MR. MARK SPROT AND THE RESIDENTS OF GIBSON'S QUAY.

West Coast Times, Issue 238, 27 June 1866, Page 2

MR. MARK SPROT AND THE RESIDENTS OF GIBSON'S QUAY.

(TO THE EDrTOR OF THE WEST COAST TIMES.) , Sir, — I am one of the thirty-one electors who signed the requisition to Mr Mark Sprot, requesting him to becom.o a candidate for one of tho seats in the Municipal Council. I beg to assure you and tho public of Hokitika, that I should never have dreamt of signing the requisition if I could have anticipated that so ungracious, and I may say insulting a reply would have been returned to it. The requisition was at all events, a compliment to Mr Sprot, whioh most men would haro appreciated as it deserved. If it did not suit Mr Sprot's convenience, or did not accord with his taste to accept a seat in tho Munioipal Council, he might have contented himself with simply and courteously declining tho honor preferred to him. I know of no parallel instance in which a gentleman receiving such a marked compliment, has chosen to avail himself of tho opportunity it afforded him to have a " fling" at his requisitionists, and at tho part of tho town they were supposed specially to represent. Who, I bog to ask, are the "certain narties" belonging to Gibson's Quay, with whom Mr Sprot cpu have " no connection," even as a mombor of the Municipal Council. Am I ono of them ? Do Messrs Cowl'slmw and Plnisted, Messrs

Watt and Falkincr, Mv Virtue, Mr Campboll, or any of v the other gentlemen signing the rcqu'sition," belong to the tabooed lot with whom Mr Sprot can havo no connection, " even" in a public capacity ? I think. Sir, that this wholesale imputation cast upon the residents of Gibson's Quay, covered by the mysterious allusion to tc certain parties," ought to be explained. It is a wanton insult to this part of the town, and to all people that do inhabit it, and a most disrespectful and offensive mode of replying to a requisition that most men would havo taken as a compliment. I have taken the trouble to write this letter, because I think such an un-called-for slur upon the part of the town I reside in, ought not to be allowed to pass without some stricture. But, one thing Mr Sprot may tfe very sure of, and that is, that I shall never again take the trouble to put my name to any requisition to him. At tho samo time, it would ho satisfactory, both to me and to my neighbors and fellow-requisitionists, to know who are the "certain parties" with whom ho cannot associate, " even" as a member of the Municipal Council. Inconclusion,lwouldask Mr Sprot: Is the whole of Gibson's Quay to be given over to perdition because there are some unholy peoplo living upon it ? What had they to do with tho thirty-one requisionists ? and what had Mr Sprot to do with them in his reply to the revisionists? However, sir, I won't write any more, lest I should write stronger, and will therefore subscribe myself Respectfully yours, A Gibson's Quay Mut, and a Signer or tite Requisition. Jane 2G, 1866.