“THE VALUE OF A VOTE.”

Marlborough Express, Volume VI, Issue 296, 10 June 1871, Page 4

“THE VALUE OF A VOTE.”

In last week’s News “Minim” wilfully perverts the truth again, and thereby renders it necessory that we should state a fact or two in refutation. He says we “have not the moral courage to admit “an error as from Mr. Litchfield’s letter which “proves beyond question that the insurance “ could not have been reduced in consequence of “ the vote of the Council. It also proves that “ the Express had in its quotation omitted the ‘ ‘ words ‘ and Balls. ’ So it now appears that the “ Insurance Company not only consented to the “ holding of Concei’ts but Balls (which are more “dangerous) also. These words would have “proved too much for the Express, and I leave “to the ‘right-thinking and unbiassed reader’ “to whom the Express appeals whether the ‘ ‘ omission of them was accidental. ” So much of “ Minim’s” fiction, now for the facts. We need only revert to His Honor Mr. Seymour’s statement—made to the Council two days before, published, and a copy delivered to “Minim” on the day previous to the publication of his letter—wherein he said very distinctly that the Insurance had been reduced in consequence of the vote of the Council. Such evidence should be conclusive to any but the most obstinate of beings as' to that fact. As to the remainder of the charge brought against us of mutilating the sentence written upon the Northern Co’s policy, and omitting words that would prove too much for us, it is equally without foundation/ We copied and printed the exact wording of the note upon the policy, and it was not until after its publication by us, and our remarks as to its doubtful reading that Mr. Litchfield again referred to his instructions, the result of which was that he felt justified in interpolating after the word Concerts, “ and Balls,” which he did, and then wrote the letter which we published. It will thus be seen that the extended liberty of so using it was actually owing to the publicity we gave the matter, and Mr. Litchfield’s wishfuliiess to so extend it, shews how undeserved was the stigma cast upon him by “Minim” in his former letter. What utter badness of heart this scribbler must have, thus in the face of such tangible evidence to keep reiterating such pure unmitigated falsehoods. He cannot even plead ignorance in palliation, for not only was the Superintendent’s statement published previously, but that gentleman, the Provincial Secretary, Mr. Litchfield, and even the policy itself, were as equally accessible to “Minim” as to us ; but, instead of ascertaining the truth, he has chosen to go upon mere hearsay. There is a further matter which has come to our knowledge which is worthy of attention, namely, that upon the policy of the Northern Company only, and not on any of the others, in there a permission to use the hall for either Concerts or Balls, therefore in case of a fire occurring—according to the opinions expressed by Mr. Joseph Ward and Lord St. Leonards—three policies out of the four -would be vitiated, aud instead of A'2,000 from the Insurance, there would only be /£SOO ! So, we are assured, the matter stands at present. We shall refrain from replying to his personal remarks, because if we did so, the return would be scarcely complimentary or palatable. His narrow-minded and ignorant allusions to what he terms “the caprices of a newspaper,” arc a revelation not likely to be forgotten, and will at least have the effect of saving the heavy cost and trouble of any more critiques upon the performances of “ Minim ” and his friends ; while the “presumptuous puppy from Nelson” whom ho so gratuitously drags into the question, is a man, and will doubtless be able to hold his own against a slanderous but anonymous scribbler, who, as we have proved, writes without any regard to authority or truth.