Original Correspondence.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 10, 10 September 1874, Page 5

Original Correspondence.

THE "BRUCE HERALD" AND MR. THOM^

SON'S MEETING

(To the Editor of the Clutha Leader.)

! Sir, — My attention has been called to a report, purporting to be tbat of Mr. Thomson's meeting here on Monday evening, which appeared in the ' Bruc,e Herald ' this morning. We are all sufficiently accustomed to the vagaries and hoaxes perpetrated by that journal as to pay but little attention to anything which appears in it, and to give its statements ho credence unless we otherwise know them to be truth. The present case, however, I look upon as a serious matter, and calculated to affect injuriously the interests of the district, and the Colony, for although we know the style of the ' Herald,' outsiders may not. The matter stands thus— a very important piece of legislation was carried out during last session of Assembly, and which is_ now agitating society from the north to the south of tbe Colony. By, many it is believed that the people will oppose the action of tbe Assembly, and the decision of the constituencies is anxiously looked for. Mr. Thomson was tbe first in this Province at all events, after the session was closed to meet his constituents, and tbe * Herald ' pretends to give a report of the meeting. No doubt that report will find its way into the columas of other papers, and hence the necessity that someiaotice should be taken of it. I waa present at the meeting, and' have read the report in the ' Herald,' and lam 6U.re yoa. will egree with me that, the latter is simply a suppositious speech. The 'Herald' bad no reporter or otheF, representative at the meeting, and so f ar a£ I can learn no one who was present sent to t«e * Herald ' any note of what occurred. The report neither gives the name of the Chairman nor the resolution passed by the meeting. Seme of the statements; are directly opposed to the trutbt The language used is not Mr. Thomson's. He is made to refer to subjects he never, mentioned, while others of great importance t»> the district which were fully explained by him are not mentioned. Altogether the report appears to me to be pure fiction and I believe waa concocted by some one in Tokomairiro, written out and probably , printed before the meeting took place. The readers of the ' Herald ' can form their own opinions, upon the hoax which has been* played upon them. I have nothing todo with that, but I consider it an . insult to Mr. Thomson and an insult to us the electors. With this I have to do, and hence I write you and ask you to insert this that the insult may be resented and remedied as early as possible. I would lave left the matter in the hands of Mr. Tl bmson him self to deal with, but I know he has left, this district and may not have an opportunity of at once doing bo. I have no doubt be will as «oon as possible. ; j /.-'. y .- 1 ;..' I- am, &cV, ;:•',•. ". \y >---"•.;- ; . -..- * . .-;•■ P S.— The ' Herald,: a leader of jpubiic^ .opinion! ! " ;_ ■ z''" Balelutha, September % !874X/tJ.