GABRIELS RIDING ELECTION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume IX, Issue 630, 30 December 1876, Page 3

GABRIELS RIDING ELECTION.

(To the Editor.) Sib, — In your leading article of the 27th instant, you take the extreme liberty of impugning the judgment of the Blue Spur electors in choosing a candidate to represent them for the G-abriels Biding. You express sorrow that they should have thrust an untried man into a responsible position ; you likewise accuse us of base ingratitude towards Mr Bastings ; and the latter part is taken up in a kind manner by refreshing o.ur sluggish memories — telling us we have, made qur choice, and must a,bide by it, and likewise suffer the consequence of our indiscretion. In endeavoring to answer these heavy charges, I will take them seriatim. Ist. The electors of the Slue Spur consider

their judgment equal to the writer of the above article. 2nd. They likewise believe that the untried man they have thrust into a responsible position will hold his own with the galaxy of talent that he will meet at the Council Board, and prQve a.n l^onor to those that elected him. 3r.d. There has been no ingratitude in the least shown to Mr Bastings. He is looked upon, and deserves to be, with the greatest respect, I believe, by every one here. As Mr Clayton was first in the field, it would have been cowardly to abandon the' contest, whoever opposed him ; and I think I may say that Mr Bastings' defeat is more due to his friend; than his opponents. 4th. With regard, to the choice we have made, &c,, we are fully prepared to abide by it, and, if we have made an indiscretion, the i next election we possibly may return the writer of the article in question. I may inform you that Mr Clayton does not reside at the head of a drive, or on the top pf a twentystamper battery. — I am, &0., Alex. Geo. Thomson.

Blue Spur, Dec. 27th. [We should like to know how long our correspondent has been appointed Sir Oracfa of the Blue Spur district, that ho can answer " these heavy charges" seriatim?— Ed."T.T."]