Westoe, Marton 31st May/73 My Dear Rogan, Halcombe gave me your message and told me how you had been insulted and nearly assaulted by that ruffian Grindell. It is too bad such men being continued in the public service general or provincial. Twice I have been the means of his removal from it for conduct of a similar sort and as often I find him taken on again to repeat his offence on some new Victim. I hope he will get his deserts this time and for good. I assure you I sympathize very much with you under the annoying infliction. I see also you have been as grossly attacked in another quarter, namely the Wanganui Herald, one of those blackguard sheets which is a disgrace to the press. I think you ought to move for a criminal information against the fellow and the Government bear your expenses. It is all very well to say "treat it with contempt and live it down" and so forth. But such a paper as this has a considerable local circulation and probably from 500 to 1000 persons about Wanganui have no other instructor and believe all it says. Consequently if the Land Court has to sit there as it will have, and especially if you are on the Bench, its influence and authority will be greatly weakened by such attacks. In this case it is so specific in its charge about partiality to Parata and its being done under Government orders and etc. as to give the fllow no loop hole for escape. He (Ballance) is a great cur and would probably retract and apologize the moment he was summoned into Court. It is most likely his correspondent was Grindell. I have noticed other letters from the same pen, and have little doubt these are his. If I may be allowed to advise I would say on no account allow so good an opportunity of putting a stop to this sort of thing to pass over. If you come this way again remember your promise to look in spite of Maori horses or any other excuse. Believe me, Yours very faithfully, (Sgd) William Fox