MR WARD IN REPLY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 519, 27 December 1881, Page 2

MR WARD IN REPLY.

To the Editor. Sir, —On returning home this morning, I observed a letter in your publication of the 24th inst., bearing the title “ The Rev. A. W. Hands, in Explanation,” in which the writer has made use of my name, as appears to me, in a most unwarrantable manner. In common justice to myself, I must therefore request you to allow me space in your next publication to state the following facts :—As Secretary to the School Committee, it became part of my duty to write to, and respectfully request the Rev. A. W. Hands to take part in the annual examination for prizes. I did write to him, and on the Saturday afternoon (two days before the examination), he (the Rev. A. W. Hands) called at my office and gave a verbal reply to a written request, this reply I faithfully reported to the proper authority. From the above simple statement of facts, the public will observe that “Mr Ward” did “ choose ” to do his duty, and also, that if Mr Hands had chosen to do his—his reply would have been on record, and moreover, it would have spoken for itself. I deeply regret having thus to address you, but, sir, I cannot allow, even the Kev. A. W. Hands to make an improper use of my name to gloss over his own palpable neglect of the common courtesy due to a public body.—l am, etc., J. Ward, Secretary to the Borough School Committee. Ashburton, 27th Deo., 1881.