MESSRS PERRY AND McKENNA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1790, 17 September 1884, Page 2

MESSRS PERRY AND McKENNA.

The following correspondence haß been placed at our disposal, The first letter is written by a leading Masterton resident and the second is Mr -Beethafo's- reply . thereto. i Sir—Enclosed please find an ex actfron/W the' Star' of September 11th by which your*' will see that Messrs Perry- and' McKenna ' have made use of .your .name as haying, promised that you would use 1 your .interest on their behalf. It is the opiniop of a great many residents here that the . whole affair is a delusion aa it is publicly.declared that Mr Perry perpetrated the same i j.olje in Napier.- :If yon willkindly reply (4s & as - you can without breach of confidence) -what ia your opinion of the matter you will much oblige as a number of men are waiting abbnt Masterton .in expectation, Kindly advise whether I can publish your reply or not. Trusting you will excuse liberty taken;

September 15,1881 i Ijduly received your letter of the 12th' mst re the gold discoveries of Messrs Perry and-McKeuna. I am sorry to say that I liavo not secu the reef from which the specimen shown me Was taken, nor do I know even the position of the gold bearing. strafit. I promised to assist Messrs Perry and'McKenna in any way possible, and'shall be'glad to do'.so, I tear that it will be difficult to pass any measure through Parliament that will have for its object any question" of dealing with'native lands before tho crown title has been issued. A. Native Lands Bill will be before the House in a few days, .1 will then- try if: it is possible to authorise® mining on native .lands, assuming that due™ and just compensation is gives -tile natives. If' a good payable gOldfield oauld be dis< covered in the. Wairarapa at this juncture it would aßßiat very materially every class .of our settlers.. Any.dealing with native lands is bo tedious thai I cer.tainly think that meD Would be unwiso to wail in Masterton for the prospect of a speedy -development of the gold field,. If, as you say, men are waiting, Ifear'suoh a course may result in disappointment, ,-

, ' ' lours to,, . Geoege Beethim. 1 We ventuw to -express a hope that Mr Beetham will not move further ill the direction of assisting Messrs Perry and McKenna till he is thoroughly convinced of the -bona fide .character, of theif discovery.' When Messrs Perry and McKenna first displayed their specimens they fought counsel and assistance from, Mr Caselberg. Now, this counsel and assistance Mr Caselberg.offered, provided that he'was assured of the bona fide character of the discovery, bnt Messrs Perry and McKenna declined to submit to a test of this kind, and as far as Mr Caselberg was concerned the matter, euded. If Messrs JPerry arid MoKeDnajfe. we tolling a true tale they were r i fectly safe in the hands of Mr Caselberg, i and the piiblio havo some reason to f distrust them when they go toiins about here and there tor help and avoiding dakingeuch straightforward nodbusiness like steps as would establish their integrity and lead to the removal of the native difficulty. The latter we regard as a mere " bagatelle" if the disoovery ie what it purports to be. It could have been removed three months ago had Messrs Perry and McKenna followed Mr Caselberg's advice end given proof of their good faith. Probably, Mr Beetham by this lime will have arrived at iha oonolusion, that lie is not justified in assisting; men.'who, by, their peculiar conduct, haye .ipade' lhem-'' selves generally distrusted;