A Vindication.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 43, 20 February 1886, Page 8

A Vindication.

(To the Editor.)

Sin,—As a lover ol fair play, I ask you to give me for once a small portion of your valuable space. I am more than a little deaf, and at a publio meeting recently held in Auckland, Mr G. W. Binnoy read a speech in which he made statements reflecting seriously upon my character. I asked Mr Binnoy to allow mo to peruse tho document, stating that I was deaf, and had not heard all he had read, and that I wished to know the charges made against me, in order to be in a position to refute them, Mr Binney absolutely refused to allow me to see it, and Mr Theo. Cooper, solicitor, interjected that it was not Mr Binney's fault that I was deaf. Now I ask my readers to consider whether this action on the part of Mr Binney reflects any credit. upon him, and whether the statement made by Mr Cooper is compatible with his status as a gentleman. Mr Binney afterwards withdrow tho resolution which ho had supported with the speech in question in favour of a resolution brought forward by myself, and further stated that apparently we wore working hand in hand together with the samo object in viow. I do not for one moment agree with this, but it shows how completely Mr Binnoy caved in and drew in his horns. According to tho rulos of public bodies, the speech being read, tho document containing tho speech became the property of the Chairman ns Chairman, and could be demanded by him, and I have seen this done by others, and beon called upon to do it myself. In spite of my deafness, I have conducted many and many a public mooting, and for the amueoment of my readers, especially of any who may be similarly affected with myself,' I shall narrate a little anocdote. Years ago I was a member of the South Moleyneux Hood Board, Otago, and a rognlarattondant of the monthly mootings of that body, tho lato Sir John Richardson (Speaker of the Legislative Council) being Chairman. The clerk road all correspondence, handing it whon road to the Chairman. On ono occasion, owing to partial loss of voice occasioned by cold, I could not hear tho clerk (Mr JainesShiels;, therefore, laekod tho Chairman to allow mo to peruse the correspondence as I had not beon able to hoar it quite all. Ho replied, with a smile, at tho same timo handing me the letters, " if you can hoar two words out of three, you are ablo to gather tho gist of any communication."—Yours, etc.,

Alfred Jowitt.