OUR MINING EXHIBITS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9146, 30 August 1888, Page 5

OUR MINING EXHIBITS.

I MR. WITHEFORD AND SIR J. ! HECTOR. CABLE MESSAGE TO THE PREMIER. [BY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Ellington, Wednesday. Mr. Peacock to-day asked the Premier if he had received a cablegram from Mr. Witheford in reference to the statements made in the House that he was the author of the telegram (which appeared in the New Zealand Herald) depreciating the mineral representation of the colony at the Exhibition, and that it was done through his position as a mining speculator He (Mr. Peacock) knew that Mr. Witheford was in Melbourne for the purpose of procuring the development of our mineral resources, and of introducing Victorian capital into the colony. In doing so he was engaged in a good work, and he (the speaker) would be glad to learn whether the Premier had received a cable from him ? The Premier said that he had received a cablegram from Mr. Witheford denying that he was the author of the cablegram to which Sir James Hector referred, or that he had anything to do with it. Mr. Witheford disavowed the imputation made against him. He (the Premier) had handed the cable to the Press Association so that the fullest publicity might be given to Mr. Witheford's representation. The following is Mr. Witheford's cable message to the Premier:—"lam not the author of the telegram quoted by Sir J. Hector. I, as the authorised representative of large mining interests in New Zealand, deeply regret that the Parliament and Press of the country have been the mediums for promulgating serious reflections on our mining negotiations in Australia, In justice to the gold field community I beg permission to lay before the House this unqualified contradiction of Sir J. Hector's statement regarding myself and the specimens of quart;', supplied by companies.—J. H. Witheford."