MR. McLEOD AND MR. MACKAY.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 12, 20 October 1871, Page 3

MR. McLEOD AND MR. MACKAY.

To ttic Editor of the Thames Guardian. “Nor auglit set down in malice.” —Shakespeare Sir, —In your report of the Parliamentary proceedings to hand by last mail from Wellington, it appears that the honorable member for the Bay of Islands district, Mr. McLeod (I call him honorable , for I suppose those who are members of the House are all honorable men), but if the report be correct his conduct is hardly that of an “ honorable ” man, to attack a private citizen in such a cowardly manner during his absence, and when he had r.o opportunity of replying to the,, 11 honorable member’s” animadversions. From my own knowledge, the charges made by Mr McLeod against Mr Mackay are simply untrue, and further that Air Mackay has on all occasions done his best, not only to have the road, but also the telegraph hue carried through to Tauranga, and instead of letters suggesting payment for such works, I know that he has written to the principal natives who were opposed to their being carried on, condemning their opposion, and urging upon them to consent to their being carried on, and explaining the benefits they would derive should they consent. I am really surprised that

a member of the House of Representatives should have thought it his duty to act in the manner Mr McLeod is described to have done ; but I do not wish to be too hard on the “ hononorablo member," and will attribute it to his inexperience of ordinary courtesy, gentlemanly conduct and Parliamentary usages. I hope all the honorable members transactions have been satisfactory to those interested, and that no one oan describe any of them as “ fishy.” It is not my intention to trespass further on your valuable space, but merely add that Mr. McLeod’s conduct in reference to Mr Mackay (to use the honorable members own words) can only be “ characterised as stabbing in the dark.—l am, &c., No Blue Nose. October 18, 1871.