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Evening Post, Volume VII, Issue 130, 10 July 1871, Page 2

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING POST. Sir—A a one of. the members of the Jpini Match Committee referred to in Mr. Huutlej Eliott's/, letter, which appeared in youi issue of Saturday, I trust you will give publicity to the following remai ks. In the first place, I feel constrained to say I was glad ; that the writer expressed his regret that he had no better explanation to offer regarding the delay in presenting Captain Pearce's' silver cup and the other prizes, than that which he volunteered through the medium of your columns. The true explanation is a better one, even if Mr. Eliott's statements are accepted as correct in every particular. Briefly, it was the opinion, not only of the Joint Match Committee, but of the winners of the prizes, and the volunteers generally, that the presentation should be a public one, - and that it ought to take place when Lieut. -Col. Reader held his monthly inspection. :It was also considered that it would greatly stimulate the ( volunteer spirit, and immeasurably add to the gratification of the winners of the prizes, if a lady could be prevailed upon to preside over and grace the occasion with' her presence. '' "" ■■-'■■ Now, this silver cup arrived top late for the April inspection, and the parade in May was held at 8 a.m. on the Queen's Birthday, so early an hour that it would have been inconvenient for any lady to be pre: sent. ■ It will thus appear that the June parade

was in reality the only one the Joint Match Committee could have availed themselves of ; and they would have done so, hat! not some delay occurred about the inscription 'necessary for the Cup, to say nothing ox the committee having been weakened by the loss of two of its most active mambers. I can quite understand Mr. Elbtt's uncertainty as to whether he called .'{ or 4 rieetings;- Probably he could • not conscientiously include and, yet did not /.ike to leave out, the first of the four which j.ie convened by circidar at half-past four, and was pleased to put in an appearance at 5 o'clock, when the members had gone away in disgust. I venture to suggest that, as convening officer, he might have experienced ■ less difficulty in getting a quorum together if he had behaved differently on that occasion. ■■■.'• • It ia a little ridiculous of Mr. Eliott to state that he published the names of the committee for the information of volunteers, who are necessarily acquainted with those names. It would have been more candid if he had said that, irritated at supposing himself commented upon [by the Press, and in his morbid anxiety to vindicate himself with the public, he had most ungenerously tried to clear himself by throwing the blame upon every other member of the committee. It is scarcely correct to say. that he was pressed to accept the office of secretary. He had discharged the duties for 12 months Co the* satisfaction of the committee, and they naturally, as a matter of courtesy, requested him to continue to hold office. lii conclusion, 1 can only say that I do most unreservedly concur with Mr. Eliott iv thinking that the sooner the committee appoint a new secretary the .Better—a. secretary with tact enough to avoid writing letters calculated only to injure the very interests he pretends to be so sensitive about, and to watch over with such jealous care. In his private capacity, I have every respect for Mr. Huntly Eliott ; but undoubtedly it will be well when such an ex plosive element is eliminated from the Joint Match Committee. Apologising for having taken up so much space, I am, &c, 0. J. M'Tavish.