EAST COAST LAND CLAIMS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1015, 19 January 1869, Page 3

EAST COAST LAND CLAIMS.

To the Editor of the " Now Zealand Herald." Sir, — I notice in your issue of yesterday a vory scurrilous letter from your insane correspondent, Hawthorne, in answer to a letter of mine which appeared in your paper. Tho letter contains suoh an amount of spleen that it is hardly worth notice, but as the charges he has mado against me are serious I caunot pass tho matter in silence. I shall not, however, enter into any discussion with tho writer, but shall simply say that the statements in my former letter were true, and that every word in Hawthorne's letter, dated 24th December, in reference to me, is absolutely untrue and without ono tittle of foundation, and, were he possessed of sufficient means to pay the costs, I should immediately institute a criminal action against him for libel ; but as I have no wish to be at the expense of providing him with free lodgings and healthy exercise, I shall bo content with the verdict of public opinion, feeling confident that I shall su Her nothing from the attacks of a man who seldom takes up his pen but to abuse some one. 1 am not ashamed of my conduct in Povorty Bay, and, as a proof that it could not havo boon very bad, 1 may say that I have been and am still on the very bost of terms with all the respectable settlers in the district;, so I was with those who have been killed, tho late Major Biggs among the rest. Having said this much, I shall tako no furthor notice of anything Hawthorno may choose to say. — I am, &c, J. W. PJIEECE. Auckland, Jan. 8, 1869.