CORRESPONDENCe.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8095, 24 September 1904, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCe.

THE WEST COAST PRODUCE EXCHANGE, HAWEKA.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,— l think it is only right that honor should be given to whom it is due, and lost there may be any doubt as to who is primarily responsible for the establishment of the exchange in Hawera 1 would ask you to publisn this short -statement of i facts. A little over three years ago, Mr John Holmes, of Wellington, proposed through your columns and to several business people in Hawera that a dairy produce exchange in a cemral position should be established, and that Hawera, in his opinion, would be a good town in which to establish the exchange. After his second visit to the United Kingdom he returned more convinced than before that the plan originally proposed was of the greatest importance to the dairy industry and colony generally. He again wrote to your paper, urging the immediate establishment of the exchange. Mr Major, the member for the district, recognised, with others, the wisdom which prompted such a proposal, and I understand, telegraphed to his Worship, the Mayor, and to the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, suggesting that everything should be done to give effect to the suggestion, predicting the great advantages to be gained for the town and district by the establishment of this exchange at Hawera and urging them to invite Mr ■ Holmes to attend the first meeting. The • i meeting held on Thursday, the Bth inst., ' was perhaps one of the most unanimous and enthusiastic that has ever been held in connection with commercial matters in the history of the town. The clear, interesting, and eloquent address given by the proposer, Mr Holmes, quite convinced his audience of the soundness and practicability of his proposal, the same being carried unanimously amidst applause. To this gentleman the dairy industry is largely indebted and the people of Taranaki. with those of Hawera in particular, will no doubt soon recognise the value of this gentleman's indomitable courage and ability in originating and bringing to so successful a termination the establishment of the dairy produce exchange in Hawera, the chief centre of the coming iudustry of i New Zealand. It is not the only commercial pioneer movement that has been effected by the gentleman in question. Mention should be made of his untiring efforts to establish the frozen meat trade in 1882, and the inauguration of the direct shipping from Picton to London. Also the introd uction of the South American trade in wheat from Canterbury to Rio Janeiro, and, perhaps, the most important of all, , the revival of the New Zealand hemp trade throughout the world. These are mat- [ ters that I think it is wise to place on , record through the columns of your largely , circulated paper. — I am, etc., A MEED TO MERIT.

THE TELEPHONE INCIDENT.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,— ln reply to "Indignant's" letter in yesterday's edition I should first like to know on what grounds he has ventured to interfere in this matter. In reference to myself, who happened to be the midnight messenger, he says "he (the messenger) behaved in a scandalous manner and used oaths which fully entitled him to a good horse-wbipping" and later on "many a man has been ducked for less ungallant conduct." After going so far he, like a cur yapping behind a fence, shelters himself behind a nom-de-plume. To "Indignant's" statement as to my conduct I give him the lie direct. Perhaps had "Indignant" been aware that I was accompanied by a well-known resident of his district, who heard what passed, he would have exercised greater discretion and' kept closer to the truth instead of rushing into wild flights of imagination. When he ends his letter by saying that it would have been better for me to have ridden the few miles to Kaponga for the doctor instead of riding round the post-offices disturbing people, I think it clearly proves the sort of treatment to be expected at the hands of the persons he is defending who considers a little personal inconvenience, even when paid for, of more importance than a human life. I decline to discuss with "Indignant," who is not manly enough to sign his name and addross, as to what happened at the Postoffice, but I can vouch for your corrpspondont's account in the last Auroa notes as being absolutely correct. I would like to explain, in case of misunderstanding, that the above incident did not take place at Auroa, and would also like to take the opportunity of thanking Mrs Fisher, postmistress of the Awatuna Post-office, for her courteous promptitude in doing everything in her power to assist. In case "Indignant," who advocates a dip in the horse pond and a good horse-whipping, wishes to administer his own prescription, he will always be able to find me at Auroa. — I am,

VICTOR GIRAUD,

eic, September 22, 1904.