CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 144, 18 June 1879, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor op the " Evening Mail." S T t, — Will you once more oblige me with a small space in your valuable paper ? lam au old man, and have been in New Zealand a long time, and I shp'.l not like to depart this life without removing that biand I was so unjustly branded with. I was summoned as a witness in the case of Mercott v. Rowe not because I was a friend of George Mercott; he is no friend of mine ; my feelings towards him are far different to friendship ; on the other haud, what could I have but friendship for Rowe having not spoken to him but a very few times? I spoke truly without fear or affections which was my duty. Am I not a loyal subject to the Queen and have I not a right to ask protection in her name ? I was allowed to be insulted in Court by Rowe. Surely I be asking too much when I ask for the whole of his defence to appear in print— with that he branded me and with that I expect the brand to be taken away. I appeal to the public at large ; have 1 not a just right to expect the whole of his defence in print ? Did be not say how he did take the horae, and the reason why, and where to? Can any one inform me why this was omitted ? I value my words in a Court of Justice as I value my life and my impression is the oae that does not is an uuspfe person and capable of any crime whatever.—l am, &c, W. Stratford. Hope, June 16, 1879,