TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING MAIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 174, 25 July 1868, Page 3

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING MAIL.

Sib — Mr Webb hafl replied in your columns to my remarks on the very suspicious character of his late action in the Board of Works with reference to the disgraceful state of the road in: Washington Valley* and in .the most delightfully indignant style "disclaims ever having solicited a vote for himself from any ratepayer,. Perhaps Mf Webb will be kind enough to remember that I never charged him with doing so, but I, in common with very many others; considered it a rather significant fact that he should take that opportunity to direct the attention of the Board to this subject, quite ignoring the fact that the Washington Valley people had presented almost innumerable petitions to the Board to redress their grievances. I certainly give 'The Father of the City' credit for being too old a hand at electioneering tactics not to be aware that there are many other modes of canvassing which are quite as effective as the actual personal solicitation of votes. I might instance, in proof, the employment of laborers for a week or two previous to the election at considerable advance upon the rate of wages which he, as Reformer of the Board, has so strenuously insisted on as being amply sufficient, viz., ss. a day,

Of course such a sacrifice of principle (!) as this had no ulterior object. oh,. n0 ! The extraordinarily ungramraatical construction of the letter which ap'pearediri the Colonist of yesterday signed "' Another Washingtonian,' leaves it quite dubious whether it be 'a well known resident of the Valley' or 'Mr Webb or indeed any member of the present Board ' who, under the signature of 'Washingtonian' is endeavoring to improve his own private property. Such obscurity on the subject, however, is quite consistent with the character of Mr Webb's apologist, for it is plain to me that the writer of .that letter is no ratepayer or owner of property in the Valley, or he would never be so perversely blind to the great inconvenience and discomfort to which its inhabitants have so long been subjected through that neglect of the Board, to which Mr Webb has, at the eleventh hour, opened his eyes. Aspirants to military honors, even in the highest places, are not generally remarkable for their grammatical or logical powers; and perhaps 'Another Washingtonian' may have some affinity, with these gentry, which may account for his shortcomings in newspaper correspondence. I am, &c, WABHINOTONIAN. Nelson, July 25.