MR. HISLOP AND THE ELECTION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1290, 26 May 1880, Page 2

MR. HISLOP AND THE ELECTION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE OAMARU MAIL. Sir,—Mr. Hislop charges me with being illogical because I stated that he " instigated Mr. Roberts to come forward," and, that he, in an unguarded moment, gave a too free expression to his convictions by saying that' Mr. Roberts was not the man for the electors. There is nothing illogical about these statements of fact; but a man who induces a friend to take up a position in which he feels himself ill at ease, then denounces him in more emphatic terms than I used in stating the fact, and finally disowns the truth, is guilty of something worse than bad logic., Mr. Hislop endeavors to excuse his action in having publicly used his knowledge _of my private affairs as a means of prejudicing my election and assisting that 01 Mr Roberts—or Mr, Reid. He says that they are a matter of public record, and are known to thousands. So they are now, thanks to Mr. Hislop's ill-judged vindictiveness. What is publicly recorded is neither a disgrace to me, nor could it possibly prejudice the minds of the settlers of the district in the slightest degree against me. There are thousands of prosperous men in the Colony who have to submit to the same necessity—men who are in every respect as valuable and honorable colonists as even Mr. Hislop. Ido no.t fear anything that can be pijbHshed against me. Published charges can be dealt with either in the public press or in another plaoe. What I fear are insidious utterances, to which I am not afforded an opportunity of replying. Mr. Hislop says that I object to his making reference to my private affairs, and that is the reason why he cannot fully explain everything. This! is an amount of deference that I did not expect at the of Mr. Hislop—or is it considera* tion for himself. Again he informs the public that I am under an obligation to him. . Wkile feeling it to be my painful duty to acknowledge the fact, I also am gratified to be able to say that Mr. Hislop has written the truth. I take this opportunity of publicly tha,nking Mr, Hislop for his past kindnesses, and of informing him that immediately on observing his open antagonism to me I set on foot arrangements for relieving him of the responsibility which he accepted on my behalf, which arrangements will mature in a little over a week in all human probability, This is, I presume, all that Mr. Hislop requires. With regard to the conclusion of Mr. Hislop's letter, in which he endeavors to create a disruption between me and the gentlemen who have such confidence in my honor that they joined with Mr.' His]op in doing me a great kindness, I can only say that the subject is, to my mind, too sacred to be treated of in a public journal, I have no desire to pursue this correspondence further. lam satisfied, and I hope that Mr. Hislop has nothing to regret. So far as the elation, which has engendered such recrimination, is concerned, if I am beaten, I am convinced that it will not be because Mr. Hislop has succeeded in his attempt to influence public opinion against me. I still retain what is of fap more value to me than success $s a candidate, and that is the confidence of the community in my honor, and Mr. Hislop is one of the community.—l am, &c., George Jones. » TO THE EDITOR OF THE OAMARU MAIL. Sir,—l observe that Mr. Roberts denies that he said during his remarks the other evening that he had been introduced by Mr. Hislop as his successor, and that the country—or county, as I wrote it, which is the same thing—and town of Waitaki were at variance in the choice of a member. With regard to the first, I distinctly remember that Mr. Roberts mentioned himself as one of these gentlemen who had been introduced by Mr. Hislop. lam quite as certain as to the accuracy of the second statement.—l am, etc., Youb. Correspondent.