THE ALARM INCIDENT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 6 September 1901, Page 4

THE ALARM INCIDENT.

Mr Colvin lets daylight into

the Matter.

A Resident of Hokitika supposed

to be the Author.

[our parliamentary reporter.]

Wellington, This Day.

Mr Colvin, as one of the members who took part in the now famous West Coast deputation, gave his version in the House, shortly after the midnight, of the incident. What the Premier, ho remarked, was to the effect “that the public works fund would not stand the strain. That if he was to go in for so much public works as were demanded by members, ho would have to borrow three and a half millions of money, and he would sooner leave the treasurery benches than do that.” “The Premier did not refer to the consolidated fund at all” continued the member for Bulior, “and the assertion made in a Nelson paper that he received the deputation discourteously, was absolutely incorrect.” Another matter concerned with this deputation, which Mr Colvin cleared up was with respect to the authorship of t ic telegram in the Lyttelton Times, which gave rise to so much concern throughout the colony, a few weeks ago. As no reporters were present the message has been generally ascribed to the Premier himself. This, Mr Colvin said, he was in a position to refute. He then went on to explain that a gentleman, Jwho had represented the “ Lyttelton Times ” and the “ Canterbury Times ” in Westland for a number of years, chanced to be at Wellington, at the time, and he accepted an invitation to accompany the Premier at the interview. He did so and was according to Mr Bollard, responsible for the misleading report of Mr Seddon’s remarks which had led. to wholesale clearances of customs in anticipation of increased duties, and had caused people to shudder at the budget prospects which were not dispelled, till the Treasurer delivered his statement on the floor of the House.