MR REESE IN REPLY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1985, 8 May 1885, Page 2

MR REESE IN REPLY.

To the Editor. Sir.—Kindly allow me space in your valuable columns to refer to the l writer of your "sub-leader" in yesterdays issue who evidently is not aware of the value of an "if" and "but" in the art of composition, or else in the vain knowledge of his superior wisdom, he does not credit the people of Mastcrton with possessing sufficient common sense to understand that there is much " virtue in an if;" or again lie might be a very sanguine man, and thinks that the people are really interested in the "but" and "if" feeling that he is afflicted with occasionally. However, that may be, 1 may state that I am amused at the inuendo employed to misrepresent me, and that I would, in all probability, have allowed the matter to pass without challenge, had it occupied a less prominent position in .your pages; but coming, as I feel sure it does, from a gentleman of education whose' faculties have been greatly exercised of late ion the land question, I submit that this " effort of his to mystify the people concerning some of my actions is scarely worthy the position it • occupies. Surely, it is reasonable to expect that a gentleman whose attainments are acknowledged and whose position presents him occasionally with an opportunity of appearing in the leading columns of a newspaper, would rise above all ambiguous expressions, and deal plainly with the subject under consideration, so that your readers might be enlightened' thereby. In conclusion, let me ask the writer of the sub-leader, to publish all the facts that he had before him when he penned his " if and but" article, also a few of the reasons that influenced his'mind so much, while it was stewing, audi will give them and him my very best consideration and attention.

I am, &c., Alex Reese. [lt will be observed that Mr Reese do es not deny that he attempted to tamp er with the Minister of Lands, but de votes his letter to the statement that the sub-leader dealing with the question was written by someone who knew a good deal more than he said. We can assure him that if the writer of the article had known nioro of the matter that was likely to prove of interest to the public, he would have added it. The article was written without the knowledge of anyone out-side our office, and dealt plainly enough with the matter; but wo wished to sec what Mr Reese had to say in defence, before positively asserting that he had done a very unusual thing. He has failed to give a denial in any shape or form, and therefore forces us to the conclusion that he admits the charge,— Ed. W.D.]