MYSTERIOUS DEALINGS.

Bruce Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 1211, 11 June 1880, Page 3

MYSTERIOUS DEALINGS.

There is always something most contemptible and cowardly in any person attempting to secretly inflict an injury on another and trusting to effect his dastardly purpose while sheltered by his anonymity. But when the foe is one whose antecedents prove most forcibly the truth of the old adage that "those who live in glass houses should never throw stones," the baseness of the attempt is increased a hundredfold. Fortunately, in the case that has just come under our notice, though the communications with head quarters have been professedly secret and on the sly, yet the action of 'the powers that be,' have so properly and straightforwardly brought the matter to light, that we think there cannot now be any doubt as to the identity of the intended slanderer. We feel sure that the result of his very kind actiou will place him in such a position of comfortable notoriety as he did not calculate upon when he first conceived his highly honorable and manly idea of trying to traduce the character and reputation of an old well-known and respected settler. The following are the facts : Not very many days ago Mr John McNeil, late of Balclutha, received the appointment of Assessor under the Property Tax Act, and the choice made by the Commissioner (Mr J. Sperrey) was universally acknowledged to be a most judicious one. In this opinion, however, a certain gentleman (?) did not participate, for reasons best known to himself, and this creature felt it incumbent upon him to telegraph to head quarters a very different tale. The following telegram was received by a gentleman holding j a high position in Balclutha, and who has kindly placed the message at ourdisposal, feeling assured that he could not otherwise expect it to receive publicity : Wej-li>*gton, 31st May. A certain Balclutha gentleman has telegraphed to the Government that the appointment of John M Neil, as Assessor, has caused a strong feeling of indignation in Balclutha and neigh borhood. Kindly wire your opinion fairly. J. Sperrey, Commissioner. The following reply was forwarded : — Have inquired from principal ratepayers in Borough and County, and rind that Mr M 'Neil's appointment has given universal satisfaction, owino to his long residence here and his knowledge" of the value of property. The Balclutha gentleman referred to is well-known, and his ways — they are dark. After receipt of this message, the Commissioner replied, on the 2ud inst., af follows : — Thanks for your telegram, which accords with my knowledge of M'Neil. It will thus be seen that this mean attempt at injuring a man in an under-hand way was happily destined to come to grief —thauus to the honorable and straightforward conduct of the Commissioner. We do not envy the feelings of the wood-be slanderer, who probably finds his position one of wretched humiliation. We may add that the Mayor of Balclutha also telegraphed to the Commissioner the general approval of the public regarding Mr M 'Neil's appointment.