TO THE EDITOR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5732, 27 November 1896, Page 2

TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, — Every Liberal elector should thank you for the references which appeared in your leading columns on Tuesday to the vote-splitter who appears likely to force himself upon the electors at the approaching^ contest. I quite agree with the remarks of your several correspondents, who hkve pointed out in such a clear manner the utter hopelessness of Mr S. ~R. Webb's prospects of success. I am told that he is bo far building castles in the j air as to fondly imagine himself the elect !of the district. Well, if such be the case, I can only say that the Conservative section of the district is quietly " pulling his leg," and at the same time just as quietly "winking the other eye." Lyttelton always has been, and continues to-day, one of the strongest Liberal districts lin the colony, and nothing pleases j the Tory Party better than to get ; the ear of a man of Mr Webb's oalibre-— one to whom flattery is so welcome, and one whose better judgment is soj badly warped by a sense of his own importance. Such men under the guise of Liberals must ever be regarded as the worst enemies of the party of progress, and the sooner ! one and all of them are allowed to go to I the polls under a system of either preI ferential voting or the second ballot the "sooner will the Liberal Party in New | Zealand be relieved of its greatest jbugbear. However, until we get the i second ballot we must, as a . matter ! of course, put up with candidates of the like of Mr S. R. Webb; but it is the duty ' of every Liberal to fully recognise that . every vote cast for such, candidates is cast ' for the Tory nominee. If that is fully • ■ recognised, I feel sure the result of the . voting on Friday week will show that the i district has remained true to its Liberal principles, and that the thinly-disguised game of the Conservatives to do their best to promote vote-splitting will be met by a . determination on the part of the Liberals to sink minor matters of personal feelings and , vote for the only candidate that is at all likely to effect the defeat of Mr William Jacques, ex-President of the National Conservative Association and the nominee ■of Mr Bung and his clique. — I am, &c, CONSOLIDATE. The sea is one vast reservoir of gold to the extent of about one grain to the ton, , or about four shillings worth in every .wenty-five tons of water.