CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1127, 21 September 1880, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Wo .in not hold nnrsolves responsible for bninfon expressed by correspondents.] THE DISCOVERY OF A REAL " MA YOB'S NEST." [To the Editor of the Herald.] Sir, — In the Herald's leader of last night you solve the vexing problem of how a burgess may elect himself Mayor in spite of the voters, you ought to be ranked amongst the great discoverers of the age. I now see plainly how a man can lift himself over a four-rail fence by the shoulder straps — I think you explain the method in these words : " Now they adopt a method by which they render themselves altogether independent of electors by electing themselves, and it is done in this wise : When candidates become known to each other they meet and agree among themselves who shall retire from a contest, allowing the one agreed on to remain whose election is then sure, whether the electors please to like it or not. This is shewing such a contempt for the franchise and the liberty of choice that we hardly know how to characterise the act." Circumstances alter cases, Mr. Editor, for you "characterized the act " in the Herald of the 25th of August, 1879, when speaking of Captain Porter retiring in favor of some other oandidate by stating in your leader to this' purpose :— "The motive that actuated Oaptain Porter in retiring is a very honorable one beoause he saw the votes would be split, and although Capt. Porter would have headed the local candidates, in retiring he made a saorifioe that should not be forgotten." And again, a local under date September 7th, 1880, "characterises the act in these words : — "Mr. S. (J. Caulton has done a very generous act which should not readily be forgotten, at the earnest request of a number of ratepayers Mr. Caulton was prevailed upon to allow

himself to be placed in nomination for one of the vacant chairs in the Borough Council. But when it comes to be represented to him that Mr. Whinray, who had served the Council long and faithfully, might be unseated upon a splitting up of votes, Mr. Caulton at once insisted on withdrawing from the contest." It goes on to say that-Mr. Caulton's generosity and liberality will be rewarded at the next election by a sent (suppose he will elect himself). I know, Mr. Editor, in your goodnatured way, you only want to stir things up a bit and putthe constituency on its mettle by saying, the candidates insult them, and that it is- highly cuU pable for Mayors to elect themselves — "Porter had no right to promise 'Crawford, if he did do it, and Crawford' had no right to receive such' promise— the constituency is sold, its priviligea gambled away, and so on — 1 take ' these gentle ." Snyderisms " in the same spirit they have been written, and cannot refrain from stating an A. B.C. case like you. So let us. take "BY and C. as electors of the Borough together -with P. who has been its Mayor for two years. Now, P. and B, retire in favor of C, but Snyder B. with a final c, who favors 0., andP.B. draws from the points 8.0. and S. H. the line O. O. N. S. P. T. R. A. U. V destroying the great angle C.Q.N.S. T. I. T. V. E. N. C. V. , discovering at once the great problem of the Mayor's nest. This demonstrates the problem, but Mr. Editor, why do you go in for these abstruse trig 3 when plane trigonometry is so much easier. Your obliged humble Servant, Wm. F. Crawford.

[To the Editor of the Herald..] Sik, — The circular published by you in last evening's issue-does not say much for the wisdom of those who selected the present trustees in Read's Estate in place of former trustees.- Without going into the merits of the articles referred to by them, I would ask by what right do they dictate to the Directors of the Heralk. I take up the cudgels fjjr Mr. Rees and Judge Halse 1 The fofmer'.gentleman is quite able to fight hitf own battles, and, safe. i.n the. rectitude, of liis actions, needs no .-champion;' Jjadgef H-a'se also is answerable to the' chief of his department, to whom alone dbes he; look .for protection in the perjorman.ee of his duties, and must, 'and "{aib ; . dcinbt does, look for fair criticism on his -actions as a public ""man. _;~ The; two geritleriien above-named "may well cry ! 'save us from our friends." . I notice that the Directors are called upon "to oblige us with the individual who wrote the leading article referred to." Assuming that it was yourself, Mr. Editor who wrote the same, I pity the Directors who have -to deliver so bulky a parcel. Perhaps you can be taken to pieces in sections.- What are they .going to. do with you. — I am, &c. ■ -i - Subscriber..