NELSON POLITICS

Colonist, Issue 31, 5 February 1858, Page 3

NELSON POLITICS

To the Editor of the Colonist. Sir, —I hope I may not be out of place in making a few remarks under the above head. Our law makers having now adjourned, it may be expected that our Nelson public will as usual, after measures have been passed into law begin to enquire what has been done, and if not done to their satisfaction, (which is scarcely possible, seeing that they take so little interest in these matters until the shoe pinches, or a call is made upon their pockets) begin to grumble accordingly. I do not mean to say that our Nelson public grumble any more than any other public, but this I do say, they are remarkable for their drowsiness when there is the most palpable necessity of keeping a sharp look out. It must appear rather marvellous to some people, while it is exceedingly amusing to a particular party, to see how a people who have had the gift of Representative Government banded over to tMni by;;our Jltaperial;Par]iament, on the ground of their intelligence and trustworthiness, should be so indifferent to their interests as to allow themselves to be duped and fooled in a manner most extraordinary. Sir,,your correspondent " An Old Settler," has laboured industriously to bring before the Nelson public statements of jobbery, monopoly and corruption ; yet, strange to say, the drowsy public seem to care for none of those things.

It would appear that our sovereign people think they have fought their great battle. They have elected a Superintendent with a large majority,—that point gained, all minor matters follow as a matter of course. This seems to be the feeling of security with a great portion of the people; but I presume the different constituencies may undeceive themselves upon this pant, if they will"take the trouble to see how they are non-represented by the hon. gentlemen who they have allowed to take their seats in the Provincial Council. Tis true the town of Nelson has to congratulate itself upon the choice it has made in one of its representatives who professes to. have the accommodating ability of serving any constituency he may have the pleasure to represent for the time being, (of course this means in the disposal of any public monies, which with some people is a matter of much more indifference than the management of their own). Perhaps the good people of Nelson are content with such an amount of representation, not caring to look further than to the sanitary improvement and embellishment of little Rome. But Rome cannot do without her corn-fields ; her outlying country must be occupied by an industrious and wealth-producing people. How far our representatives have shown their desire to accomplish this needs no pen of mine to tell; the impetuosity exhibited on the third reading of the Waste Lands Bill puts in the shade all my ideas of the velocity of a " youthful democracy." The hon. knight of the umbrella had exhibited an amount of this breakneck velocity in the opening of the session ; ,but_ I, did not to see potent, grave and reverend; seignors* partake of the same, and tumble a measure of such importance (and requiring such serious deliberations to turn it out a good job as the Dr. had said the day before) as the Waste Lands Bill through in such a manner before our Nelson public, drowsy as that public may be. I had hoped we should have had the opportunity of discussing the merits and demerits of the Bill during the adjournment ; but this hon. representatives say, there is no necessity for, as there is no new principle in the bill-—the very leason that the bill should have been before the public during the adjournment, that some new principle might have been added. We have had enough of the old principle and "its abominations; but the grasping avarice of the land sharks is not satisfied ; they had made a clear sweep of the cream of our valleys at from ten to five shillings an acre, which it will be difficult to make them disgorge at anything but a ruinous price to the agriculturist, and yet they still seem hungry and maelstroni-like—would swallow all within the prodigious extent of their mighty imaginations. But they want time, time like the boa to digest the enormous quantities they are apt to eugulph in their capacious' jaws, while their eyes are longingly fixed on some other rich morsel, which, if the kind people of Nelson will allow them, they will take at their earliest opportunity. Will the people be content with this new bill, which confers no benefit to them whatever, but offers the greatest protection to this constrictor family, who, while they lie digesting and comparing their enormous rich morsels of our valleys, contemplate at no very distant day to have the pleasure of engulphing all the rocks and mountains within the: range of their unquiet gaze, (at two shillings and six-pence an acre). An excellent measure this to allow them to roll and get fat, very fat, at their leisure, with land at half-a-crown an acre, and that precious piece of humbug the auction sale, which acts as a useful watchdog to keep all disagreeable customers away. - Sir, if any of the above remarks will assist to move that hitherto immoveable mass, the Nelson public, to a sense of one of its many wrongs, it will exceed the humble expectations of

COSMOPOLITE.

January 25.

To the Editor of the Colonist, Sir,—ln the report of the dinner given to Mr. Sclanders, in Tuesday's Colonist, we are favoured with the following delicious bit of pantomime, better understood than expressed: Mr. Elliott proposes the "Nelson Supper Party," alias the high heals. Dr. Monro asks Mr. Elliott if he would couple the name of any particular person with the toast? "Yes; the name of Mr. Saunders." Mr. Saunders returns thanks, and proposes the health of the Chairman, Dr. Monro I Surely the high heals have made a convert of one political sinner. " Time works wonders," as Doug'ass Jerrold truthfully wrote. At the last nomination for the Superintendency, Dr. Monro, in his speech on the hustings in reply lo what had fallen from the present Superintendent and Mr. Saunders, said— " For his part he would much rather be abused by Mr. Saunders than slobbered by him." So much for a good dinner, it appears to be a stepping-stone for the removal of every obstacle, social or political. Yours, &c, - H. L. N, CLARKE. Nelson, February 3rd. ■ M

TO MY FELLOW-DIGGERS AND THE

WORKING-CLASSES GENERALLY. Gentlemen, —The letter published in the Colonist of February 2nd, headed "Maiden Gulley •" is false from beginning to end, and my signature which is attached to it is a forgery. The letter in question is calculated to damage me, mislead you, and to injure the proprietor of the payer.

I am sorry that any individual among us should impose on a stranger, and by this means prostitute the press for the propagation of falsehood ; nevertheless as the writer of the letter has in a very contrite spirit apologised, and said he only intended it as a "lark," without thinking of the evil it might occasion, and as he has promised amends for the future, I decline publishing his rame, which would only have been proper punishment for one who commits such an outrage on social law and decorum.

I am, Gentlemen, yours &c, donald McGregor.

Nelson, Feb. 4,1858,

[We ourselves are now acquainted with the author of the letter referred to, and can but regret that a person holding a respectable position in society should so far have sacrificed every principle of honesty as wittingly to forge the signature of a fellow-colonist. However, we trust the offender will gain something by experience. The facts of the case are simply these: The correspondence signed " Donald McGregor " waS:brpught to our printing-office between seven aucl-eight" o'clock on the evening of Monday last, by a respectable tradesman of Nelson, arid from the manner in which it was conveyed to us we did not for one moment doubt its genuineness, hence its appearing in the columns of the Colonist.—'Ei). Colonist.']

To the Editor of the Colonist.

Sir, —As my name is made use of in your issue of this day, I deem it prudent to state what I think the plain facts of the case. I was on the day in question with other parties shooting on what is called the Big Hill, and being at a distance from Mr. John M'Artney was hailed by him, and upon my reaching the spot where he was he told me that some man had hurt his leg, but they were gone down the hill. They were by this time out of sight. We followed them some distance but did not see them and did not hurry on further. There may have been some inadvertency, but I think inhumanity does not form any part of the composition of Mr. J. M'Artney.

Yours respectfully, C. GENTRY.

Nelson, Feb. 2nd,

To the Editor of the Colonist

Sir, —Humanitas has taken a deal of trouble to show his utter disregard of truth in his narration of the accident which occurred to William Garter on the Big Hill. This is not the worst feature in his account, the base insinuations of a mean mind are palpable throughout. His pretended respect for my family is contemptible, as he is well aware every one in a small community like this would soon know who the party referred to is.

The case is,simply this: I was hailed and immediately went to the spot, when I saw a man seated with his boot off; I asked him if his ancle was but, he said he believed it was; I then asked him and his mate to remain where they were until I fetched Mr. Gentry, who was in the neighbourhood, and we would see which "^as the best means of getting, hini^g\^nj£nd I believe now it was the best course I: could have adopted, as I do not think three men are more than sufficient to carry a disabled man down such a hill as that.

Mr. Gentry joined me as soon as possible, and we returned to where I left them ; they were gone ; we went down the hill some«considerable distance but did not see them, and of course concluded that he was not so much injured as at first expected ,or that some other assistance had been rendered, knowing there were other parties shooting in the neighbourhood.

I appeal to every medical man in the place, whether I was not right in seeking further assistance in such a case.

Such is the truth, and were I placed in similar circumstances again, I should act in a similar manner. I dare any man to call my humanity into question.

I am, Sir, &c,

JOHN M'ARTNEY. Bridge-street, Feb. 3rd, 1858.

To the Editor of the Colonist.

Sie } —Mr. Muntz in his letter of yesterday charges me with having made a "garbled exposition" of the evidence, in the case of" Renwick v. Muntz and Ralston." Now, Sir, Ido not think. Mr. Muntz can understand the meaning of the word "garbled." If I were guilty of any such act as " garbling the evidence," not only Mr. Muntz, but the public also, would have a right, not merely to complain, but to insertituponmy removal from office; but in this case ISx. Muntz was very particular in noticing and insisting that I took down the answers to particular questions j and the evidence, as is always the practice, was afterwards read slowly aloud in Court, and if any portion were omitted from either Kidson's or Bonnington's evidence, that was the time and place for Mr. Muntz to have had the evidence corrected.

To read Mr. Muntz' letter, where he says— " Why evidence so important, §c. should not have been written down by the Clerk of the Bench, Mr. Sharp," he would have the public to believe that I wrote just what I liked, and thai it was not read to the witnesses before signature for correction, which, as you know, is not the case. The word to "garble," as used here, means to separate parts of the evidence from each other, and to use only one portion to support one view of the case; and if, therefore, Mr. Muntz applies the word in that sense in his letter he states that which is false.

I am, &c,

J. SHARP.

Nelson, February 3rd, 1858.

To the Editor of the Colonist

Sip.,—l claim an equal right to justice with Mr. Muntz, that publicity should be given to the following contradiction a statement made by him in the Colonist of to-day, with reference to the evidence given by me in the case of Renwick v. Muntz and Ralston. Mr. Muntz states, " on reading your report I felt somewhat indignant at finding you bad suppressed, with other matter, that part ofKidson's testimony wherein he stated that I was not in view of the ladies, or himself, at any time whilst I was undressed," &c, &c. I beg to deny ever having made such a statement, either in evidence, of at any other time.

I am, Sir, yours obediently, JOHNKIDSON.

Nelson, 2nd February.