MR McMINN IN REPLY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1443, 1 September 1885, Page 3

MR McMINN IN REPLY.

'.:■ (TO T?E kja'B^_,Q¥.i^\§Tf^^T>\.!*; Sir, — Illiayo, : >justjreail,!C^i.;t}|.ui ; PiU'Ov .graphs in .the Munajvatii Times of th'fs' evemh>,"the paijyablc object'ahd -iutenV tion of which is to insinuate tifat'l Ahave been in some way connected with the # pr6s'eentioriB > in- * Wanganui>< rand-her.©:; under the Municipal. Corporations Act. EiQbal>iy, no one knew "better' thein '. the. editor of the Times, when he inserted those paragi-aps^that thoy^were -.entirely with- ' out foundation, to use a very lriild form of expression indeed. The writer in weaving his web of falsehoods, tries to make out that the Wanganui correspondent of the Standard, who it is well known is myself i was in callnsion with the man Tiinnis to urge him to take action against the offending Wanganui Borough Councillors. I know Timms by sight, but dp not think I have ever spoken to him in my life, certainly not that I can recollect. I know that he bears me strong ill-will for having expressed myself in certain terms with regard to his action against Spurdle. I quote' frdni the Tithes paragraph to show the deep designing malevolence of the writer. ,. He )says :"It is pretty evident that Timros was being worked up to concert pitch by some one in Wanganui, and that-Mr Liffitori's prompt action has spoilt the game. It is singular, indeed, that although these are civil actions, and the summonses were only heard on Saturday, a telegram could be published on the previous Thursday stating that informations were laid for the supply' of goods, &c. We would suggest to the patriotic Timms that he should not. have too many . confidants next time he contemplates vindicating the la\y. "It is quite evident from the context that the writer of the paragraph in the most contemplated wayyseeks4o connect me with the Wanganui'pro ecution, arid by inference with the Palmei-ston one. The first I heard of the Wanganui prosecution was when in company with Mr A. Bentley and a Wanganui gentleman who gave me the information and particulars as to cost of summonses. This information I telegraphed to the Standard the same forenoon. Mr Bentley can, and I dare nay, will corroborate what I have stated. It will be remembered the Times affirmed that the telegram was a pure fabrication, hatched in order "to scare candidates for municipal honours!" The first I .knew of the Park prosecution was a paragraph in Saturday's Standard. Manv people know, that I have for some weeks * past boen in Waneanui, trying the recover mv shattered health, and. bevond wi'iting an occasonal leader, when able to doso that I have taken no part whatever in local matters. Of course, it is not difficult to trace the hand of the clique in th? fin-ther attempt made to • injure mein public opinion; BAt- : I do not care much for this. Those who*e good opinion I value, will currently attribute the insinuation to the source from which it has emanated, and setiit down at'its; proper value. Neither will they or any other reasonable person expect me to express much sympathy Park. If he. had had his way, he would have crushed mo out of existence long ago. That he failed in his attempts was not through lack of. trying and trying over and over airain. lam not one who can weep crocodile tears of sympathy, with when I don't have such feelings. Park has declared his avowed enmity to me ever since he came to the place, arid has lost no opportunity of doing me injury. He has used his" position as member of the Bacing Club, member of the Finance Committee, member of the Borough Council, and in scores of other ways to damage myself and the Stan pard, which is my living, in every possible and conceivable way, and when I heard of the prosecution the first thought in my mind was that his evil wishes directed against me had begffh to recoil on himself. But he need not despair. By bis own account, and that of his partisans, he is a man of great wealth. What is £100 or £1,000 to him ? Why ac2prd.ing to reports industriously circulated when an opposition stationery business was about being astablishe-l, Park was in a position to buy up all Palmerpton, and now he is in distress because he fancies be may have to pay a paltry £100. His own paper must be surely right, viz., that " there is not the remotest chance of a Councillor Veing fined for haying supplied goods in the ordinary way of trade." If that is so, what is al the weeping|,and wailing apd gnashing oi

tcutli about '? If the defendant wins the suit, the Hags will fly, and the drums bent, and there will be a general jollification. If he loses, he will simnly have to nay his £100 and look pleasant, and mind and not simiJarly commit himself again. It will be u good lesson to him, and there are a good many in Palmerston who will not be sorry. As for myself I have lived down a good deal of evil-speaking, lying, and slandering from time to time by one .and another in Palmerston, and I care very little for the dastardly attempts made to defame me by the notorious clique and their servile organ, with whom falsehood, scurrility, and detraction are congenial pursuits. I value the good opinion of honest men,and of my friends in Palmerston, but I treat with scorn and contempt the cowardly, underhand miserable assassin-like attacks of the individuals who lor months past have tried by night and day to injure me. I defy them to succeed in their designs. They have worked every conceivable device, and Park has been with them heart and soul, but hitherto my friends have been successful in thwarting nearly all their tactics. "When I attack Ido it openly, but do not resort to devices of which I have any reason to feel ashamed. — I am, &c. Alex McMinn. Criterion Hotel, Wanganni, Monday evening.