THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1877.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2555, 15 March 1877, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1877.

A littlb over; a- fortnight ago we 'commented upon.'? a lawyer's letter." we had received from Messrs Macdonald and Millefr*. certain^charges which- had been made in a letter to the editor about the private practice'of the Turncock to* the Domestic Water Supply, Committee. In our comments we stated that we might harfe occasion to refer to the matter again, 7 especially to a certain phase of legal procedure which the embryo case had developed. ( W/e nctpr revert to this, business for the purpose of exonerating the legal firm above mentipnediof the charge of : taking up, a case on "apec^'-as certain circumstance's have recently come to our

| knowledge which convince us that the iimpressiofis • under ■ whichj former I article was written were the result of ! misrepresentation, and that, therefore some.eiplanation is due in order to put I the saddle on the right horse. This much we deenvit right to state, as much 'for our''own^jus'tification sis for the repu- [; tation of the professional gentlemen con- || cerned, and to secure this iir- will be {necessary to state the circumstances | under which .the. prep^ijs.'article was iwritten. ; ©5 '&££s an ■anonymous letter appeared in the Star making certain charges against the Turnjcock jof ( \he t Domesfie^jW^ter* Supply. That individual applied to the editor of jthig^iapefxfprTthe name bf?:the writer^ jand was informed that when ..the, writer of jtne! letter had been communicated with jno doubt hewouldget it,; the said Turn-i-.co'ck averring that his only object was to ;get some- substantial charge(to answer in jcase of an^ enquiry, whi^h he courted, at |the same admittirig^ that por;tion . of.: the „ charge .was itrue,; and. jthaV he had, no, .uiteripr object Jn. { the, shape of legal proceedings, as that jwas a l,u?ury ; beyond bis^neans. About 'the same^'lime, Mr .Macdonald, in his 'capacity of Chairman of the Water Works .ComnVittee"^(we! assume) applied for the name of the writer of the letter, but at the same time intimating that an action for libel was pending. Mr Macdonald was informed that as a matter of courtesy; the writer of'the letter must be consulted |b^fore;°fiii''namefconlcl.' be disclosed.', .Two d^ys after =t|a <; Turniqc'k ■_ accosted^ one of the proprietors of the' Star with the question had he received a letter from " Macdonald and Miller," and in further conversation he said, in presence of witnesses, that although,he had had no intention of going^'to law, yet-as' "Macdonald and Milfer " had offered to take up the case for him he had changed his mind. Shortly after this—a few minutes th.ereafte'r,. i in T fa_et~^fhe ( .' 1 lawyer's letter'?. was received, which induced the comments referred to above. We considered our- ! selves,, justified /in saying what' we; did, but having the assurance of the solicitors that the circumstances under which they took action were different to those stated by the real complainant, namely the Turncock; we have no hesitation in saying that-we accept the version of the solicitors in preference to that of the Turncock, more especially as we learn that the^ latter> has denied that he said; what he did in the presence of reputable witnesses. We make this explanation in justice to Messrs Macdonald and Miller and to ourselves, and in ignorance of and

utter indifference to any ulterior proceedings contemplated by the person who felt himself aggrieved by the the letter which formed^theiijoriginaLgrounil of complaint, who, we have no hesitation in saying, has been guilty of gross-prevarication in his communications between ourselves and his legal advisers.- It'is only the conviction that we have unintentionally wronged the professional gentlemen-above named that has induced vi to .pen this explanatloriSi

The position Mr Vincent Pylce occupies with regard* to the Kawarau Riding of the County Council of which lie is a member, as well as with regard to Dunstan, which he represents^ in Parliament, is not an enviable one. Having been elected to these offices by a majority i sufficient to show that he was the man on whom■-the choice ,pf ; the electors- liad fallen,-he-is how asked' io resign^both his positions because he has a number of foes among the electors, many of whom were probably never his •' friends. Whether or not he should acceed to their request and resign will probably be a matter hard for him to decide, and one that will certainly give rise to two sets of opinions. ; The ! arguments advanced by those who wish for his resignation will be, that when, they elected him to represent them they thought ;he held the same .-views, as.• themselves,. ■and would, bring these views forward, or support them, when they ;were brought hforward; they find; that he does not re- : present their views, and as |hey wish to hare as a member and councillor some one ; who .does,, they., ask him ...to.' re^re, and >o^sid^rthlt%hey are; justifiedsin asking this. On the^other hand, those who think he* ovlg^t t »C>tf to r rejtire} v?ill)argue,

anji.wijtti.much reason;that it is wrpng vto iinai in the feelibg pro^uq^d by the excitement of the moment, by men who are led away by tfieir feelings^tb actagainsttheir better judgment, and.what they wish done when angry they would wish: to~ have undone in their calmer moments, and therefore that some of those who are loudest in. their denunciation of Mr Pyke now will side with him when their excitement has cooled down.;' It is certainly difficult for, Mr . ? Pyke. T to know in which way to act for the best. TherJß is this, however, that;makes it easier, and that is, the, tone ; assumed- by. the requisitionists in demanding his resignation. They, not only demand it- in* stead of requesting it, but they threaten what they,, will do if he does not act as they wish, and couch their threats in language not the most courteous. They say they will cease to regard him as their member ;'theyWill igndre him and his "presence in the House altogether, and if they want anything done they will obtain' the services of some more honorable man. In fact, they putdtiihthis way—-thatif he resigns they will ignore hftn; if he beeps his seat they will ignore him still.: ; So that he has not much to gain whichever course he chooses to adopt; >■-■;r--. ;! :-