THE THIRD MEMBER FOR THE THAMES.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1217, 17 April 1880, Page 2

THE THIRD MEMBER FOR THE THAMES.

In our last issue we referred to the fact that the Thames people had claimed the member for Waikato, J. B. Whyte, Esq., as a third representative of the Thames Dirfcrict. The following correspondence on the subject has passed between Messrs Sheehan and Whyte: — Northern Club, Auckland, Apiil 13th 1880 To J. 13. Whyte, Esq., M.H.R., Hamilton. Dear sir, —it is with great pleasure I have ascertained that your electoral district comprises a very large and valuable part of the Thames county, and that jou arc in fact a third_ member for the Thames. I now feel quite certain that I shall have jour hcaity and influential co-oper-ation in pressing upon Ministers the fair claims of the Thames. I will be glad to have jour assistance in interviewing the Hon. Mr Oliver (now in Auckland) in regard to many local matters which arc now \ cry sadly delayed or neglected. I might mention primarily the Thames end of the Waikato-Thamcs railway. I have no doubt that between us w e will be able to convince Mr Oliver of the unintentional injustice which he is inflicting- upon the people of the I Thames, and induce him to take some active steps to ha\ c the work vigorously resumed. In another matter I know you will be only too willing to render help, I refer to our main roads. You are not, perhaps, aware that the Thames County is worse ofF in the matter of main roads than any other pait of the colon)', and having experience as 3 ouhave, of the benefit of first-class loads in Waikato, I feel assured jou will eagerly embrace the opportunity of conferring similar Jblesings upon >oui Thames constituents. I hope we will be able to meet Mr Oliver together, and put matters in such a light as will ensure success tor some of our applications. —l remain, dear Whyte, jouis sinceiely, John Shei h\v.

To this letter Tlr J. B. Whyte has addressed the following reply: — Hamilton, April 16th' 1880 To John Sheehan, Esq. Dear sir, —It was with mingled feelings of gratification and surpiisc that I ie.id join letter dated the iuh April. I was pleased to find that I had the honor ot representing so large and so intelligent a community as ih.it lcsident on the West side of the Thames river, and tint I was associated in this with two such able and prominent politicians as Sir Geoige Grey and jouradh I was muprised, however, to hear that the inteiests ot tlie I'liames District had been so ninth neglected, seeing that it had bee-i so long repiesented bj two Cabinet Minister, one of them the Piemier. In fact, I had been along with main under the impression th.it the Ih.imes constituency had been rather .1 pet child of the late Government, and had received c\en more than its shaie of political sugai plums. Having, however, been informed bj you th it sue h is not the case, I shall, of couise, have the greatest pleasure in co-operating with my two honoiable | colleagues (if I may so venture to call them) in cndeavounj> to piocure justice tor the Thames in the hitute, and some recompense for am neglect which it m.ij have suffered in the past. As regards Mr Olncr, 1 am almost certain that he can refuse us nothing, knowing full well that we should ask nothing unreasonable. —l am, 1113- dear sir, yours sinceielv, J. B. Whyil.