THE GOVERNOR'S LUNCHEON

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 915, 3 July 1871, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR'S LUNCHEON

[to the editor.] Sir — After much deliberation I have determined to ask your permission to reply to Mr Heber Newton's letter, which appeared in the Grey River Argus of the 29th ult., for the following reasons : — First— Mr Newton's letter purports to be a correction of an erroneous conclusion ; and, second, because the whole of the inhabitants of Greymouth are 'implicated in the disgrace which necessarily attaches to so mean a repudiation of a just debt. I would premise what I am about to say by stating, that it is not from any personal feeling against MrjJVhitefoord, as I believe that gentleman has been ill-ad-vised by his lawyer, who appears to have looked on the case as one in which he would have a good opportunity of displaying the power which our famed laws put in the hands of one skilled in its marvellous chicaneries — possibly, too, he may have felt some disappointment at being deprived of the chance of displaying his his well-known forensic talents in making the bad appear the better cause. j Now, sir, Mr Newton says — " Had you been in possession of all the facts brought to the knowledge of the arbitrators," you would naturally conclude from this, that Mr Newton, after such a preface, intended to place these facts before your readers for them to judge whether your conclusion wasjustprnot ; but I regret to see that Mr Newton has not done so, but on the contrary has studiously (it appears to me) omitted some facts and mis-stated others. For instance, Mr Newton does not tell you that the Nelson Government telegraphed to their principal official in this part of the Province of Nelson, to authorise him to go to such expense as he. saw fit for the entertainment of His Excellency on his visit to the Brunner Coal Mines, and I believe, therefore, tb^ I was preparing such a luncheon as would be worthy of the Government of the Nelson Province, and not merely such as Mr Whitefoord, as a private individual, would require for the Governor and a few exclusive friends. I stated, in my sworn evidence" before the arbitrators, that I understood afterwards from Mr Whitefoord that he required a luncheon for about fifteen people, and said that I would charge ,£lO for that number. This, I am aware, Mr Whitefoord contradicts, and states that the number was about thirty ; but my memory is not bad, and I am sure that my assertion is strictly in accordance with facts. Is it likely I would ask you, sir, that I, who have, for many years been accustomed to cater for public entertainments of all kinds, and not for the entertainment of a representative of Royalty for the first time, would have provided a luncheon, such as was laid out at the Coal Mines before Mr Whitefoord and his distinguished visitor for the sum of LlO, as if for the consumption of thirty people ? Mr Newton also states that I took only one waiter tothe Coal Mines, the truth being, as sworn by me before the arbitrators, I employed three waiters and a man to assist generally at the lunch. Mr Whitefoord certainly did bring Mr Wickes to me, and there was an arrangement that Mr Wickes was to pay 10s 6d per head for his guests, but I sent my bill to Mr Whitefoord, under whose control the whole affair was, and, as he did not inform me who were his guests, and who Mr Wickes's, I, of course, could not discriminate between the two parties, who all mutually partook of the good things I provided.

Mr Newton tells you I am to be pitied, but he certainly did not appear to be influenced by much Christian charity when availing himself of all the legal quibbles his well-stocked brain could suggest, for the purpose of preventing a tradesman from obtaining payment of his just claim. He managed to persuade the arbitrators, who found that I was legally entitled to more than Mr Newton advised hi 3 client to pay, viz. , LlO, to saddle me with half the costs of the arbitration, and although this was tantamount to a verdict in my favor, 1 am compelled to pay all the costs of bringing the action and refraining, at the urgent request of Mr Newton, from dragging the case before a public tribunal. Thus 1 have bad to provide a luncheon for her Majesty's representative on his visit lo the Nelson Coal Mine, and made to pay heavily for daring \to ask for payment. I said that the inhabitants of Greymouth suffer from this disgraceful affair, and I will illustrate that assertion. A gentleman lately returned from Auckland told me that he, on his first arrival there, was pleased to hear Greymouth's reception of his Excellency spoken of in flattering terms, but two days after, news arrived of the refusal to pay my bill. Then the whole tide turned, and unlimited jeers were heaped on my friend's head ; such as, "who paid for the Governor's luncheon V This laughable episode will show what the New Zealand public think of our Greymouth hospitality to the Governor on his late visit. I regret that Mr Whitef oord's " friend, " Mr Newton, should have again stirred up this aflair, as had he not done so I need not lmve troubled your readers further on the matter ; but 1 cannot submit to the supressio yen which Mr Newton's letter shows. Had ho confined himself to a statement of fact.--, .mrl made that statement complete, I slu.n'rl \i-wq nothing to say. 1. now .iv.QV.uly show you. that Mr Whitefoord held full authority from his Government to entertain his Excellency. But when the bill came in he refused to pay ; forces me into a law suit, which, for his convenience, I agree to arbitrate, and then find I am mulcted of a good deal more money than I get. This is law, but who will say that it is justice ? I am, &c, James Johnston. Melbourne Hotel, Greymouth, July 1, 1871. "-'