Correspondence.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 15, 19 January 1869, Page 3

Correspondence.

To TiiE Editor op the Nelson Evening JMail. Sir — In your introduction to Dr Hector's report on the important discovery. You state that I showed you a specimen of beautiful coal, aud that the seam was flve feet thick. Now, sir, what I showed you was some pieces of shale from what is quite that thickness; and as you were requested not to publish anything about it, until further tested. I suppose the moon's age mast had something to do with your account of the important discovery; and as samples of it was in the hands of his Honor and other gentlemen; they at auy rate can form an opinion of the state of your intellect at the time. And I beg to inform you that unless this is inserted, you may ..regret the gross falsehood you have imposed on the public aud me. Yours, etc. E. BIDDLE. [We insert Mr Biddle's lucubatiou, and at the same time state, that' had we been shown only shale, no notice would have been taken of it; but when, as we reiterate, we were shown a sample of excellent coal, about the quality of which there could be no mistake, and were assured by Mr Biddle that ' he had brought it down from the seam himself ;' we fancy, that was quite suflicieut to warrant the guardedly- wor dad notification that appeared in our columns. —Ed. N.E.M.]