A REPLY TO W. N. SEARANCKE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2444, 10 March 1888, Page 2

A REPLY TO W. N. SEARANCKE.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sri'., —It seems very evident that my remarks about the dissolution of the Borough have got under W. N. Searancke's skin, which [ certainly thought was not so thin as it seems to be. A man has but a poor case on hand when he becomes abusive, and the old adage " those who live in glass houses, &C ," applies to W. N Searancke's case very well. We all know that his knowledge of Maori is very great ; our mutual friend tlielate Mr Main waring often told mo that he had a very extensive knowledge of the natives in his youth, and therefore, I am quite willing to accept his interpretation of the word "Toka." W. N. S. talks of tho "carpet baggers" who compose tho Council. The term as 1 take it, means one whose whole interests could bs carried off in a carpet bag. These " carpet baggers," I find, are amongst the largest ratepayers and " property holders" in the Borough, and as it may be of interest to tlie Burgesses as a whole, I give their names and rateable values, etc. First I find that there are 520 Borough ratepayers, valued at £<ir>!»s, which gives an average of £12 Is Gd per burgess per annum. Next I find that the ten burgesses comprising tlie Council, are rated for a total sum of £(!!)7 10s per annum, i.e., these ten men are rated for about one-tenth of the whole amount collected, so th:it they must bo rather a curious lot of ''carpet baggers" The names and values of each are ; -C, J. W, Barton, £177, leasehold ; W. F. Bell, froehold, £30 per annum, leasehold, £13, total. 4143 ; J. C'>ates, £80, £11, total, £80 ; W. Jones, £10, £8, total, £21; J. Knox, £11-1 10s, £40, total, £131 10-t; J. Missen, £70, all freehold ; H. Salmon, £32 10-!, all leasehold; H. F. Sandes, £00, £5, total o»r>. I' , . .1. von Stunner, JJIS, £10 10.>, total .£2B 10*. W. Wood, £12, £7, total £1!), making a grand total of £400 10s freehold, and £2!17 leasehold values held by these "carpetbaggers." That must I reckon effectually dispose of the "Teka" assertion made by our Maori expert. I will only say one thing more about Ilia mean doings. If the one great oK jictof the petition in to gut the ,£4OOO returned, why cover that objeot up with so much mud',' Why not petition on that object straight out? Such a petition would be bound to receive a very large amount of consideration, whilst for tha present one, (if it is ever presented), 1 predict a speedy settlement at the hands of the " carpetbaggers." Now good-bye William, keep your temper old boy, keep your feet dry, and by tho blessing of Providence, and thn help of that large income you have been spending for the last 17 years, you may yet grow old enough to get a little of the common senee of which you at present display such a remarkably small quantity. Tasvcsata Tika. Hamilton, March Oth, I.SSU