THE HARBOUR LOAN QUESTION, , TO THE" EDITOR.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7167, 10 September 1886, Page 2

THE HARBOUR LOAN QUESTION, , TO THE" EDITOR.

Sir, — I was greatly pleased a few weeks ago on-bearing that Mr. -T.~ Kelly -was fi;oing to. oppose Uoloael Trimble at tho next election, because I consider the Colonel totally unfit to represent any portion of the Taranaki district. I will only name one objection in this letter, viz., his stubborn opposition to tho construction of a harbour at New Plymouth. Whon be first ufEered himself as a candidate for a seat in the House of Representatives, Mr. Thomas King cams to me and said, " Mr. , I am canvassing for Colonel Trimble; will you vote for him?" I instantly replied, "No; because he, has always been dead against any harbour , being constructed at New, Plymouth." Mr. King replied, " : You can with the greatest safety vote for him, because he has most solemnly 1 promised me that he will never oppose the making of a harbour at Now Plymouth again." I- said, "He has co. yiolen,tly opposed a work that must necessarily be of incalculable benefit to this generation and for all time." ,

I" was greatly surprised at Colonel Trimble's opposition hist session to the Harbour Bill, because Mr. T. King, who is noted for being one of the most conscientious men in this hemisphere, must have had a solemn promise from Colonel Trimble, or ho would not have spoken in so unqualified a manner on the subject. Consequent^, if at any timo'Colonel Trimble's views on tho matter should^ have changed he was bound to instantly resign.

As regards the contemplated loan every enquiring day labourer knew at tho time of the raising of the £200,000 harbour loan that, 'the amount would only be suffipientfforar r a section of the work, hence another loan would ultimately have to be raise'dt consequently there is no possible excuse for him opposing the New Plymouth loan. True, he.might have resigned hia seat in the House in ( an honorable way. Ho not only opposed the bill, but had the presumption to commence stonewalling it after he wa6 defeated by a majority of 26. Had the bill passed it would only have giye'n power to Colonel Trimble's constituents and their surrounding neighbours to accept the bill or reject it, henco his conduct clearly proves that he dare not trust them to act for themselves, but has treated them like the careful nursemaid who' put away a flatatf from children to prevent them. warming thoir hands for fear they should burn themselves. - Many -were greatly surprised at the conduct 6f his colleague Hursthouse in treating his relations and friendß" and former" neighbours aa if they were children. Many felt proud of him, and thought he bid fair to become, if not a first-claBS politician, at least a sensible one, but by hjs action he .has proved himself a thorough failure.

Mr. T. Kelly, has beea one of the most tmefuljinen — some say the most useful — in Taranaki. Mr*. T. Kelly, Major Atkinson, and Mr.'O. Samuel, would be a power in the House for good to Taranaki, and be useful to the colony at large. I think' two quotations. from Shakespere will not be out , of place here. " [ v Honor more dear than Jife. • Mine honor keeps the weather of my fate. Life every man holds dear ; but th 6 dear man Holds honor'far more precious" dear than " life. ■•' - ■

'The gods are deaf to hot and peevish vows; They are polluted offerings,' more abhorr'd Than spotted livers in the sacrifice. 1 am sorry to see sometimes ill-feeling arise between New Plyinoutband Waitara, because they are bo closely connected that it would be impossible to separate them. They must stand or fall togetber. In fact, it is a greater distance through London than it is from New Plymouth to the Waitara. — I aay&c, Advance New Plymouth and Waitara. [Our correspondent writes to us that he does' not caro to have his name in print, bu^that if anyone feels interested in knowing the author, we have permission' to reveal his name to them. — Ed. T.S-2 '