"A DISCREDITABLE PROCEEDING."

Evening Star, Issue 8084, 7 December 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

"A DISCREDITABLE PROCEEDING."

TO THE EDITOB. Sir,—My attention has just been drawn to an article in your Wednesday's issue under the above heading, accusing tho special correspondent of the ' Lyttelton Times' and Auckland * Herald' of a disgraceful breach of faith in anticipating the delivery of the Governor's speech by a few hours. The article is reprinted from the polished columns of the Wellington ' Evening Post.' As the humble individual so politely and pointedly referred to, will you kindly permit me (1) to say —as I already have said once in the columns of the ' Otago Daily Times,' which I am sorry to see you do not read—tbat no pledge, promise, or engagement of any kind was asked from me or given by me in reference to Lord Onslow's speech; (2) that it fell into my hands unsought and unexpectedly; (3) that in the ordinary course of work it was forwarded by me to my editors, aa it would have been by any journalist in the same position who knew his business. Thanking you for having borrowed another man's whip to chastise one quite unworthy of such distinguished attentions— I am, etc., Vesey Hamilton. Dunedin, December 6. [lt may be, as Mr Hamilton states, that the document in question fell into his hands •' unsought and unexpectedly," but we can make a pretty good guess as to the way in which he became possessed of it. The pledge was given in unqualified terms to Mr Roberts by each of the pressmen who received advance copies of the speeches, and all save one have denied absolutely that they allowed them to pass out of their possession or to be improperly used. The public can only arrive at one conclusion. To Mr Hamilton wo would further say that "no journalist who knew his business," or the morality of it—for journalism cerfainly has its moral code—would have acted as he did in this matter, or attempted to glory in what the • Post' has very properly characterised as " a discreditable proceeding."—Ed. E.S.]