MR PATERSON AT NGAPARA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVIII, Issue 5795, 18 November 1893, Page 1

MR PATERSON AT NGAPARA.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin, —I was present at Mr Thomas Patcrson's meeting: at Ngapara on Monday last to hear his political views, which at the present are agitating the minds of the electors. In delivering his speech, I had 110 idea that a gentleman of such ambition and so eulogistic of himself would condescend to injure his own candidature by the senseless remarks in his maiden speech whereby he gave undue credit to the electors of Ngapara for their intelligence when compared with the ignorance of the residents and miners of Livingstone. Mr Paterson must liavo littlo practical knowledgo of miners, or of tlio Livingstone miners, or their intelligence, or lie would not taunt them publicly as ignorant. If Mr Paterson is a sample of the average intelligence of the Ngapara district, I am sore afraid that, when tested with Livingstone people in tho balance, they will bo found wanting. It is an old saying that discretion is tho best part of valor.' If Mr Paterson over expects to get returned to Wellington, ho will require to go into camp life at Livingstone and learn judgment in speech r ind politics. By his intercourse with those ho taunts as ignorant, he will developo his small niind anil learn to do his thinking, and Livingstonites will teach him to think loss of himself, and it is probable that raw rocruit as he is to public fame wo may educate him in this lonely retreat to cross swords to advantage with tho Major. Being at nresent a nonentity to the electors and a liovico in politics, ill every seuso, it must bo the height of presumption to oppose a liberal candidate and a liberal Government.

By the bye, Mr Editor, I was nearly forgetting Mr Paterson's best qualification or the part that caused the most laughter, and I am sure you will laugh as well, although at present you wili have scarco time' to do so. Mr Si oward was described by Mr Paterson to the electors as "a gentleman like a telegraph polo. " But why should Mr Paterson coniparo Major Steward, Speaker of the House of Representatives, to a telegraph pole. At present I give it up. Perhaps Mr Paterson himself will explain in some other part of the district. This question and tho grievance of the Livingstone people probably will be explained.—l am, etc., Livingstone Miner.