REPLY TO ACCEPTED CHALLENGE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 121, 23 May 1919, Page 6

REPLY TO ACCEPTED CHALLENGE.

(Tb the Ediwr.J

Sir, —It is quit© evident that F. G. Gibbe thinks the general public take him at his own high valuation, or he would, not take so much trouble to bring my little mstak% of mistaken identity of his important personage at the Industries Committee before the public. Immediately I discovered my mistake 1 expressed my regret, as tiny gentleman would do on discovering his error, which woe accepted l by Mr F. G. Gibbs, with the remark that all were liable to make mistakes, and thought the. matter ended; bu, no, h© wanted, as usual, to bo in the limclightj, and practically published my expression of regret as a public apology, which, to say the least of it, was-'not the act of a gentleman. However, he saye he accepts my challenge, and says he will willingly pay expenses half a dozen times over. Once will satisfy' me, as I brittle for principle only, never for cash. But before attempting to tske .any steps in any connection with F. G. Gibbs, I should require a written agreement, signed by two witnesses, belore a Justice of the Peace. He says I no doubt, thought) he would not be at my meeting. Strange as it may appear, a thought about ouch an important personage ae F. G. Gibbs never crossed my mind; and if it had I should never have dreamt of him' coming to my meeting, ae the invitation to meet me was to ladies and gentlemen only, which could hardly be construed to include him, if we tpke into consideration his ungeutlemanKy aefa, deliberate misstatements, and dogmatic assertions, and still continues them. As I understand the case, I have to prove that another gentleman besides Mr Field attempted to criticise my remarks contained in the paper submitted to the Industries' Committee (which I had- by mistaken identity attributed to Mr Gißbs), till he was stopped and’ called to order by Mr Wilkinson, Chairman of the Industries Committee. 2nd. I have to prove that the assertions mad© by him in Wednesday’s Mail are entirely wrong. First he says it would be interesting to know the name of the witness that spoke directly after him. He says “For no one spoke directly after me, since I was the last witness to be heard before the luncheon adjournment,” There am be no question of mistaken identity; the incident did nqt occur.” Of course, if Mr Gibbs says so, it-must, according to him, be confect, land all others are , ; but let us see what the press report says. 1 can’t toy my hands on a Mail, but you will pardon* me if I quote the Colonist of March 12th, which gives the interesting information F. G. Gibbs desires: that of the name of the witness who spoke directly after him. Ist. Mr Gibbs’s valuable evidence and suggestions on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce in reference to coal boring was reported in six lines. TJjeo followed Mr. H. R. Dunoon, Chairman of the Harbour Board. Then followed Mr. A. McKee, on the marble quarries, Takaka. Then followed Mr, C. E. Lowe, of Hlarakeke, on tobacco culture. There was no adjournment'for luncheon, ag, the report says tilM concluded the evidence, and the Committee rose at I.IS. Who is the Nefeoh George Washington now Of course that is. only a press report, and can hardly, if© expected to be as correct in''detail! as that of Mr. F. O. Gibbs. Notwithstanding thi fil important personage’s advice, lam inclined'to think that the - general public will ulaoe as much trust on the word of J. Watt as they wil lon S’. J. Oihbe’e. Anyhow, lam Still , . ' J. WATT.