The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1884. ALLEGED LIBEL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1261, 4 November 1884, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1884. ALLEGED LIBEL.

Wk have received the following communication ;

Timarn Oct..3lst, 1884. To the Editor Temuka Leader, Temuka. Dear Sir,—Mr F. Franks of Temuka, brewer, has requested rae to write you in reference to a passage appearing in the issue of your paper of the 9th of Oct., 1884, i.e., “ That Mr White stated that Mr Franks was likely to file,” as there was no foundation for such a statement, and, though Mr White stated it from instructions he had received, it has caused Mr Franks considerable injury, and you are responsible for it. I am instructed to inform you that unless a statement is published m }'our paper that there was no foundation for the remark, and also that you regret the publication, and you also pay to Mr Franks compensation for the damage caused him, an action will be comm meed against you,—l remain, yours truly,

A, St. G. Hamerslby. Without. prejudice. If Mr Franks had asked us to keep this statement out of thepaper on t he day it was spoken, or had since asked us to contradict it, wa should have willingly done so, because we never had, and never shall have any desire to injure either Mr Franks or anyone else. Mr Franks has spoken more than once to the editor of this paper since that date* but he did

not mention it nor Las he complained in any way whatsoever of it. All we can say is that we very much regret if the publication has caused Mr Franks any injury, and that it gives us much pleasure to be assured that he has no intention of filing, more especially as we imve a pecuniary interest in the matter. Mr Franks’s claim for compensation is very vague, and we decline to entertain it.

THE MEMBER FOR GERALDINE. The Hon W. Rolleston is about the bestabused man in blew Zealand at present. For some time past he has been made the subject of vile and most unjustifiable attacks, but he seems to come out of every recounter unscathed. Towards the close of the last Parliament Sir George Grey accused him of some malpractices with regard to the gurafields of-Auckland-, but it leaked out that it was Sir George Grey himself who did the wrong when Superintendent of Auckland. He was also accused of something in connection with a land transaction in Waimatc, but the accusation was so false that Mr Steward the mover of the no-confidence motion, stood up and exonerated Mr Rolleston from all responsibility in connection with the matter. If we mistake not Mr Stout defended him also not long since in regard to other transactions in Otago. The most recent attack was made on him last Thursday, and on Friday he entered into a personal explanation of his conduct. The matter is thus referred to in the Otago Daily Times ; “ Probably the ■ sharpest passage-at-arms that has occurred in the House this session took place this afternoon. It happened in this wise : Mr Rolleston, whose conduct in regard to the Wallsend coal-mine lease was impugned yesterday by the Premier and Colonial Treasurer, moved the adjournment of the House ■ this afternoon in order that he might reply to their strictures. He spoke with considerable warmth, and after justifying his conduct at some length, wound up by denouncing the “ browbeating, sneering abuse, and vulgar intimidation” which he said characterised the bon, gentlemen opposite. The Speaker ruled these words out of order, wheieupon Mr Rolleston intimated that he would withdraw them out of deference to the hon. gentleman’s ruling, but intimated pretty plainly that all the same he thought they were justified, Mr Speaker promptly replied that that was not a proper apology, and the words must be absolutely withdrawn in;respect to the House. Mr Rolleston then said that lie absolutely withdrew and regretted having made use of them. He added that he hoped the House would bear in mind that he had received great provocation. When the member for Geraldine sat down, the Colonial Treasurer launched forth into one of the most bitter philippics against him that has been heard in the House since the days when Sir William Fox used to pour forth the vials of his wrath on the head of a political opponent. Sir Julius commenced by sneering at the air of superiority which ho said the member for. Geraldine alwajs assumed and he asked what record of services rendered had the-hon, gentleman to justify him in assuming such an air.” Sir Julius continued to abuse Mr Rolleston right heartily, and wound up by saying that when both of them weie cold in their graves he (Sir Julius) would not be forgotten so soon as Mr Rolleston. Major Atkinson and Mr Bryce came to Mr Rolleston’s assistance, and both of them asserted that one of the pleasantest recollections of their term of office was to have been associated with Mr Rolleston ; and that no man ever occupied a seat on the Treasury Benches who had to sacrifice less than he did. Major Atkinson said he “ was proud of having been a member of a Government in which he had Mr Rolleston as a colleague, and he ventured to say that when the hon, gentleman and the Colonial Treasurer came to be looked upon by the country as they would be, the late Minister for Lands would not stand second,” In' addition to what appeared m the Otago Daily Times, we may mention that the correspondent of the Tiraaru Herald stated that Mr Rolleston was entirely blameless in the matter, and that the transaction had originally been negotiated by Mr Richardson when Minister for Publie Works in a previous Ministry. Thus on all the occasions that Mr Rolleston has been attacked the discussions have redounded to his credit, and only tended to show how unimpeachable his character is. We might also quote the extraordinarily complimentary manner in which the Hon. Dr Grace referred to Mr Rolleston in the Upper House. He pointed out that though Mr Rolleston had been in public service for about a quarter of a century, and had extraordinary opportunies of enriching himself, he was still, comparatively speaking, a poor man. Although he had been Superintendent of Canterbury, Minister of Lands, and had tilled other offices which gave him special opportunities, he had not secured for himself one inch of Crown Lands. Any land which he owned he had purchased from private individuals at its market value. In a colony like this, where the primary object of politicians seems to be to feather their own nests, this compliment coming from Dr Grace shows Mr Rolleston to be an exceptionally honest politician, and very probably his incorruptibility has a great deal to do with the annoyances to which he has been subject, Very likely others who cannot produce so clean a sheet Mould like very much to see a blot on Mr Rolleston’s name, but, fortunately for that gentleman, if he has done anything wrong they have not found it out yet. We congratulate the hon. gentleman ou having Uea tried sad not J,

found wanting. In his song about the Duke of Wellington, Moore said that in the records of the great men of Erin “ not a blot remained on her Wellington’s name.” The future historian will, we are sure, find Mr Rolleston’s name equally stainless. Could so .much be said for Julius Yogel, who has received about £40,000 of public money in his day ? We believe not, and we are not surprised at all to find that Mr Rolleston puts on an air of superiority when dealing with such men as Sir Julius Y ogel.