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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5007, 13 February 1878, Page 2

(from our owjst correspondent.) WELLINGTON, February 11. The following, in reference to the Press Agency telegram, making little of the attempt on the arch at New Plymouth, appears in to-night's Post : — " To the editor. Sir, — With reference to the " attempt made by Major Atkinson's connections to pull down the arch of welcome to Sir George Grey at New Plymouth, I observe that the Press Agency, in performance of its usual role, endeavors to remove the stigma from its protegees. I read the following day, as a Press Agency announcement from New Plymouth — ' The attempt to pull down the triumphal arch was a midnight freak of a few larrikins, and it is but right to state that the report that the Major and his friends were concerned in it is absolutely untrue.' Sir, I have not the least hesitation in asserting my belief that that message never came from the pen of the Press Agent at New Plymouth, whom I personally know to be fully acquainted with the whole circumstances, and whose opinion of the transaction 1 also happen to know ; but it was either sent by some one acting in the interests arid at the suggestion of those political rowdies at New Plymouth, or was concocted in Captain Holt's own office at Wellington, in the spirit of hostility which that gentleman has habitually shown to Sir George Grey. I may state that when the perpetrators of the outrage awoke to a consciousness of the stupidity of their procedure, and became aware of the strong feeling evoked among the people of Taranaki, and having somehow heard that the incident had been telegraphed over the colony, about eight of them waited on me and used every effort to induce me to suppress their names. This I distinctly refused, as I had become acquainted with the whole circumstances from the lips of eye witnesses, and had in the presence of Sergt. Duflin copied the account, with the names of the offenders, from the police report book, and a copy of which you j published. Possibly I may be incorrect in my ideas as to what is meant by the term "larrikin," as understood by Captain Holt, but referring to the list published by you, copied from the police book, I would ask is the honorable member for Motueka, Richmond Hursthouse, Esq., a "larrikin'?" — for he it was, who, on the testimony of Sei'gt. Dultin, was astride of the arch affixing the rope, when the proceedings were .arrested by the police. Is his brother, Wilson Hursthouse, 'Esq., Engineer-in-chief of Taranaki Railways, also a "larrikin 1 ?" Is Decimus Atkinson, Esq., own brother to the late Premier, a " larrikin V Arc the Humphries Bros. , I well-known storekeepers in New PlyI mouth, Mr McDonogh, of the Bank, Mr Williams, chemist, and the others specified in the police report, each of whom took an active part in the affray, aU " larrikins V I would advise Capt. Holt to be cautions in applying such an epthot to such honorable gentlemen. He knows not how they may resent it. I may be permitted to add to my former account, that the object would have been accomplished but for a fault in the arrangements. One sectionof Major Atkinson's friends had arranged a little bye-play with a signal gun, intending to "sell" the people by firing a salute, as if announcing the arrival of Ministers. Accordingly, at midnight, the gun was fired, and was unfortunately mistaken by the others as an indication of the actual arrival of Ministers, when, thinking that no time was to bo lost, they precipitated their arrangements before their plans wei'e matured. I should not have gone out of my way to refer to the matter, but as Captain Holt has impugned my veracity I accept the challenge, and if the police at New Plymouth are not awed, or the Government are not afraid of offending a member of Parliament by having him prosecuted, 1 think the question will be set at rest by the prosecution of .the ' larrikins.' Captain Holt says that the report that the Major and his friends were concerned in is absolutely untrue I I did not say that the Major took part in it, and as to ' friends,' I may mistake the meaning of the term. The expressions I used were — ' brother,' 'relatives,' and 'connections.' 'Dessy' i Atkinson has been known as the Major's : brother since infancy, the Hursthouses became ' relatives ' at the hymeneal altar, in sight of all men, and as for ( connec tions,' by the system of intermarriage and breeding in and in which has. existed

avuong the 'governing families' of Taranaki, it would be difficult perhaps to say who may or may not be ' connections.' That his < relatives' bestrode the arch, and two other ' relatives ' led the Biege operations, I maintain despite the ' absolute untruth ' of Capt. Holt 4 Apologisfor occupying so much of your valuable space, I am, &c, Your Special Correspondent."