A CHALLENGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2356, 16 August 1887, Page 2

A CHALLENGE.

TO THE KHITOK. tarn, —I was somewhat alarmed on seeing the above heading to a letter signed by Captain .McPherson, in which my name is mentioned no-re than once, and immediately pictured to myself a scene of pistols and coffee for two, and a coffin for one on a cold, frosty morning, such as we have been getting lately. Rut when I remembered tbe case of General Roulanger and M. 1-erry in duelling France, I recovered my equilibrium, and began to ho|>e that I could obtain some obliging second who would demand 50 exchanges of shot,, if mice— ary. so as to get a satisfactory conclusion t-i this de-perate affair. Having known C iptain McPherson for the last 22 years, a id never having had occasion to donbt ids integrity, I do not see why he wi-he-to produce in my mind “a iietter opinion of the integrity of my fellowsettlers” (Captain McPherson included, I presume). 1 would go further and give him credit for an amount of ingeniousuess in his correspondence, and at times a sad lack of ingenuousness. As, for instance, he deplores my lack of courtesy in not furnishing tile \\ aikato County Council with a copy of my prote-t to the auditor. Hut he does not tell yon that to this day he has never had the c-errtesy to supply the Cambridge Rurongh Council with a copy «l the letter written by him to the Government auditor, asking for the enquiry referred to. And, although his letter would lead you to believe that the first he heard of my protest was through the newspapers, yet ho neglects to say that the protest was made openly ! at the tbe meeting with the auditor in the presence «.{the chairman (Mr Primrose), Major Tisdall arid Captain McPherson, when all the charges contained in my letter were made, and the newness • -{ the writing was [s.intisl out to the auditor by me in Gaptain McPherson's presence, when the auditor (Major Ti.-dall) a-ked rue to pat them in writing forhhn, which I did.

S.i mncli fur lii- iiigonfonsness in writing it in ho■■k-kcepins anti his great lack of ingi-nuousiic-s, hut I never doubted his integrity, as tiieie may lie nothing against liis integrity in ».-■ I;itiii£r items from his

genera! account hook, f.-r a jieriod .ner three years anil entering them all up at one time <ni’ pice in another book, provided he admits that he did so, hut it would -how •i great lack of ingenuousness if lie led anyone to Indies e tint those items had l>een regularly entered ii|> in that hook on the different dates as thev occurred.

1 cannot enter into the question of how the \\ aikato Council keep their minute or other hooks, as that is no hn-im.-s of mine, hut when a charge of some ri-0 j* made by that council against the council over which I have the Imm-ur to preside, it then becomes my duty to see that Mich charge is not only legally made but that it is a ju~t charge, and as I do not c- nshier tlie charges made by the Treasurer of the Waikato County Council either legal or just, i have entered my piote-t again-t them. And as th» question in dispute i< at present, “ sub .indicia'' Ido not think it is displaying p«al ta-t« on ‘he part of the Treasurer to tie- Waikato County Council, to cm!'a discuss;.,-! on the subject in the public papers and living to appoint another court to try the question, seeing that it is now under coii-idvration by the tril'inal appoint d by himself; unless he. with his usual ingeiii aisio-ss, js trying to ** diaw a red herring across the scent/' It Cq-lain MePher-ui is anviou-for his own ..asp, to submit his books to tie tlnee g-nll-iiieu named oy him, I would he j>erfe. tly satisfied with their impaitiali-y, but as 1 always look r.pui betting as “a fool's argument,'’ in any controversy, I must decline entering into the projtosed bet with 1 ini, in which it appears to me he would get one guinea the best of ft, and I therefore await the decision of the tribunal already app anted by Captain McPherson and winch is now considering its verdict. T>ut if Captain McPherson can obtain a ceitificatc from the three gentlemen named by himself, that I had no reasonable grounds for the charges made by me I will bo most ready and willing to make the most ample apology to him and i.: he cannot do so, I should expect him to give me an amdogy for the insinuations contained in his challenge. “Audacia mm semper succedit." John Cwtssetu. Cambridge, 13ih August, l-St-T.