MR. CURTIS AT COBDEN.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1668, 9 December 1873, Page 2

MR. CURTIS AT COBDEN.

[to the editor.] Sir — I happened to see on Saturday a copy of a publication called the. Buller Neivs, the strangest thing in journalism imaginable. I am unwilling to trouble you, or to make myself but I cannot allow to go unchallenged some gross misstatements which appear in. it, and which come within' my own'knowledge. I have no doubt whatever that others also could take exception to most of its contents. In a letter quoted, and purporting to come from Cobden, appears the following—" Mr Curtis arrived in Cobden, then" went to Greymouth, mustered his forces, and got his resolution carried by 27 against 17, but that is no criterion to go by — one-half of those in his favor were not voters. He never got such catechising ; -he was really exhausted before.he left." The letter concludes by saying— -"Curtis's party will use all manner of dodges." Now, the facts were quite different, as any one who attended the meeting could testify. A large portion of Mr Curtis's supporters only heard of the meeting late, and then accidentally, and the resolution in his favor was carried spontaneously. The writer also says one-half were not voters. Perhaps not ; the election will tell. But this much can be said ; the greater portion of Mr O'Conor's unanimous meeting were not voters, neither wece all the 17 against Mr Curtis. Even the services of a Greymouth genthman were required to second the amendment. As to the catechising, and Mr Curtis being exhausted, the reverse was the case. It was the catechist^ who were exhausted, who broke down, in fact. It was a pity their utterances were not reported word for word, they might then have seen what ridiculous nonsense they talked. In reference to " Curtis's party" using all manner of dodges, they will do nothing of the kind, but they will use every endeavor to return him, not because they have been satisfied with his administration in the past, but because they have no desire to see the Province handed over to the care of Mr O'Cono?— jumping in fact from the fryingpan into the fire. I may also refer to a telegram sent from Greymouth : — " Mr Curtis held a meeting at Cobden. Want of confidence resolution carried against him. Don't believe reports of papers." I can call this nothing but a wilful untruth, and the sender should have finished his message with " Don't believe this telegram ; it is a lie." What mean contemptible shifts Mr O'Conor's supporters are reduced to ! The Editor, in his opening remarks, talks of "truth, justice, &c," and informs the public that he will not " publish distorted facts," or be guilty of "wilful misrepresentation." He must surely have been speaking ironically. I saw a y criticism, the other day from one of the leading home papers, to the effect that the colonies might be proud of their, newspapers, and the way in which they were conducted, but what can be said if a publication like the Buller News is tolerated. For the credit of the community where it' is issued; they should put their foot on it and at once, and let the ■ electors at the polling-booth accord all honor to the journals who have done their duty fearlessly by denouncing Mr O'Conor. ; In conclusion, I have to apologise for trespassing on your space, and to prevent any assumption a3 to authorship (a thing which has been done on a previous occasion), I may as well subscribe my name,-. I am, &c, •■•;. W. J. H, Wallace. Coal Creek, December 8. . „ . >

A convict at Sing-Sing prison, New York, is said to have obtained a pound of nitro-glycerine from the stone quarries, and through the fear which it inspires, to keep the whole prison in a state <of terror. Certainly he can only uphold his position, by remaining in, his cell ; but .„ then .he does no work. Keepers thave threatened to shoot- him, but he points derisively to. the nitro-glycerine, and they t^ink ;^t better to let him alone. There is something comical in the situation $ but a* the explosion of the compound would probably destroy the prison and all its occupants, the matter ia beyond a joke.