BLUNDERBUSS" AND CLYDE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 274, 1 May 1873, Page 6

BLUNDERBUSS" AND CLYDE.

(To tJ* Editor.) Sib. — In your paper of 17th April, tk writer styling himself "Blunderbuss," takes the people of Clyde to task. He acknowledges at the commencement of his rather acninonious letter that he isa stranger to the country, and with mock philanthropy expresses a desire to save it from the consequences of the follies of the prejsent genet ation. Does "Blunderbuss " include the sub-marine boat as ■ one of the follies of the present time ? He evidently is very much annoyed that his pet scheme was treated as a folly, and cast aside by far more practical men than himself. Why does he Jeave the next generation to free its gelf from bigotry and selfishness ? How is it possible to eradicate these errors without education or reform ? and with his instructive powers and gigantic capabilities, why does he not begin with the present aye, so that the next generation may not be born of bigotry and selfishness. It would appear from the very beginning of his letter that he has found a panacea for all our little deficiencies, and having discovered the cause was about to poiut out a remedy, but he does not do so. The fact is simply that " Blunderbuss," whoever he may be, because he could not prove his assertions (by inference) that we all are fools and foolish enough to support a scheme that was of too speculative a character, wishes' to deny all other.-*. Ido not see that a man should be so very much disappointed because he cannot "dip" his fingers into the pockets of the public to carry out such hairbrained inventions. He may be the parent of "Blunderbuss" who states fi that the projector of the undertaking incurred upon himself the responsibility of the enterprise, and was supported by the opinions of the most able engineers in Victoria, and publicly challenged diversity of opinion," &c, &c. It seems our able engineers did not entertain the same as the Yietorians, and being professional gentlemen did not meet the challenge, as plebians might with a direct negative. But just let it slide. I suppose " Blunderbuss " has got brains enough to entertaiu the idea that any invention opens a wide field for improvement, and if be should ever be fortunate enough to patent an invention, he will find so many improvements upon it started, chat his original invention in a short space of time will.be worthless. So with the under-water boat — why does "Blunderbuss" drag in fable? What bas the dog in the manger to do with dredging the bed of the River Molyneux, or of any other river Had he instanced the dog and his shadow, it would have been far more apolicable. To the sapient " Blunderbuss," I would say in all kindliness write in a kindly feeling if you want to do good and be respected ; do not employ pxreasm and abuse ; colonists of good or bad repute as you may suffer by eompa.ison. When you came to our rock-bound coast to instruct us in the Utility of combination to acquire wealth, you found that we were sufficiently united not to squander our money upon any speculations, however scientific they might be considered, by you or any other mere adventurer. There is a jumble of words in the latter part of his letter which I do not understand, about the capability of raising 600 tons per day, in a current of from sis to seven knots per hour. first speaks of the pneumatic tube, which was started' under the auspices of a few working men at Rangitata bridge, and who, by all accounts, have succeeded admirably, as they expected they would. I might as well here mention for * 4 Blunderbuss's," Bf.e ial information, that the few working men with the pneumatic tube never took longer than four hours to reach the bottom of the river bed* although he has been so liberal as to allow three months fVr that purpose. If the sub-marine boat is ever mndo available, it will be in T -jeiMTJunciioii with the pneumatic tube . pruu-iplo. _-W'iv docs " Blunderbuss" pitch u.pon Clyde, wbe.n lie has been tbrongh the interior of the province, to find f'siult^. wSHi lie must admit, he cannot reiiu-rty. T!u*re are many other i^a-'.s w'mm'p lie. must have seen Tom,. l>:*.'lv, Hi.d Harry resolutely working * - %vith tL-.-ir capita!, and not entrusting ~t to ti.e i.ot iiivY.tys honest hands of e'lseruri-jiug eoipruinies-r-il am, &c., No $$349315. . Clyde, April 22.