, or an ominous shake of the head if going too far; and presenting, to put things in a mild form, a very striking figurative representation of a fourfooted animal very useful to shepherds, especially when wolves are about. So far as sagacity is concerned, I will leave the comparison an open question, but must say in justice to the quadruped that, as a rule, it is much less rabid. As I have no wish or inclination to follow a bad lead and descend to personality, I will leave the shadow and proceed to something more tangible. "With regard to the precious petition, the part referring to myself is a deliberate falsehood, and I defy Councillor Leslie or Ms shadow to produce a Tamahere ratepayer (even a pocket one) who will state that I made any sort of a promise to uphold Tamahere interests as one of their representatives. To place this matter in a clear and indisputable light, it is necessary that I should relate the substance of a conversation which took place between Mr Leslie and myself—fortunately, as it turns out, in Captain Steele's presence,— just previous to the election of councillors for Waikato County. Mr Leslie wished me to pledge myself to vote for his nominee as Ohamnan of the Council. I distinctly refused, stating that, if I went in at all, I should go perfectly free to vote for whom I thought proper. In pressing the matter still further, words to this effect were made use of—" that he did not see that it was asking so very much, considering that I was only nominally going in for Tamahere, • and that the blunder would undoubtedly be rectified lis soon as the Council met." Facilities for obtaining a knowledge of the working of the Counties Ast being rather limited in those days, we were under the impression that such a glaring mistake could have been at once rectified instead of, as it turns out, having to wait till next election taking into consideration that Kirikiriroa at the time of the first election was entitled to more representation than all the rest of the county put together, according to all available statistics, in the absence of any proof to the contrary. I am cercain Councillor Leslie would not be the man to try to stick to anything which he was not justly entitled to. His satfcellite's statement—no doubt he speaks advisedly—that he (Mr Leslie) could have put in a Cambridge man, places him in a very autocratic position, and will give the outside, public an idea of the extent of the riding, and of, the independence of ratepayers; but lam afraid that, in this particular instance, a good many wolves have been counted among the sheep. As for the clap-trap—" might against right" —it is certainly very taking, but may be overdone. Even a majority may entertain opinions of their own and carry them into effect, without necessitating a tirade of abuse from the other side. 1 have not a doubt but that the Tamahere ratepayers will feel the benefit of not being a riding, but regret that any unpleasantness should have arisen in carrying out this desirable object. It only requires a petition from one-half the ratepayers to do away with the Tamahere Highway Board. If things do not alter, it would be a step in tho right direction.—l am, &c, Wai. Gumming.