Correspondence.

Colonist, Issue 19, 25 December 1857, Page 2

Correspondence.

, To the Editor of the Colonist. ;■ Sib, —As., several months are likely to pass away before I shall be able to. settle my account, in the Supreme Court, with several parties who have done iheir worst.to annoy and injure me, I deem it right to record, in the pages of the 'Colonist, a few plain facts that I challenge anyone to successfully contradict. My integrity was attacked by my electioneering opponents, in connexion.-with a Bill affair twelve years ago. The pais I had acted was bruited by niy enemies, whether in ignorance or malice time will shew, as & swindling transaction. Now to swindle, under any pretence whatever, is, any one must Know,-^--to-cheai.' As such I wish to shew that the allegation aforesaid was a gross and base falsehood, zealously propagated to my prejudice. Not wishing to cramp or vitiate legal proceedings, by mentioning names of blameworthy persons resident here, and as such amenable to our tribunals, I shall simply sketch the leading features of the case. Nearly thirteen yean ago I purchased of Messrs. Henry and John Coolce, then of this Settlement, two farms with the stock and crops belonging thereto. These were to be paid for in gold.. • About ;three parts of the amount of the entire,—including also some old debts of residents here due to the Cookes, and for which I suffered myself to be responsible,—some three parts, I say, I' paid in gold. The remainder, £160, by mutual agreement, was to be paid in the following manner: I was to give them a Mortgage on my property here ; to give them on commission for sale,—-The Encyclopedia Britannica, Lardmr's Cycldpcedia, and sundry other equally valuable works, in the newest editions and bindings, with cabinets, paintings, &c, amounting, at the London;.;wholesale prices, to some two hundred and thirty ; pounds; and to; give them a Bill besides for the said £IQO, which they could get cashed here, so as to enable, them to buy sheep more largely iriW. D. Land, or Australia. The Bill was given, with, the understanding, that my relation onjwhom it wa# drawn, (whopurposed buying' a property''at'Kf%mek,sii<l > calling it by our own name) might ndt^from illness, death, or. other causes, be able- -'to visit England, as I expected he would. Of course^ the Cookes understood this; and, as they were on the right side,—would in fact,it was hoped, soon have to pay me a balance—they said they would "run all risks ;" — their relations would at all events take up the bill, or advance the money for them; and in the meantime all would be right. "My relation did not go to England. Of this I was advised at Hobarton ; the Cookes themselves informing me of certain letters, &c, waiting there for me; but which came to hand too late to be of service. The result was, the Messrs. Cooke fell back on my property in their possession already ; disposed of it for one quarter its value: and I paid them the remainder, including principal, interest, and all expenses whatever, when they applied for, it some nine years ago, through the firm of Alfred Fell and Co.—l defy the best man in the world to prove the least untruth in any of these statements. Such are the incontestible facts. First the Cookes understood the uncertainties attached to my relation's contemplated residence at Keswick, and the probable name of his residence* as much as I did, or any one else. They, in the next place,; raised the money they immediately wanted. Then they were fully guarrarited against all mishaps. There was one fault certainly—a fault my c^lijinnators are not likely to commit—/was rather too generous in sacrificing my property for the accommodation of tmcandid creatures who wrote to a still meaner being in way that good and honest men, when they know all about it, as they will by and by, will spurn with contempt. To cheat in this case was impossible. No man but a blockhead or a liar would ever think of asserting the contrary. ; Let the miserable traducers of my honor, paltry gossips and unmanly pereerters of truth that they are, lay their hands on their hearts and say, if they dare, that they have always demeaned themselves in the genuine spirit of fairness, candour, sincerity, and rectitude ever evinced in all my dealings here and indeed in all my statements. Whether I have bought sections or sold,them, whether by chance I have given a bill or held the bill of a creditor, T; will risk a comparison for integrity with the most honourable man in the Council or out of with any swelling pretender in the^sale of other people's lands, or any trafficer in reputations;' One thing I am sure of, I can look the most upright iv the eyes,—or face the most unjust,-r-feel-ingin my own breast, that I should scorn to injure; either the one or the other. Whether I dannot often look upon ■ thoses' who have knowingly wronged myself is another matter altogether.- '-■■ E. B. A. EBAN. ..' Wesdale, Waimea West, !" [ 23rd December, 1857. ■"'