A JUSTIFICATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1591, 7 June 1887, Page 2

A JUSTIFICATION.

TO THB EDITOR,

Sie,— May I trouble you in reference to thefollbwing matter In its iaeae of last Friday tbe’.Timaru Herald, in an unmercifully-scathing-articlo.dealt as, I considered, unfairly with* me, and' I replied-in a letter, a copy, of which I append. The editor of that journal, however, has not (bought fit to insert the letter in ! que.-ii’'n, : fhis procedure places me at a great disadvantage,’ns mr voipe cannot be heard in Timarn, and thus the public are bound to assume that I had nothing to .say in my own behalf, but have simply .accepted, the situation as painted by the Herald. Wouldjou, therefore, kindly"-give matter publicity by publishing this,note along, with , the letter, a copy of which is appended f I think, and I trust that you do so also, that it is only fair play to me that I shou'd at ‘least be heard in my! own defence.—l am, etc., Jambs Matmews. Wai‘ohi F'at/June 2, 1887. [co?t.] To tha Editor Tiraaru Herald, i >SI», -I have jnab perused the remarks in your issue of Friday laat, and although entering the lists wifh eo august a personage aa your editorial, self seems a foolhardy step for one in my positfon, yet so'viruh nt and uncalled for is your onslaught that oo alternative is left me but to again request to be alloWed soma space in the columns of your journal. You egregriously misinterpret my statament when you say that I regard the offence of; illicit distillation as ,a light obeV I merely ‘wished to bring put the fact that offences created by statute are not necessarily crimes in themselves, and should not in the ear’y stages of a case subject the person aocm-ed to treatment which, is much more' severe than h" shown to* persona accused of some crime ai common law. You, however, either intentionally or through your inability to compr-hend what I wrote, give me credit ’for an opinion I never .held, and, then proceed to controvert Tit., v ;Ypu fight ian enemy of your own creating —swallow the cow; and worry the tail; apd.io performing these operations you ,indulge in language so virulent tind offensive .’that it seems : worthier of a denizen of Billingsgate than • the editor of a respectable journal. If I you characterise the writing of my former 1 litter ns being “nothing short of bnre--1 faced impudence,” what terms shall I 1 find adequale to stigmatise your unblusb-, ; iog i.uolenco and your unabashed egotism I Who has mads you a J udge in Israel i Are you a second Daniel come to judgment, that I .must be told by you that I should posC as a guilty and uot as nn innocent man i Your article, from beginning to end, is evidently the production of an angry and disappointed cn»n-aa article which I would have expao'ei rather'from the police or a disappointed informer than from a guar.jdi^noltjia public interest.- It is simply *ou behalf of tbo. Crown, or iatjier the police. Ido uot say that it is good special pleading, but it is as good as could be expected from you. Ido not intend arguing the hgal points of my case with you, or attempting to »et you right in your misstatement*. Such evidence, as 1 was allowed to lead is before the public. Let them judge. Thank goodness yoar ipse dixit will not be screp'cd by them oa final. “ When I spe let all the people tremble ” cannot be said to!the people; of New Zealand by such as you, I must, hewever, make one remark. I am quite aware Unit it is not customary t either in Canterbury or anywhere olse, to use' a atill-head for pig feed,.:,but it is Just because circumstances are outr <of the customary that a mao gets into a legal difficulty. In conclusion just let me say that if in writing this furious article you imagined you would effectually ‘‘ squash ” me, you greatly misjudged your!man. In the first war between . .Britain , and China,, the Chinese painted luigs, fierce, and grim figure's upon ,tl eh* H* a laments in the hope of stilting terror. intoHluor invaders. You krio v, !1 >up'poso, whnt effect those figures'liii't. - A similar effect has your, fierce words upon roe. My Irish blood would not suffer me to be insu'tod and.not reta'iate, no matter how trivial case ;dr insignificant tha insultor.. But just let me give you a .piece of advice,"'the fortifer in re is much more/-.effectual when'" softened.* by the maviter in nodo.' I did not ge(; access to

vJtour paper till to-day, oth<*rwi»o I would Wfogvo anawered you earlier, bui I havr arranged no* that I shall £ et , ra y P a P fcr > every evening, and as my evenings are at my own disposal if you intend again to • honor me with your notice 1 may as well employ them in’having a shot at you for want of nobler game.—l am, etc., Jambs Mathews. Waitohi Flat, 30th May, 1887.