"GOOD-BYE JOHN; DON'T STOP LONG."

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXI, Issue 19, 25 January 1895, Page 3

" GOOD-BYE JOHN; DON'T STOP LONG."

TO THE EDITOB. Sib, — Your correspondent Mr H. B. Huddleston, m his " Au Bevoir" letter, — which, being interpreted, means "Adieu until we meet again," — makes an undignified retreat, reminding me of the cuttle fish, which with inky fluid darkens the surroundings when m a tight place — as he has found himself m this instance. My " identity being known " m this connection is a matter of the profoundest indifference to me. I had no personal interest m the controi versy, which consisted of villifying and slanderous statements made by your correspondent, without the slightest provocation, against professional gentlemen and representa-

tives who are head and shoulders above himself. I cannot trace mmy former letter any reflection, coarse or otherwise, on the late Mr Geo. Blackett, as affirmed by your correspondent. Can any of your readers ? Thatis another of our inacurate C.E.s mistakes, of which his correspondence is full. He made a mistake when he went out of his way to slander people who did not regard him good, bad or indifferent. He made a further mistake when he referred to my personality instead of confining himself to the matter of fact contained m his opening letter *, and he made a still further mistake m allowing his imagination to outrun his knowledge m referring to my " friend and confidant. ' ' Mr Muir and Mr Huddleston are about equally my friends and confidants, the latter's letter being my first intimation they had ever had business relations. But these mistakes are as nothing compared to his blundering m introducing himself and his works, m which his goodness of heart outruns his professional duty. Let his works speak for him, not he \for his works. As a profes- ; sional man, as a gentleman, he has his place among us, and will no doubt command the measure of respect he is entitled to ; but it is not increased by his letters, which try to belittle every individual and project he is unconnected with — and, unfor-

tunately for himself, he suffers m consequence ; but this is his own concern, and is not matter for criticism as are his writings on others, which are. " Thus endeth another lesson. — I am, &c, . , o §sj fob D. A. Douglas. Blenheim, 24th Jan., 1895.