A FALSE ALARM.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 182, 22 September 1876, Page 12

A FALSE ALARM.

(To the Editor of the New Zealand Tablet.) Sib, — We have been consulted by Mr. John McKellar, of Tapanui, Eunholder, -with reference to an article published in the issue of the Tabiet of Bth inst., in which you strongly attack the writer of a series of papers published in the ' Otago Daily Times,' and in which you use phrases and references which leave ifc impossible to avoid the conclusion that you intend to indicate Mr. McKellar as the writer in question, and to apply to him the epithets used in your article. Mr. McKellar has felt Tery deeply aggrieved by your action in making such an assumption — an assumption which the very slightest inquiry, or even a careful consideration of the papers commented on would have shown to be unfounded ; and we are instructed to request you, in your next issue, to do what is in your power by a retraction and expression of regret, to afford reparation for the injury done to Mr. McKellar. Should you decline to comply with our request, Mr. McKellar will be compelled, however reluctantly, to take other steps to protect and vindicate his character. Mr. McKellar is at present in Dunedin, but leaves shortly ; we shall, therefore, be obliged by your reply at your earliest convenience. — Yours, &c, Stewart and Denniston.

[The writer of the article referred to in the above letter, associated the author of the papers in the ' Daily Times ' with Tapanui, because it was quite evident from certain of his remarks that, when in New Zealand, he had been connected with that locality. We are glad, however, to find that Mr. McKellar agrees with us in looking upon the production of the correspondent in question as discreditable. The writer of the article assures us that he had not Mr. McKellar in his mind, and that he is under the impression that the author of the calumnies referred to in his article is not at present in this country. — Ed. Tablet.]