GREY VALLEY REPRESENTATIVES

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1902, 10 September 1874, Page 2

GREY VALLEY REPRESENTATIVES

[to the editor.] Sir — Your issue of the Weekly Argus of 4th inst. contained a letter signed " Miner," intended to defend the unjust attacks made by several of your correspondents, who are also electors of the Grey Valley, against Mr Corbett as M.P.C. A more lamentable and less logical composition could hardly have been penned, for whilst Mr Corbett's champion endeavors to shower any amount of abuse on, and bring your communicants into public ridicule, he has in fact advertised the failings, that political opponents of Mr Corbett delicately kept from naming, always presuming that that gentleman's finer sentiments would be hurt by too truthful a description of the actions of our representative both in the Council and on his "holiday." The gist of Miner's " letter is merely a hackneyed , refutation and exculpation of the too common sin of inebriety, and the sum and substanc? of his argument may be put in a few familiar words, "It is many a good man's fault," but all men of sober, careful habits object to be represented by a member of the small class that view with such loving eyes and forgiving dispositions exhibitions that tend to prove the ability of man to lower himself so many steps in the social ladder. Taking a careful retrospective glance of the past nine months of Mr Corbett's M.P.C.ship, I have failed to find the great benefits that his instru mentality has effected for the advantage of the Grey Valley. With the few exceptions of L2O for a bridge at Noble's, a paltry sum for protective and other works at No Town (works which it was the business of the Road Board to do without Mr Corbett's intervention), reduction in registration fees, and votes for amounts never intended to be expended, he has conferred no obligations on his constituents, unless in our shortsightedness, that which we coasider a gross injustice and want of deference to our interests should prove to be the boon the O'Ooncr administration assert it to be, viz., the reduction of the staff of Wardens, a benefit (?) Mr Corbett largely contributed to obtain for us. Even the few privileges we are said to have gained cannot be credited solely to Mr Corbett, his colleagues having performed their full share of labor in obtaining these small concessions, such as they are. I could, would space permit, point out much, that comes within the province of a representive, that at least a desire to accomplish might have been evinced ; but no, our urgent wants were either forgotten or shelved. No attempt to foster the mining interest with either water-races or dams, no revision of the agricultural leasing regulations, which really require a thorough revision ; no voice raised in support of the Local Revenues Board, in order to complete its efficiency ; no provision made or proposed in the Mining Rules and Regulations to meet the contingencies consequent on the completion of the Hochstetter Water Race. In fact, not an advance step has been made worthy of note, past what was affected long before Mr Corbett honored us by his representation, has been attempted by that gentleman. Yet " Miner " has the audacity to state, " that Mr Corbett has done more for the Valley in nine months than former members did for it during the last eight years." In one respect the No Town " Miner "is correct in that assertion, for certainly no member of any of the former Councils has ever been so successful in bringing his constituency into ridicule and contempt, and creating such an uuiversal desire to see the interests of the Valley transferred to an abler politician, one less careless of his selfrespect, even during his " holiday " seasons. Mr Corbett must be either muchabused, or deservedly complained of, for his colleague, Mr M'Guire, has been always spoken of in the Upper Grey Valley in a manner that reflects credit and honor on that gentleman, yet he has sat in the same Council with Mr Oorbett, and invariably sided with him, and why he. Mr M'Guire. should receive the reverse treatment to his contemporary legislator, I shall leave others to draw the inference. "Miner" appears attached to "poor Burns's " poems, and perhaps may recollect the quotation — "Fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind," hence his motive for championing the cause of his much-maligned friend, Mr Corbett. In my opinion, Mr Corbett and representative men like him have been treated with two great leniency, as they will discover for the future. Apologising, Sir, for trespassing at such a length on your valuable space, and trusting that the "many little Pedlingtons " will increase their staff. I am, &c, One op the Medlingtons. Ahaura, September 9.