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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 949, 13 November 1879, Page 2

[To the Editor of the Herald.] Sir, — I notice in this day's issue of your contemporary the Standard a local having reference to the Native Law Suits Bill now before Parliament, and setting forth a telegram purporting to have been sent to Wellington bearing upon the public opinion of the Bill here. If it be true that such a telegram was sent, it only reflects great discredit on the author, and whoever he may be, he is no friend to the district ; but apparently being unfriendly to Mr. iMcDonald, resorts to measures which perhaps, if he had weighed what the consequences might have been, he would not have acted so unwisely. Yet, I think, we can fairly presume that ad it did not emanate from the Public of Gisborne, it can do no harm. As I once heard the Editor of the Standard say 1 ' You can never believe Press telegrams," and this was referring to one in his own paper. With reference to the last part of the local, and Mr. Chambers calling a " private " meeting, I think that such effusions and so vituperative in. their nature deserve to be severely condemned. The meeting was by no means private, Mr. Chambers having himself defrayed the expense of printing copies of the Bill and circular, and causing them to be sent to over 100 people who were interested in the matter, and to such others as would be likely to give assistance. The only portion of the community, conspicuous by their absence, were the " hoodlums." It seems to me if certain persons cannot have their own way, in matters public, that they will endeavor to decry any action, however good, that may be taken. Mr. Chambers in going to the trouble and expense he did in the matter of this, he of course being interested, would benefit himself and alao the whole district, and had he not done so, I think it strongly improbable that at the present time, anything would have been thought of the measure, or any attempt made urging it to become law. It was only after Mr. Chamber's meeting took place, the Progress Committee woke, and thought they must have a "public" meeting, and then when the meeting took place they were under the impression that the Bill was in Committee, and passed absolution to the effect " that it was desirable Mr. McDonald should endeavor to get the Bill passed with certain amendments." But how Mr. McDonald's fertile brain could imagine what those amendments were to be I do not know, nor do I think the proposer of the resolution knew himself. I have no doubt that had the proprietor of the Standard, or those who took his views, or the views he took from others, called such a meeting as Mr. Chambers did, there would not have been a word said, but it is a spirit of dog-in-the-manager that emulates the wretched little party feeling that now exists. I trust that the public will not be led away by such locals as I have referred to, and put the construction on them that this one is intended to convey. — Yours, &c, W. Brassey.