KING COUNTRY LICENSES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 199, 22 August 1900, Page 2

KING COUNTRY LICENSES.

(To the Editor.)

- Sir,--Your correspondent, John Coxy of. Otorohanga, must have a low estimate of the. veracity of public men to write as he did in your issue of last night; He states that during the interview with Mr Fowlds lasp Wednesday morning, August 15th, I/stated what I knew to be untrue when I referred to "the statement made by Sir R. Stout that the - Government had pledged its word that liquor would be kept' but of the King Country if the natives would allow the railway to pass through their-land.

What means has Mr, Cox' of knowing that-.1 knew the statements "Were false?

When a charge so gross is publicly made the person preferring it j should at least furnish some reason for his opinion.. Or does J. Cox think,his; ipseSixit sufficient authority for such a sweeping and unfounded charge? ' > :

Perhaps Mr Cox'ls not aware that Sir Robert Stout's opinion was owing to an enquiry made by Bishop Wallis, of Wel•lingtoni, In that reply,' a-(full copy of ■which I should have pleasure in supplying, Sir Robert said: "I can further say that if we had not acceded to Wahanui's repjiesentatians about the- sale of liquor I feel sure that he and his people would, not have consented to the railway being made through the King Country. I met Wahanui and other chiefs at Alexandra and at the boundary of the; King Country, at the Eunui River, on the morning -:the first .sod was .turned ;.(in 18S5). .1 had a long talk with them, and it was a feature of the 'arrangement that no. liquor was to be sold if the. territory was opened for the railway." ■

Mr COX will see that his charge* of lack. Of, veracity: applies equally to Bishop Wallis and Sir Robert Stout as to myself. I shall expect Mr Gox to substantiate his charge,1 or withdraw it, as, whatever faults I may have, prevari-i cation is not one of them.—l am, etc..

t ' .R, FRENCH.

August- 23rd,