CORRESPONDENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 285, 17 July 1873, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

MR. BEIGHTON TN REPLY. (To the Editor.) Sir, — Not having a great amount of ambition to appear conspicuously as a correspondent in your columns, I regret that " G-. Mackay 's " letter in your last week's paper requires tbat I should devote a few lines for his special behoof. I notice that my friend has in a most elaborate manner, and no doubt to his own satisfaction, convinced himself that be has been most consistent in the course pursued by him during the late contest. In the face of all the facts already cited and not disproved, showing such a strange inconsistency, the letter in question is only another palpable proof of the correctness of Mr. Borton's assertions that he has a most strangely defective memory, and oue that I shall not attempt to remedy. Seeing that the exposure of him made by the Secretary of the Progress Committee has failed to refresh his memory regarding his own acts, I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without referring to his assertion as to what transpired at the inquisition or mysterious investigation, to. which Mr, Mackay allud.es,

The affair stands simply thus — Mr. Mackay brought a series of charges against Sergeant Daley of the police force, in which he most unwarrantably mixed my name up. I along with a number of other residents felt an interest in the proceedings, and attended at the Courthouse to hear the charges preferred, when we were informed by Mr. Borton that the investigation was going to be a private one. Sergeant Daley, myself, and others asked for tho proceedings to be public, but this was declined ; and Mr. Borton requested us to withdraw, which we accordingly did, and this is the vaunted, well-merited, humiliating castigation administered by Mr. Borton, over which Mr. Mackay gloats. If Mr. Mackay wishes to be reminded of a despicable humiliating exhibition, I would refresh his memory a bit with respect to the abject appearance presented by the accuser (not the accused) in the Court house, when the evidence of Patello and "Wilson was being piven, touching the fact of a certain J.P. using threatening and intimidating language in order to prevent a witness appearingin Court, and thus perverting the ends of justice. Mr. Mackay cautions me against prying into matters ; but I think it is necessary that some matters should be pryed into, and the evidence and report in connection with the Roxburgh Inquisition case made public, so that the pubiic may judge and satisfy them selvesabout the merits of the case. I think it very hard that any official, let him be policeman or other public servaut, should be debarred from having public justice and vindication accorded to him ; but be put to heavy expenses and trouble in defending himself against groundless charges, and having done so effectually, have the only consolation in knowing that the matter has been quietly hushed ud. I aunex copy of resolution passed by the Progress Committee, and extracted from minute book, which, I think, ought to be in itself a conclusive answer to Mr. George Mackay's very consistent statements. — I am, &c. Joiin Beighton. Proposed by Mr, M. E. Manuel, and seconded by Mr. I). Anderson, " That the Secretary send a reply to ivlr. Baldwin's telegram, stating that the Committee cannot accord to him their support as they prefer a local man, and that Mr. Beighton has been induced to stand."