THE HON. J. G. WARD AND MR J. MQUEENT.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8252, 6 August 1895, Page 4

THE HON. J. G. WARD AND MR J. MQUEENT.

The following letters have appeared | in the Southland Times : Sir, — \ circular, dated Gore. Bth July, and signed "John M 'Queen, Knapdale," with reference to the Southland Frozen Meat Coy., and the Ocean Beech Freezing Works, has been forwarded to me. It contains statements thafa are grossly untrue and as I am informed that the " wire puller " therein referred to is intended to apply to me I desire to state that I am instructing my solicitors to iake proceedings against the writer. A more malarious slander has never been published. For the information of those who may have received the circular, 1 desire to state that no proposal of any kind has been made or any influence whatever attempted to be exercised by either the Messrs Nelson or myself, either in New Zealand or in LoiidoD, for the amalgamation of the Ocean Beach with the Southland Freezing Co. On the contrary I have been and am opposed to such a course, nor has any attempt) or request of any kind been made to the Southland company's bankers to interfere with any business arrangements between them. The man or men who have given utterance to any HQcb expressions have uttered a vile slander and I certainly think that in the interests of all parties concerned the writer of the circular should be given a public opportunity of proving his malicious statements acd this opportunity he will have. — I am, etc, J. G. Ward. Wellington, 26th July.

Sib. — I am very much surprised to see in your issue of the 27th inst., a lett j r over the signature of J. G. Ward, in which I am rather roughly handled. My first thoughb was, cm bhis signature be that of the great J. G. Ward, who has lately made a triumphal march through two hemispheres, .forming alliances and arranging treaties right and left) from Japan to Vancouver Island, astonishing the financial magnates of the Old World and even " flattening out," the Governor of the Bank of England en route. Can it be possible tbtt I have the honor of being vilified by each a great man? lean scarcely think so Air Editor, are you certain that you are not being made the victim of a cruel bosx ? I would exprcb that one who has rubbed noaes with Royalty in the person of the "first gentleman in Europe," nob to mention Ripon and obher smaller fry (my patriotism prevents me from even bintiog a 6a 6 a celebrated interview with the London Ob mber of Commerce) could nob b9 the aatbor of the letter referred to. Still, nearly all great men have their weaknesses. There was, for instance Alexander the Great. We all know his weakness — Scotch whisky. The great Napoleon was vain of his personal appearance, and why Bhould cob the great J. G. W. have his weakness. I have a faint recollection of how he floundered in the celebrated biuder twine controversy, especially in his opening letters, and if he is really the author of the letter in which I have bbc honor of being vilified, I am inclined to think that intemperate effusion to the press are his weakness. If so, I would strongly jecommend him in future, when be feels it coming on, to retire quietly to tbe back yard and dance on his hat a while, and then write. This plan, if adopted, would have the advantage of concealing to some extent the failings of the great man from the vulgar gaze, and bis effusions in the future would no doubb show some trace of the sauvity of manner for which he was so distinguished (re he departed from these shores on his ambassadorial tour. Is it not strange tbafa it never seems to have occurred to tbe greab m<m that a satisfactory explanation might have been given if be had applied to the proper party, in the I usual way ; instead of which he seizes on a cap, which he says somebody else told him was his, not only puts it on bis head bub actually pulls it hard down over his eyes, and then demands I thab I should prove that bhe cap beloDgs to him. Now, Mr Editor, is that fair %—\ am, etc., John M'Quebx. Knapdale, 29th Jnly, 1895.