MR. MACASSEY.

Lake County Press, Issue 61, 2 August 1872, Page 2

MR. MACASSEY.

Mr Macassey has found a champion in the person of a Mr Geo. Smith Upper Shotover. We had thought | Macassey would by this time have beei left in peace; but it is willed other wise. There is no denying that a cod siderable portion of the community f ee | that the defeated candidate did not re. ceive that courtesy he had reason ti expect as a stranger coming amongst u>; but as the whole affair has iTo» passed away, no good can result from again raking up old sores. In justl to Mr M icassey, we publish the letter of Mr Smith, as it appeared in the Witness of last Saturday : Sir.—l trust you will allow me, through your columns, and on the part of a number of the Upper Shotover residents, to thank Mr Macassey for the kind manner in which he pleaded our cause regarding a track. For nine years we have paid heavy taxes up this quarter, and for a long time people have asked what for ? But if we get a roaJ made we shall let the past be past, and be satisfied for the present. But we shall ever remember Mr Macassey m being the first candidate for political honors who ever explored these regions of the Shotover. His gentlemanly tone and manner, together with his honest countenance, have left us a pleasing remembrance; but when we come to consider the discourteous manner in which he was treated by a feu of the Queenstown roughs, we are heartily ashamed of our own district, I am not aware how things go on in other parts, but in every Queenstown political affair, the Jews and parson! take the lead; and is it not marvellou what brazen faces people have who live on the earnings of the poor ? I could enlarge upon it; but as I do not wish to harrow up any one's feelings, I shall let it drop by referring to the Wakatip 3/aila. few weeks ago, to show the coarse and uncalled for language that was used to Mr Macassey, where one individual tells him to fight the next time he comes to Queenstowa We are glad, however, that Mr Macassey has chosen the better part by doing good for evil, and we would rather have that gentleman for our representative than any we have had, although oni late member was such an able and good man—if only to himself—and we shall not be so foolish as to expect much from our present member considering the class to which he belongs. He promised to keep the interests of the district before the House, but we are afraid hofl. members will blush at such continuous " Merchant of Venice" demands, and a man may promise us so much that we have no confidence in him. It would be much better for a man to go into the House of Parliament for the general good of the Colony and not a greedy individual who can see no further than his own district. The mining part of this community know how to beh ,v- themselves, and how much mere should a class know how to behave who will not work for a livelihood? However, we hope a portion of the Queeustown people will take a lesson from the past, insomuch that when any person (especially a stranger) comes into the district, whether to contest an election or to sell matches, they may treat him with that respect to which he is entitled. Queenstown can boast of its lake scenery, its idlers an'l insolvents ; but at its best, it only puts us miners in mind of a town which lias a low church, high steeple, poor people. but very proud.—l am, &c. G. Smith. Upper Shotover, June 25th.