MR WATERHOUSE IN EXPLANATION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 287, 18 April 1879, Page 2

MR WATERHOUSE IN EXPLANATION.

With reference to the now celebrated telegram case to which we referred in our editorial of laat issue, we publish the following letter from Mr Waterhouse, which appeared in the Evening Post (Wellington) of Friday last:— " TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING POST. " Sir, —Owing to my absence from town, I have only this morning seen your issue of Monday last, containing an article headed 'curious conspiracy against the Government—How it was discovered by a wandering telegram.' This article professes to give from the Lyttelton Times particulars of telegrams which have passed between Mr Hall ami myself. In reference thereto, I have to observe that there

is not one partictle of truth in the reported * contents of the telegrams, and that the 'j editor of the Lyttelton Times has either drawn upon his imagination for his facts, or he has been the- tool of some one who . has told a wilful and deliberate falsehood. In the latter case it ia due to his own cha- - racter for varacity that he should indicate the author. What really took place was as follows :—During the recent Ministerial crisis I telegraphed to Mr Hall'that there were serious dissensions in the Cabinet, » that a Ministerial crisis seemed impending, and that there would probably be a reconstruction of the Ministry under Sir George Grey. This telegram was, aa I understand from the Manager of Telegraphs, most ■ legibly signed and correctly forwarded from this side. Owing, however, it is be-. lieved to electrical phenomena, the signa- -■* ture was not correctly rendered in Christchurch, and came out • Whitehouse.' Mr Hall, who is probably more in the habit of telegraphing with Colonel Whitmore than myself, somewhat rashly rushed * to the conclusion that the telegram was from Colonel Whitmore. Hia reply was guardedly expressed, and headed 'Private. , It is scarcely credible, but it is a fact that though it was evident upon the face of it that there was some mistake in the matter, and though the telegram was « headed ' Private,' that the gallant and hon. gentleman did not hesitate to show it to and discuss it with his colleagues. Listeners proverbially hear no good of themselves, -. and it is not to be wondered at that the * Ministry, when discussing a telegram not intended for their perusal, ■ and marked * Private,' should fall into a mistake regarding the nature of the telegram to which it was a reply. If there is much that is amusing, there is likewise much which to any right minded 'politician must be painful in these particulars. Colonel "* Whitmore receives a telegram marked ' private,' which at the first glance he recognizes is not intended for himself ; he, nevertheless, makes use of it, and shows it to his colleagues. Our ideas of what constitutes • honor' probably differ. To me such an action seems unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. Secondly, the editor of an influential paper gets hold of a telegram which he believes or stated had been sent to Mr Hall, which he admits had only become known by having gone astray in a Government department %\vorn to secrecy, which contains the word • confidential, , and yet which he actually publishes to the world. It is difficult for a man more thoroughly to degrade himself than the editor of the Lyttelton Times has done in this, matter. . There has been ' throughout this affair such an absence of honorable feeling, such a brazen-facedness of conduct, as would fill one with apprehension for the future of New Zealand if • one could believe that such qualities were common amongst her public men. " I am, &c, " G. M. Watebhodse. " 11th April, 1879."