REPLY.

Southland Times, Issue 711, 19 August 1867, Page 5

REPLY.

(T J TRS EDITOR OF. THE SOtTTHIiA.NT> .TIMES.}.. ., ,Sib, — As Mr Toshack has not availed himself of the opportunity afforded him, since the publication of " Mabel's ■ ' letter j No. 2,- of rectifying the error he has fallen into,. in ascribing." Mabel" Ko. 1, to the wrong party, continued silence on my'paLrt may be misunderstood. How--efor unwilling, therefore, and I am veryunwilling -to say anything unpleasant,: it;, it; absolutely necessary that, in this., instance, Mr Toshack be made to bear his own burden. ; r ■ In k& letter of the 12th inst., he knocks twa imaginary . antagonists into one^ and •• then informs you / that , " Mabel " better known as " the Colonel" " has his wish ;" he says that " a man who becomes a representative of the people is soon brought into contact with foul tongues and- coarse nature." : : What will be thought of this paragon of modesty of tongue and refinement of nature when I inform you that his assertion that the : ■■' Colonel " is the writer of the letter- signed " Mabel," is utterly untrue, as also every other assertion :and insinuation he made in reference to the individual he : names "Colonel." • ■■■--■■ v ; Mr Toshack wonders if the ' Colonel' remembers about a building society that offered Mr Blackloek a rent of a thousand a year, &c." I hope it may be satisfactory for Mr Toshack to.be informed that the " Colonel " wonders equally with him, as he, the" Colonel," never heard of the transaction referred to till honored by Mr_T. with the insinuation of hayingjb.een it author. ! The ,." C6lonel"was riot a member of the Society referred to, consequently knew nothing of its transactions. .Mr Toshack seems to think everybody who presumes to differ with him in opinion to be mad. This -is said to be one of the hallucinations peculiar to those who are known to be of unsound mind. I hope Mr Toshack has riot been mentally upset through disappointed ambition. He dwells, however, upon the word so much that there may be cause for apprehension, vide his closing perroration. " Just as a madman might think to make a young tree grow faster by pulling its branches upward towards the sky." Has Mr Toshack experienced this feeling? I hope not, and trust he never. 'will. I regret exceedingly having been under the necessity of taking any notice of Mr Toshack's letter, and certainly would not, had he confined himself to ' matters of fact, but it does not contain a single truthful statement orinsiriuation applicable tb me. I have had a very great respect for MrToshackas aneighborand countryman, and hope I may still be permitted to regard him as one of my friends. As I believe he must have been influenced and instigated by others, any unpleasant remark by me refers more particularly to them. I trust in future he will be more sure of his mark before drawing his bow. I may add that since, the dissolution of the Council I have written only one letter to the press, and that it had no reference to Mr Toshack, no reference to any member of Council, past, present, or to come, and that the Editor is authorised to disclose my incog to any gentle" mom he chooses. — I am. Sir, <fee., COLONEL. , 14th August, 1867. : ; . ..7/