AN EXPLANATION.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIX, Issue 1583, 6 January 1903, Page 5

AN EXPLANATION.

•iO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Some unknown person has sent me a copy of yonr paper of Dec. 19th, which I notice contains a letter signed "Truthful James," also an account of an interview be-! tween a " lifelong abstainer " from Balclutha and a representative of the Temuka Herald at Temuka, in which it is stated that a stranger going to Balclntha would havs a difficulty in getting a bed unless he could give assurance that be was not a spy. In support of this it is stated that the mayor of a certain town in South Canterbury found it very diffioult to get accommodation on the occasion of his visit. I do not know if " Lifelong Abst liner " referred to me or r.ot, but I had cause to visit Balclutha on business on October Utb, and wis met on ihe station by Mr J. Watt, Gas Engineer, who piloted me through the principal streets of the town. Among other things I asked him where. I could get a good place to stay at. He mentioned three or lour good houses. I, however, selected the Railway Hotel, a- it was nenr the' station, calling at no oth;r. When I asked for accommodation I was shown a rcom in the usual way. No questions were asked me, nor was any kind of suspicion shown. I had a good bed and good meals, but neither saw nor heard the

slightest signs of drinking going on. There was another gentleman staying there at the sime time whom I knew well. He travels from North Canterbury to South Otago. He remarked to me that he wished all the hotels were like that one, and he was not a " lifelong abstainer" either. My only reason for troubling you is to show that I saw nothing of the kind referred to by " Lifelong Abstainer." Thanking you in anticipation,—l am, etc., J. Manchester," Mayor of Waimate. 30/12/02.