New Zealand News.

Taihape Daily Times, 16 March 1918, Page 3

New Zealand News.

ANONYMOUS THREATS. ‘AGAINST ORANGE ADHERENTS. TWO SENSATIONAL LETTERS HANDED TO HON. T. M. WILFORD. FRANKTON JUNCTION Mar. 14. Messrs E. McGregor and R. Andrews, president and secretary of the Hamilton branch of the Protestant Political Association, waited on the Hon. T. M. Wilford, Minister of Justice, at Frankton this morning, in reference to a couple of anonymous let ters of a threatening character which thpy stated had been received by two supporters of their organisation. [The first of the letters, both of which were handed to the Minister, i ' ’ was addressed to Mr. Colin Galbeth, farmer, of Gordonton, and ran as follows: “You dirty Orange dog, I’ll burn more than your stack of hay. I’ll learn you to talk about us Catholics, . you and your damned Orange lodge*” This letter, the deputation stated, was received by Mr, Galbeth oh February 19, the day after one of, hie stacks had been destroyed by fire.

LThe other letter, which was stated tol have ben received on March 8 by Mrs. Buick, proprietress of a confectionery shop in Hamilton, ran thus: “Look at here; if you let your son go td; the Orange Lodge this week your Infuse is going to be burned up and that hoy of yours is going to get a ballet through the head of him. I sha’n’t warn you any more.” The two letters were in different hands, one of which was apparently disguised.v The deputation' stated that the letter to Mrs. Buick was the second threat that had been made to her. The Minister said that in his official capacty he knew no religion, and the same was true of the Department of Justice, He was prepared to go to any lengths to maintain law and order and to prevent such occurrences as those mentioned by the deputation. H e proposed to retain the letters for further investigation.