CORRESPONDENCE. THAT GRIEVANCE.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume 37, Issue 9613, 6 December 1907, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THAT GRIEVANCE.

—. . *. _ Wo do not hold niiwk..» rci.|><mnililr (or the opinions i'X|iri.M»(l I.\ out cunTHpotKliMitH

to Tin; i;|iitok. blK,— In your issue of tlic Stli November there is a letter bended " A (.riovance " ;\n<t signed Cowboy, and in your issue of (ho 22nd November there i.-. .i letter signed Fair I lay, and again in yi.nr issue of the 2Dtli of the sumo month I here » ppear-i aiicuher letter from (lowboy. I would feel very much obliged if you would allow me space in your paper to answer Uio above letters. To begin. I might mention that this is the first time in toy life 1 have ever attempted tn answer an anonymous letter. It is a game 1 do not believe in, as one never is sure who, or what he might bo aiiswerb g. and another reason, I consider that a nameless letter should be treated with contempt. However, in this , instance lam to break my rule, as Cowboy hits nuido some churgea against some of the Huwkdiin Station employees that aro riot warranted. Before 1 deal with Cowboy just allow me to Htiy a [Hissing word about Fair Play's letter. What Fair I'lay lias written id quite eorroct, a< far as I know, and by the tone of his letter I take it that he is in a way befriending me, but although I fully appreciate his kindness, I think what hu wrote would have been better out of print, and if he will take my advice he will not write again anjway until ho can give us his reul name. Cow Hoy in his lirsc letter '.ells you what suits himself about the reserves. He also tolls you that tho lessee of Huwkdun keeps tho reserves overstocked with sheep. Then ho tells you that this grievance has not al ways existed, but within the past few years it has become unbearable. Then in his sec ond letter be says ho has seen an employe of Huwkdun on the reserves, but never saw him trying to shift the sheep away. Then ho goes on to explain that what one manage could do should not be difficult for another The whole of his statements are utter rotr mikl when he says he has seen uti employe on the runerves and not trying to shift the sheep, T have no hesitation in tilling Cowboy that I doubt him. There is one sliep herd on this station whose duty it Is to try and keep the sheep away trom the vicinity of the township as much as possible. This shepherd is a really good man whom I havu every confidence in, and I therefore refuse to believe what Cowboy says about him not j shifting the sheep 1 am afraid Cowboy has tackled a subject ho does not understand. If he knew any thing about sheep and station life he would know that it is against my interests to have ahoep about the township, where there are so many dogs ; and I will make Cowboy an offer : If he can keep the sheep away from tho vicinity of Ml Hathans I will make him a present of LSO a year, and if he can show me where the rosorvo-t and their boundaries are 1 will make him a present of LG. Now, Sir, I. will g've you a few facts, When T camo hero about seven years ago there were a few sheep on the reserves at odd times, the sumo as there* aro at present. Thorn is one shepherd hero who bus boon ou the place for 10 years. He assures me that there mo no more shoop about the township now than there were when he first came. In fact, I can refer you to any number of people who say the same thing. During my time here I have tried to keep the sheep away from the vicinity of Sc Buthuns as much •is possible—for reasons already stated. VVe do not want to use the reserves—far from it, and I will now make Cowboy another offer : H lie will lind half the money to fence the the reaerves I will send him a cheque for the other half, and there is no reason in the world why I should do it. I fail to underHtand Cowboy's object in writing. When all is said and done, ho surely knows that I have as much right to the resorves as he has. Cowboy would lead tin to believe that ho is voicing tho people of St Hathatis. but 1 don't think that is so. t feel sure that if the people of Mt Bathans had a grievance they would come to mu like men, and not try to attack mo through the public press as Cowboy has done, under an assumed name. In conclusion, this is my first and last letter on this subject unless Cowboy and Fair Play come out under their proper names;—l am, &u., W. M. Wilson. Hawkdun Station, 3rd December, 1907.