MR. MERVYN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 142, 27 October 1870, Page 5

MR. MERVYN.

(To the Editor of the Tuapeka Times.)

Sir, — In a recent issue of your paper I observed a letter from our representative, Mr. Mervyn, to the tune of "Glory be to Mervyn and the deeds that he has done." I assume that you are acquainted with the adage, " Empty vessels make the loudest sound," and the application of it to the present case I leave to your own sagacity. The truth is that, take it in whatever light you please, the conclusion that Mr Mervyn, as a politician, is an utter and ludicrous failure is inevitable. Did not his fussy busybodyism excite ridicule. His action in regard to the new electoral districts would be sufficient to cover him with obloquy. Strange to say. his own constituents are among the chief sufferers by his folly, for from some inscrutable reason he has divided the Mount Benger diptrict in such a manner as to include the Horse Shoe Bend portion of it with the Dnnstan. 1 have heard it rumoured that the hon. member imagend to carve out in this way a nice little pocket borough for himself, but from the result, I assume he had not sufficient nous to carry out this highly creditable object. If he be sanguine enough to fancy himself successful, I fear his feelings will receive a rude shock at the next election. Your Wellington and Dunedin Correspondents have so ably and wittily commented on Mr. Mervyn's eccentric and vacillating course on the land question that I need only refer to it. In truth the mental agility with which he shifted from one extreme to the other can only be properly compared with the physical endowments of the Industrious Flea. With, I have no doubt, the best intentions in the world, he has contrived to do a world of harm, and has afforded another example of the highly mischievous effects of sticking the round man into the square hole. By the way 1 have a complaint to bring against you before I have done with Mr. Mervyn Some weeks ago you stated you had on your file a remarkably able letter on the land question from the pen of that gentleman. I looked for your next issue with the most feverish excitement. An able letter by Mr. Mervyn ! Why, sir, I began to think the age of miracles was not past. My disappointment whsn the labouring mountain brought forth so very ridiculous a mouse may be imagined, and I am forced to assume that your editorial ideas of ability are, to say the least of it, peculiar. Should your estimate be accepted as a correct criterion, any man possessed of a copy of " Hansard," a paste pot, and a pair of scissors, might set up as a man of talent without further trouble. But really, sir, Mr. Mervyn is more sinned against than sinning. I h*ive no doubt he is a well- meaning and meritorious member of society, whom it was very cruel to place in such a false position as a man of his mental calibre must occupy when he attempts to dabble in politics.— l am, &c, Mikros. Teviot, October 18th, 1870. [Our correspondent must be classed amongst those individuals who, when they have not facts to back up their assertions, endeavour to create them. He has a complaint to make against us, " as some weeks ago we stated that we had a remarkably able letter on the land question from the pen of Mr. Mervyn." We do not for a moment doubt Mr. Mervyu's capacity to write a very able letter on that question, but we must inform our correspondent that we did not say that gentleman had done so. In turning to our files we find the words used by us were these: — "As a proof of Mr. Mervyn's conscientious and straightforward conduct as a representative of the people, we have extracted a letter of his on the land question, which appears in the " Dunstan Times," and shall publish the same next week."— Ed. " T.T."]