LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 952, 20 October 1910, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE COOK ISLANDS. MR. SIvERRETT IN REPLY: Sir,—Mr. Hosking may possess a smattering of "Maori," and may know all about Rarotoiiga, but. there is one thing of which lie has not tlio faintest perception, :and that.,is fairplay. He himself •says that he .' has been conducting investigations "quietly" (the expression is Mr. Hosking's own, and is very significant) for the past eleven months. Why, then, bap Mr;.-Hosking and his coterie not taken th6;!uianly and straightforward course oi. making . definite charges against Captain Smith ,to the. proper .authorities, ■ -with proper particulars, so 'that. the charges might be submitted to the Commissioner for : his answer in (he usual way, - and, if, necessary, an inquiry held. . Instead of this, Mr. Hosking has rushed iiito print and' made general insinuations father than .definite chargcs' ; against Captain .Smith, under circumstances which 'prevent the insinuations being answered, for weeks after they are'made, and knowing quite well that Captain Smith . himself is precluded by the regulations of the service, from, reply. Mr. Hosking is very' transparent.' While , pretending to have been on .'fairly good terms [ with Captain Smith, he finds it utterly impossible, to keep! out of. his letter .the rancour l and. malevolence which • actuates him- through-out-the whole'-of this sorry business. I did not in ; my letter pretend to know the whole merits of the controversy,' and merely referred to. some statements whicu I, had reason to believe; were not-in accordance. with <faet. What .struct me, and 'will, 1, believe, strike every: fair-: thinking' man who has thken the trouble to read Mr., Hosking's effusions, was' the. entire absencc of anything like fairplay in -his. conduct, .: and the. significant circumstance that he confines ' himself to general insinuations, and . makes no, definite.charge against Captain Smith. He says - that he' has:-purposely abstained from - making a-' particular charge or charges as, a matter of strategy. X' think that this condemns rather' than excuses Mr v Hosking's, failure to come up to the ordinary standard.. by making a • fair charge and giving a fair and. reasonable opportunity ..of .reply, .to : his; opponent. .The.,sole object of. my letter was to ask your readers to suspend judgment and not to "swallow" Mr.' .Hosking's insinuations. . I ventured, to prophesy that 'these charges •would turn out to be unfounded in fact; and nothing ,in Mr: Hosking's and nothing; I: have- ascertained from 'inquiry has. caused me' any: anxiety as to (tho, truth• of'm'y c . prophecy. ..'-It'!will be found ■that/."a. hew.: broom has.' interfered in some way'with the designs' and ; projects of a Rarotongan clique. I may add that my .letter wasaidt; inspired by or the re.'sult 'of any' communication' wi th any . wellinformed''individual; . I, had ■ no 1 such conversation,' and;' know- no. such/individual.' Neither :• wa.smy letter 1 inspired ,by,'' anything ;in ,the, nature. of. information : from Rarotoiiga, it (being.! obvious that , ho .'complaints; whatever having been made 'there could be • ho' reason to make ; any inquiries;—l am; etc.,, C P. SKERRETT. October 19.