LEITH WARD VACANCY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11301, 20 December 1898, Page 6

LEITH WARD VACANCY.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—lt is not without a feeling of disgust, mingled with one of pity, that I have read a letter on this subject appearing in this morning's paper, and signed " Elector '—disgust that one who evidently has a vote should stoop to such personalities as those contained in the letter I refer to. Further than to show that ho is capable of 'descending to that most degrading form of argument— viz., personal abuse, your' correspondent has done nothing. . . " . . That one who can do nothing further than make a personal attack should presume to criticise Mr Christopher's speech—nay, should oven use a pen—is a piece of gross impertinonce, which can arise only from an unfortunate conceit, which, alas ! is too prevalent among the youthful. . ■ ' • I feel sure that many of the electors will share with mo a. feeling of pity for one whoso defective education and . bombastic egoism have made him a subject- of ridicule.'—l am, Yotjng New Zealander No. 2.Dunodin, December 15; •••'•■

TO TIIE EDITOR,

Sir,—ln answer -to--"An Electors letter appearing in your issue of to-day s date, it is hardly necessary-for me to say that the ratepayers of Loith Ward will nnss it over as a most, insulting epistle. I-beg to sriy that 1 have personally known Mr Christopher tor a very long time, and that '•• he. has given the closest attention to whatever.duties he undertook, and I have no hesitation in saying that if tho ratepayers elect him' to tho present vacancy ho will" make an excellent councillor.—l am, etc., A.'.C. MacKellar. Dunedin, December 15.

TO THE EDITOR,

Sib,-—A letter appears in this morning's paper signed by "An Elector," criticising a youn" candidate for civic honours. On reading the letter over, my first thoughts wore that had "Elector" signed himself Humbug" it would have been more m keeping witl) his irrational, uncalled for, and ignorant remarks about Mr A. G. Christopher. True, Mr Christopher has not done anything for Leith Ward, for" the verry good reason he has never had a chance; but,--then,..neither has Mr Hutchison, and ho has had every, opportunity to do good, not only for Leith Ward, but for the whole of Dunediu, and failed. I fancy I hoar someone say: What about the female franchise ? Well, even if that is a " good," I venture to say that had Mr Hutchison been sitting at Bellamy^ bar, instead of the bar of the' House, the bill would have passed. On nomination day Mr Christopher did try to put his views before us, and I think succeeded very creditably;, but Mr Hutchison refrained from saying-more than a. few words, and those few words not at all relative to tho occasion. This fact alone, I venture to say. will add weight in favour of Mr Christopher on polling day. . ' 1 In conclusion,' allow me to "suggest to • An Elector," the next time he writes to a paper, to do so under his-proper name—that is, if he is not as ashamed .of his nam,e.as he should bo of 'his ignorant 'criticisms of. a young gentleman who, if nothing olse, -has, at loast,. goo pluck.—l am, etc., ..... ■ T. .Gordon Howard.

11 ' .TO THE EDITOR. Sin,—l think the " ytiung " candidate for the above ward has acted wisely in not seeking to accommodate me, as he elegantly phrases it. His classic note in your.issue of to-day is just about the measure of-.Uis mental grasp, and an additional illustration of his unfitness to be a councillor. Were it not for his-as-piration to reach something l.beyond his capacity, and. dangerous to the community,! would not have condescended to notice him at all. -But supposing, for argumpnt sake, that I have'been as abusive as he himself undoubtedly/is, has he not laid himself open to attack by1 his foolish election speech! My remarks may have, been severe, but they were thoroughly deserved. The candidate's speech offered nothing tangible.to comment upon; it was, in short, utterly beyond criticism. Nothing could have been more vacuous and inane than his references ,to water, ' gas, and drainage schemes, and the Municipal Act '—questions of the utmost importance to the city. Our municipal intelligence in all conscience, has gone down low enough, but that is no reason-why, when honest men see or fear " a lower deep still opening'to devour," they should not try to close such opening. After what has taken place, the candidate can only justify himself before tho publio by publishing his opinions—if he has any—on the above subjects.—l am, etc., , ■ • ". An.Electoi:.. •December 17. :