CORRESPONDENCE.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 8, 25 September 1906, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not identify .ouraelvea with opiniona expreaatd by correapondenta. That Official Information. IO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln the “ Age” of the 17th inst. Mr. 11 Buster Brown ” challenges me to a controversy on wliat there oan be no controversy about. It seems nobody is exactly sure, and I would suggest a guessing competition. Apparently Mr. “Blister Brown ” has chosen to forget that on a former occasion, when he got himself so badly bogged by misleadingassertions, I was denied the right of reply although it was justly mine. I luust positively decline to put myself in that position again. I have to thank you, Mr, Fditot, for the two paragraphs frprn the Whangarci “ Press,” quoted in your iBSUe of the 4ti* instant, which officially and conclusively proves the truth of the position-1 took up at that time. I would recommend Mr. “BusterBrown ” to take a score or two of lessons in reading and writing' letters before he again appears in public print; at the same time bearing in mind that a discriminating public requires something more and better than the coarse, crude, senseless vapourisinga of the shallow, bumptious arrogance of conceited cranks. I thought, understanding what is read is taught in our schools, but I judge that “ Buster Blown” played truant too often, yet it may not be too late in the day for him, by persistent application and study, to pull it up, and to that desirable end I wish him success.

My letters on the balance-sheet wore written to induce ratepayers to take an interest in the finances of the ConntyMy figures were taken from that document. I did not try to twist or distort anything. I left the decision in the Lauds of the ratepayers. Nothing I could say and no explanation that could possibly be given could alter the fact that according to that balance.-sheet funds were, as I mildly put it, carelessly squandered and the ratepayers’ interests neglected. If I have succeeded in inducing some to pay more attention to the economical expenditure of fimds in future it is all I wanted and will be ample reward.—Your obedient servant, LOCKBLEY. Kaitaia, 15/9/06,