MR. GRANT'S FULMENATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 475, 5 January 1861, Page 9

MR. GRANT'S FULMENATIONS.

To the Editor of the Otago Witness.

Sir, — Without offering' any opinion on the proceedings of our Superintendent, I conceive that ordinary justice (if no more) requires that some notice be taken of a low and ungrounded insinuation which occurs in the last week's.issue of the Colonist, when commenting thereon. The remark I allude to follows upon the statement that no stone is being left " unturned by the Superintendent in order to work upon the credulity or the sympathies of the public," and is to this effect : — " A disreputable mountebank has been engaged in villifying those (the editor of the Colonist, viz.) who have felt compelled to undertake the painful (?) task of exposure, and touters were very diligent in collecting an audience."

In common, I daresay, with nearly all, my impression upon reading this was, that the personal feeling and ruffled temper it so evidently displayed, would sufficiently divest it of any effect ; and indeed that no one knowing Mr. Macandrew would for a moment give credit to so uniikely a supposition as that he had engaged Mr. Grant for such a purpose,- and " touters " besides to obtain an audience for' him. But as I observe since that Mr. Grant advertises a whole series of rhapsodies, of which the eligibility of the Superintendent for his office is to be the special theme of one, it just occurs to me, as possible, that with a few some show of plausibility may be thus imparted to the ungenerous hints of the vituperative editor. , But just let the public reflect that it was because he himself was the party specially " villi£ed" that the Colon ii?eaU6r"mustf needs suppose Mr. Macandrew to. have been the instigator to such villiflcation, and consider whether that be likely : considering further (in reference to both parties) whether it be not within the limits of possibility, that other than patriotic motives may alike have actuated the orator and the -scribbler,

between whom in manner and spirit there is no little similarity. And surely after doing so, no one, whether friend foe to Mr. Maeandrew> and who knows the.world and has common sense, will believe that Tie Would condescend to so paltry and contemptible, a. course. The editor of the Colonist is well aware ifiat lie has too much of innate generosity, too much honour and delicacy of feeling, 'to admit of it •; and moreover, that if he desired it, lie could "find "other means more effective and telling with the general body of the public. But to dilate further, Mr". Editor, on such a matter, were attaching to it an undue importance. The Otago people are discriminating enough in . all ordinary cases, and they will no doubt estimate very correctly the value to be attached to the contemptible assertion of the Otago Colonists G. G.