AN EXPLANATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4510, 3 September 1875, Page 2

AN EXPLANATION.

TO THE EDITOK OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Snt. —The Auckland Evening Star of the 23rd ult. contains telegrams purporting to have been sent by me. I am not aware that I ever sent a telegram to tho Star in my life. Before the well-known proprietor and editor of that paper, the Rev. George McCullagh Reed, came down to Wellington for the present session, I received a letter from his subeditor, a Mr. Leys, asking me to keep him "posted up ’’ iu certain information, which Mr. Leys seemed to think was at my disposal, and on Mr. Reed's arrival that gentleman preferred a similar request. He expressed some astonishment at finding that I had no peculiar sources of information ; his own newspaper experience having apparently taught him to expect that a person in my position should have a kind of hole and corner access to the doings of any party his paper might in a general way support. Having quite enough to do without looking for such information, and to look for such not being expected ns amongst the duties of the employes of the New Zealand Times, I was unable to keep him “posted up." But 1 tell you what I did do, most foolishly, I admit, as thinking that I was dealing with a proper member of my profession. I asked our reporters to tell him what had been going on in the Legislative Council or Houso of Representatives during his frequent absences rendered necessary by his hole and cornering Sir George and others of his party, and I gave him access to precis of parliamentary papers, which X was then making in abundance for transmission to respectable journals : Kay, more, I have given him permission to duplicate my telegrams of these precis for bis own journal. He left Wellington professing tho most fervid thanks. From our relations here he must have had doubt about the telegrams he received, purporting to be signed by me, but without inquiry he published them, aud named me in my professional capacity as sub-editor of the New Zealand Times. Even a dog which you feed does not forget kindness. I have fortunately preserved Mr. Leys’ letter to me ; why, I do not know, but it is lucky I did so, or perhaps the Auckland Evening Star would contain a vehement denial of what I have asserted and can prove.—l am, &c., John M. Perrier.