MR ARMSTRONG'S LETTER.

Southland Times, Issue 1133, 31 March 1869, Page 2

MR ARMSTRONG'S LETTER.

(to the bditob op the southland times.) {Sib — Mr Henry Armstrong's letter is a curious specimen of a farewell to the electors of Invercargill ; the first half, I must confess, I cannot understand. 1 Whatever, in the name ot common sense,

has the American war, tidal waves, ] earthquakes, &c, to do with the trade 1 and commerce of New Zealand ? He t says, "a succession of startling events ] coming after a period of calm and jjros- i perity have unhinged men's minds, i and physically and socially some great s change is either now taking place or 1 pending with the effect of paralysing i trade." Mr A.'s own mind must be a ] little unhinged or he would never attempt ] to inflict such a lot of twaddle on the J electors. However, his letter nright have 1 been passed over as harmless without 1 any remarks if it were not for some other i portions of it. As for his supporting Mr i Taylor as Superintendant, it is well- < known he was returned by a committee i who would not have done so had he I not pledged himself to support him, i aud since he has been connected with the < Government he says, "it has been a < constant struggle to find the means to carry on public works, to wipe out old claims, work in arrears, and to unravel all manner of complications bequeathed | by past Governments ; having, in addii tion, to meet the requirements of a people spoiled from the beginning, and taught to look to the" Government for everything." 1 ask my fellow electors if the above statement is correct ? " Spoiled from the beginning." Well does Mr A. deserve the name of the " flippant youth," or he would not dare insult us on hi 3 leaving the Province. We are cautioned by Mr Armstrong against scandal, but his letter is the most scandalous one I ever read ; he preaches a nice little sermon about " public morality" and tells you that all accusations against the Government "could only proceed from vile and degraded sources." The accusations were made publicly in the Council Chamber last session and were found perfectly correct. Those incidental and| travelling expenses are a disgrace. For several months while the Superintendent was in Wellington, his expenses were at the rate of two thousand pounds per annum, rather a large sum for the people who were " spoiled from the beginning" to pay, and because the said people objected, they are " vile and degraded." It would take up too much of your space, and my time, Mr Editor, to notice Mr Armstrong's letter in full, but if any part contains more scandal than another, it is in the following quotations. Alluding to the country settlers, of whom he acknowledges himself one, he says, " the real cause of discontent I find is want of sympathy of kindly feeling of fellowship onefbranother. Men out here in the colony lead as a rule, selfish, cold, isolated lives. They are either totally indifferent to their neighbours, or what is worse, secretly endeavour to overreach or injure them." Rather a handsome character for you, Mr Country Settler of Southland, and one that is likely to promote immigration when it reaches home. You should surely present Mr Armstrong with a testimonial for his good opinion of you ; you must bear in mind that all the discontent of Southland, Mr Armstrong has discovered, " having taken some pains to ascertain it." * I have been a number of years in Victoria and here, and my business has brought me in contact with country settlers, and I must differ from Mr Armstrong in saying that I never met with a more respectable class of settlers than we have here, and as for their not being agreeable one with another can be contradicted by their impounding of cattle, &c, and our police reports — Tour's, truly, Invebcabgill Elector.

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE SOTTTHIiAITD T1M83.) Sir — I take the earliest opportunity of expressing ray regret at having written as I did in your last issue. I did not wish to detract one iota from the credit due to Dr Monckton. I complained of your notice, thinking that my name should have heen mentioned in conjunction with his, in what was a joint operation as to its performance, and the aftermanagement of which was determined on by both of us in consultation. If he does not think so, it is a matter of no importance, and I much regret having referred to it. His unremitting attention to the case afterwards deserves the highest praise. My chief object in writing was to contradict reports which were in circulation detrimental to the medical practitioners of this place, and to the management of the Hospital. Mr Fullarton is misinformed if he states that I urged the patient to go to Melbourne. I never even suggested it ; after seeing her I doubt if she would have reached alive. I am sorry to have hurt Mr Monckton's feelings in any way. — Tour's, John JField Deck, M. I>., Invercargill, March 30, 1869.