THE O'CONOR SCANDAL.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 991, 30 July 1872, Page 2

THE O'CONOR SCANDAL.

We closed, some time since, the collimn* (if this paper against further remark* by excited correspondents, on this most disagreeable subject, feeliu" convinced thot no necessity existed, or further- good could possibly arise from the expression of personal opinion thereon. But, from the commencement of the case, we have as a public duty, given a plain, matter of fact, report of events and incidents connected with this case. Nothing extenuating in Mr O'Conor's favor, because as a public servant, his words and actions are fair subjects for journalistic enquiry, report, and criti. cism ; and on the other hand, setting down naught in malice against him; remembering that, however grave the imputation under which he labored, and however much his unguarded tongue and impetuous disposiFion had led to the forfeiture of personal respect ; he was still member for the Buller District, and that, on behalf of his constituents, it was our duty, as public journalists to make the most of every point in his favor. Mr O'Conor having but himself to blame that we had so few legitimate opportunities of saying a Bingle syllable in his defence. So now, when Mr O'Conor chooses to appear in public print in his own defence, we republish his letter ; leaving our readers to form their own opinions thereon. Simply stating that if it pleases Mr O'Conor to class us among his personal enemies, and to "rabidly descant on the enormity of our transgressions, he may continue the strain and pile on the agony, until " the very weary means do ebb :" [to the editor op the inangahfa HERALD.] Sir, —In consequence of a grave injury which I received at the hands of my personal enemies and political opponents in the Provincial Council of Nelson, I have, in defence of my character, called upon the public of Nelson and upon my constituents in Charleston and Westport to assist me in obtaining a judical enquiry, in order that I might have an opportunity of showing the murderous and cowardly conspiracy of which I have so far been a victim. In Nelson my appeal was met by the almost unanimous resolution, passed at one of the largest meetings ever held there, asking the Government to institute the enquiry—(see Nelson 'Examiner,' June 19th.) In Westport and Charleston nearly the whole male adult population have subscribed their names to the

memorial, of which I enclose a copy. I cannot in the limits of a letter give even the faintest outline of the real bearing of a case which has been so grossly misrepresented hy the Nelson • Colonist,' the ' Westport Times,' and the Charleston ' Herald,' now owned by my personal enemies, who have in the inost unprincipled manner prostratedthe high calling of the Press in order to distort, suppress, and misrepresent tacts and occurrences, the better to poison the public mind against me. However, 1 expect that the laws of the country will soon convince these newspaper owners that they cannot promulgate false and libellous articles without punishment. I regret to find that the ' Grey Eiver Argus ' has, in my case, taken a much less worthy stand than it generally occupies, which I attribute to the fact that Mr Alexander Eeid is upon their staff. I intended convening a meeting at Reefton in order to explain my peculiar position, and for the purpose of claiming public support for petition. 11l health and the limited time at my disposal prevent rry doing so, but immediately upon 'my return from the approaching session of the New Zealand Parliament I will (D.V.) render what I am sure will be a satisfactory account of my stewardship to my constituents in the Inangab.ua Valley; and in the meantime I shall redouble my efforts to serve tbem, and gladly receive any suggestions which may tend to give practical effect to my endeavours, —I am, Sir, yours, &c,

E. J. O'Conor. ; To this we append a copy of a statutory declaration appearing in the 'Nelson Examiner' of the 24th, to which that journal professes to attach far greater importance than.to the statutory declaration of Mr Langdon, but of which the ' Colonist' says : "This last statutory declaration an exactness of memory which, contrary to the experience of most, lapse of time appears to have by no means deteriorated, but we should 1 attach far greater importance* to it if loss delay had attended its seeing,the light, and it had appeared before the departure from the place of the person most affected by it. If it is to be a case of hard swearing on both sides, those who would judge must trust to their instincts and the balance of evidence, to guide them to fair conclusions, but it is not; to be supposed that this intended counterblast will much affect the true question at issue, or the right decision of it by the Assembly" : "1, Alexander Wilkie, of the City of Nelson, assistant storekeeper, solemnly and sincerely declare—"l. I am well acquainted with Eugene Joseph O'Conor, of Westport, member of the Provincial Council of Nelson for that place. I also know, and am well acquainted with John Maunder Langdon, of Grey Valley, in the Province of Nelson, settler. On or about the seventh day of June last, and before the tenth, the said John Maunder Langdon was at the house of my father at Nelson, and in my presence he then stated that he had met the said Eugene Joseph O'Conor near the Government Buildings at Nelson, upon the evening of Thursday, the 6th June then instant, and that, he (Langdon) had then said to the said Eugene Joseph O'Conor, ' I think you have got yourself into a scrape. If I had heard what had passed in the committee room, I would make an apology to them for any contract; but if you know you have not done wrong I would advise you to fight it out.' That the said Eugene Joseph O'Conor had replied to this, ' I know that I have not done wrong; I didn't hear what passed in the committee-room, and I do intend to fight it out.' I then discussed with the said John Maunder Langdon the probability of Mr O'Conor having heard what passed in the committeeroom, and the whole of the arguments of the said John Maunder Langdon were in violent opposition to Mr O'Conor, and tending to show that he must have heard what took place in the said committee-room; and at a later period of the conversation aforesaid he stated to me that he had a strong dislike to Mr O'Conor, and that if he could possibly do anything to injure him he would.

" 2. I have read a statutory declaration made on the 19th day of June, 1872, by the said John Maunder Langdon, purporting to give an account of the above-mentioned conversation which he had had with Mr O'Conor on the 6th day of June 1872 ; and I say that in the account which he gave me of the same conversation, he did not say that Mr O'Conor appeared excited, or that he stated that he was ruined, or any words to that effect; nor that Mr O'Conor had said, ' By G— I did hear it; I would rather have thrown myself into the river than it should have happened,' or any words to that effect. But, on the contrary, he (Langdon) admitted and declared that the said Eugene Joseph O'Conor throughout the conversation had persistently and positively affirmed his complete innocence. " n( * * ma ke this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of an Act of the General Assembly of New Zealand, intituled the ' Justices of the Peace Act. ISG6.' " Alexander "Wilkie. "Declared at Nelson by the said Alexander Wilkie, this 15th day of July, 1872, before ma. " Alexander Sclandebs, " A Justice of the Peace for the Colony of New Zealand." Unfortunately for all parties, the decision in the House of Assembly will, i

from present appearances, neither ex. onerate Mr O'Conor or his accusers and will at the best be but a negative decision—the merest burlesque of strict judicial enquiry. Prom the 'Grey Eiver Argus' we learn that none of the West Coast members had received summonses to attend as witnasses be- { fore the Committee, nor was. there any knowledge of the probable extent or character of the inquiry. It waß learnt, however, that Mr T. B. Gillies had been appointed Chairman of the Committee; and to that gentleman one of the West Coast members of the I Nelson Council transmitted a tele. graphic message, respectfully demand, ing that no decision should be come to until he bad been called upon to give evidence on a matter which quite as much affects him and all the other members for the Coast as it does one particular member, Mr O'Conor. The message was as follows:- " I beg to represent to you as chair, man of the O'Conor Petition Com. mittee, and for submission to the Committee, the fact that in the Nelson E.M. Court the said O'Conor sued me for one hundred pounds damages, for unlawfully, wickedly,.inalieipusly, aad in the capacity of member of the Nelson Council, conspiring to injure him, and that he failed to proceed with the suit Bolely on the plea that he intended to bring the same into a higher Court. Also that the petition before the Committee, framed and presented by him, raises the question of discreditable conduct by the Ni&on Councillors, of whom I am one. Further, that since [the presentation of the petition, O'Conor has caused a letter to be published, in which he repeats that he is the victim of a murderous and cowardly conspiracy, and in unmistakeable connection therewith mentions my name. I, therefore, respectfully submit that the Committee, defer their decision until such charges, and the consequent question of damages, are investigated in a court of justice, or until the Committee have called for and received my evidence." By a private telegram since received we learn that, previous to this application being made, the " Select Committee bad decided to notify to each member of the Provincial Council that the Committee is willing to hear tliem in re O'Conor." The true meaning of which is that if the members of the Provincial Council of Nelson choose at their own expense to visit Wellington, they will be permitted to demonstrate that they are innocent of the accusations made against them—accusations which are not based upon evidence, as in the case of the individual member. In their absence it may be presumed the enquiry will ba based' upon such statements as Mr O'Conor, .chooses to offer! That the members implicated in this scandal will proceed, at their own expense, to Wellington is very unlikely. The rather will they join in the reply already given by one of their number —"I have determined upon holding no communication with the Chairman of the Committee of the House of Representatives, but to passively resent the attempted burlesque of a judicial inquiry. The only notification which I shall recognise is a summons."