MR. J. B. SMITH AND WAI TOA

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8089, 2 November 1887, Page 3

MR. J. B. SMITH AND WAI TOA

A saw flaye ago we published from our Hamilton correspondent a communication which etated:— "Mr, J. B. Smith was in Hamilton to-day, and he was communicated with 'on the matter of the Waitoa goldfields. Hβ nays," &c. This statement was commerited on by Mr. George Fraser in a letter in our columns. Thereupon Mr. Smith addresses our correspondent directly, a/i follows:— Walhon, November 1, 1887. Mr. Von Sturmer.— Dear sir,—l notice Mr. Q. Eraser has written a letter in Saturday's Herald, and criticised the interview or communication between .the Herald correspondent and myself, which appeared on the 24tb ultimo. I seed not say that I gave you or anyone elso the information which was published, for I don't recollect even passing the time of day to you. I would ask you to at once acknowledge this mistake by adtisigg your Auckland office. At any time you may see me about, don't bo afraid to question me. I can only Bay yes or no, without being offended. I require to be careful about statements at present. I must thank you for the interest you have taken in thii matter, on behalf of this district.—l am, &c, John B. Smith. Our correspondent replies as follows :— Hamilton, November 2, 1887. Mr. J. B. Smith : Dear Sir,— With reference to your letter of yesterday's date, you are quite correct in saying that you never gave me the information contained in my communication to the HEttALD of the 24th ult, quoted by Mr. George Eraser, for through my leaving the Council Chamber earlier than you did, and missing you before the train left, I had. no opportunity of talking to you on the Waitoa gold question. A reference to my letter of the 24th ult. will show that I never said or inferred, that the information came direct to me from yourself.-)' Yon, however, must surely have forgotten the .con*, ▼ersation you had that day with Mr. Cowper, the* editor of the Wiikato Times, and to other*, t fl|a tie luatter. They made no secret of it, and if you' will compare the report in the 'limes of the 25th ult. with mine yoa will find them substantially the same, though, for very obvious reasons, "especially with reference to who salted the washdirt," they both fall very far short of what 1 was told was said by you, I cannot, therefore, contradict the accuracy of the statements attributed to you at Hamilton on that day. and must confine myself to frankly admltting-for what it is worth—that you did not communicate them to site, Mich contradiction must come from yourself if you feel prepared to make it. Thanking you for the offer in the latter part of your letter.—l am, &c., , F. J. Von Sxdrmer-