Correspondence. MR. LIGHTBAND AND THE FOX-HILL RAILWAY.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 77, 24 January 1872, Page 4

Correspondence. MR. LIGHTBAND AND THE FOX-HILL RAILWAY.

To the Editor op the 'Nelson Examinee. Sib— 'The more one sees and hears of Mr. Light band the more is one surprised. With many others, I attended the meeting last night, held in the Provincial Hall, and the impression received regarding Mr. Lightband and the Foxhill railway still further convinced me of the unfitness of that gentleman for our representative in the House of Assembly. Ido not, in the least, impute anything derogatory to him in thus shewing a vacillating mind, but when we sec euch vagaries as have been exhibited start into existence in so short a time, are we. not justified in coming to the conclusion that he will play us off and on on some other ocension of vital -importance? In the otherwise untried political life of Mr. Lightband, such a conclusion is reasonable. What effect Mr. Lightband's opinions may have on the Colonial Executive and their action on the Foxhill railway, I will not pretend to say ; but we may conclude that if any unborn wish be stirring in the mind of Mr. Fox or Mr. Vogel to delay that work, such a letter would haston the birth and strengthen the growth of such a wish. But I am far from thinking that they would stoop and take advantage of anything that escaped from the perhaps not vigorous though untrained mind of Mr. Lightband. A word with Mr. Goodman. He says : — "But if I was surprised at this letter (Mr. Lightband'e), you may guess my astonishment at the Examiner and its correspondence thereon, for the imprudence, nay impudence, of those who did not elect Mr. Lightband, coolly suggesting that he should resign. Resign what? A position that they never gave him, forsooth." And well may they take credit to themselves for not having given him that position, for that is more than can be olaimed by those who gave him their support. If it be imprudence, or impudence, in those who did not place Mr. Lightband in power to suggest his resignation, it is an impudence, I think, worthy of imitation by those who did place him in power ; and the sooner that they bring that suggestion into action, the better for all parties. The one-half of those who gave him their inconsiderate votes now acknowledge their precipitant haste, and regret their mistaken confidence in Mr. Lightband, as a politician, to represent them in the New Zealand Parliament. If the idea of resignation had sprung spontaneously from the minda of Mr. Lightband's friends, it would have superseded the necessity of any suggestion of mine. I hope that Mr. Lightband will not stand forward and defy his constituency. I think he will not. Tar obstinacy is admirable on board a man-of-war, but defiance by Mr. Lightband in his position would be the reverse of thut of the tar on board ship. I am, &c, Nelson, January 19. A Wobking Man.