THAT LIBRARY AGAIN. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 88, 14 April 1894, Page 2

THAT LIBRARY AGAIN. TO THE EDITOR.

■j' Sib— As ''Batepaycr" has Been fit to •mention my former contributions, I hasten to accept his implied challenge.- "Batepayer " reminds me of the Tooley-Btreet sartorial artists who commenced their petition "' Wo, the people of England." The Library was not bmlt for ratepayers only, bnt I have no donbt that if '• Batepayer " places his views befors the Library Committee that body will be complaisant enough to place the magazine room apart as a sort of holy of holies, and have a notioe, "For Ratepayers Only" stack in a conspicuous place on the door. All magazines and newspapers could be plaoed there, the magazines for a week and the newspapers 24 hours after receipt. It will be time enough for the humble and impecunions public to read the news after " .Ratepayer has had his innings. I wonder "Ttatepayer" does not wish the public reserves, tho reclaimed land, and tho streets of the city reserved for the ÜBS of the ratepayers who have to pay the piper. I, however, feel reheyed when I come to the * conclusion that there

are very few ratepayers in the City of Wellington who po sosa Biioh narrow views and aro bo devoid of public spirit. There is our floating population to bo considered. Ih a vißitor to got a voucher from a ratepayor boforo ho can got a book from tho shelves to road in the Library without removal? Verily it scemoth bo. Sir, I represent a class of readers as numerous aa the ratepayers of Wellington, and for thorn I claim justico Wo have froe education, give us freo bookn. I am, &c, Elector.

An examination of the hull of tho s.s. Moa - whinh was recently stranded at Ohborne, and was taken on tho Patent Slip yestordayr- revealed the fact that tho voasal is Boveroly strained, and tho plates betwocn the engino and boiler departments are badly dented. Doublo butt-straps will be fitted on. and a large number of rivets repliicod. Tho rnaohinory will also be overhauled. Mossrs. W. Cable & Co. are carrying out the repairs, and expeot to complote their contraot by tho end of next week. Tho following tit-bit is from the Woodvillo Examiner : — The salo of liquor is prohibited in the King Country. Yet in the Marton Court the other day we find a sly-grog nellor swoaring that ho treated tho Premier at tho Kerioi races. What was tho uso of the late Hon. Mr. Ballauco putting up a proclamation prohibiting the Balo of liquor in tho King Country if bis successor in high oflico broalcs tho law ? "How can the peoplo bo ex poo ted to keop the law when their rulers cot it at doii&uoo ? If tho statement is true tho Premier's duty was clearly to have prosoouted tho sly-grog seller for breaking the law. Writing of tho result of the Waitomata election, tbo Otago Daily Times Bays : — Undor normal circnmßtances tho resnlt of tho election would not have called for special notice. It would simply have shown that the electors of Waitemata adhered to tho attitude of no confidence towards the present Government which thoy assumed at tbo genoral olootion - a faot sufficiently satisfactory to oppononts of tbo Ministry, but not remarkable enough to justify empbfttio jubilation. But tho eleotion has not taken place undor normal circumstances Last Saturday wo drow attention to tho extraordinary tactics which bavo been resorted to in order to wrest Waitemata from tho control of the Opposition— ignoblo tactics which, so far aa wo know, are without a parallel in the history of New Zealand. The Premier of tho colony displayed an interost in the contest whioh would have been excessive and nndignifiod evon if his tonuro of power were depending upon a ainglo vote in tho House of Representatives, and stooped to influenoo the electors by his nttorancos to a deputation whioh recently waited npon him. Encouraged by the leader's example, the Ministerial press carried this polioy to its losost length, the eleotors of Waitemata being actually warned that they might expeot their "crying wants" to be deliberately neglected if they refused to display fickleness and to unsay what they said so emphatically less than fivo months' ago. It is impossible to over-estimate the insidious force of suoh " arguments " as those. Self-presorvation remains the first law of human nature, and no one need havo beon greatly surprised if tho Waitemata eleotors had been cowed by the dinreputable threats of a Ministerial journal. True, Mr. Jaokson Palmer's return would havo had no political significance ; it would have represented the triumph of corrupt tactics. Fortunately, however, it is unnecessary to dwell upon theso hypothetical considerations. The eleotors of Waitomata havo risen to the occasion, and havo returned an outspoken opponent of tho Ministry by a substantial majority. In so doing thoy have displayed patriotic virtue of no mean order, and gone far to wipe out tho stain which the circumstances of tho last eleotion loft upon the distriot. They havo bravely_ resolved to risk tho neglect of thoir " crying wauti " rather than 6tultify themselves at the lordly bidding of a political tyrant, and they bavo earned the gratitude and the congratulations of the colony. Increase of business in the mon's clothing and morcory department has compelled Mr. C. Smith, the cash drapor, to move into the more commodious premises adjoining his drapery shop on tho other side, and latoly ooonpiod by Mr. Lindsay, bootmaker. C 9. would remind hia customers and the publio genorally that he is now holding one of the largest and best assorted stocks of men's and boys olotbiug and morcory in tho colony, and for sterling value no house can approach him.— Advt.