THE MAYOR AND MR GRANT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2348, 14 November 1908, Page 6

THE MAYOR AND MR GRANT.

[To the Editor.]

Sir, —I f I have distorted Air Lysnar’s statement regarding tlie Rev. •J. B. Finlay in my telegram to Air Finlay I am sorry, but I am quite content, with. Air Lysnar, to leave that to the judgment of your readers. That I have wilfully distorted it I deny, and the following fact, which will be borne out- by the Editor, will prove it. I had sent away my copy of the “Times” before -writing my first letter, and as I could not give the very words reported as having been said by Air Lysnar, I inserted the- following words to the Editor, after the first sentence of my letter: “Please insert here the statement- in which Air Lysnar charges Air Finlay with seeking his influence to get billet promising to advocate continuance.” Instead of that the whole par relating to Air Finlay was inserted, which gives Air Lysnar a chance to quibble. It was pointed -out in my second letter, the sting of the whole statement lies in the fast sentence, the sentence which states that the Rev. J. B. Finlay, who had lectured on No-li-cense and given Air Lysnar the lie, had afterwards asked him to get him a billet to advocate continuance. Now the question at issue is : Did Mr Finlay do so? If ,M-r Lysnar can prove that he did so I am prepared to admit that he is beneath contempt, as a man who would sacrifice his loifgoheri.shed convictions for the sake of a billet. Until he does so I prefer to believe the statement-of the man whom I have known for 20 years- as an honorable, truth-loving man, rather than the statement of the man who is -a comparative -stranger to me, and who, in my—own hearing, made, to -put it mildly, the . most misleading statements "last Friday night, -in His Alajesty’s Theatre.—l am, etc.,

WILLIAM GRANT Gisborne, Nov. 13.