MR WAKEFIELD IN REPLY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2464, 15 February 1876, Page 2

MR WAKEFIELD IN REPLY.

TO, THB EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir,—'Your artiolo of Fob. 7 consists of either a sorios of extraordinary blunders, or olso a tissue of malicious falsehoods. In either case it is most discreditable to you. I do not bolieve for a moment that tho interruption 'whioh ocourrod at tho Timaru Railway luncheon was in tho least premeditated, nor do I think you, or anybody olso, boliovos so. It was evidently tho result of a sudden and unforosoon misunderstanding. To say that ifc was planned boforo hand, or that Mr Jonas was pufc forward by othors, is simply untruo. For my part, I have not yet ascertained what actually led to it • but tho impression on my mind at tho time was, that Mr Jonas, having mado an exclamation in tho course of tho Superintendent's spoeoh, about tho Rangitata Bridgo, wished to explain it. I could not hear a word that was said, howover, or learn fronwthoee near mo what all tho fuss was about. Tho only part I took in it was, in common with many othors, to beg Mr Jonas to sit down. You say, "Finally, ho (Jonas) was romoved, aooompaniod by Mr E. Wakoflold." Now, you must know that this is not true. I was on tho opposito sido of tho tablo from him, and had no communication with him whatovor. My sole reason for leaving the room at the samo timo as ho did was, because 1 was shooked at tho turn things had taken, and was disinclined to romain at tho table aftor tho oharaotor of tbe oooasion, as,a social gathering, had been destroyed by the prosenco of a policeman. I should havo dono exaotly the samo thing had it boon anybody olso who oausod tho disturbance ) and I -was surprised to find that tho Chairman did not loavo tho ohair earlior. As for boing in any way oonneotod with tho affair, I had no more to do with it than the man in tho moon. As regards my "speeoh," also, I am afraid you aro guilty of wilful misrepresentation. I never used tho words whioh you put into my mouth, or any othors at all resembling them in sound or sonso. All fchafc I said was that fcho railway would probably mako Timaru tbo sanatorium of Can* torbury 5 tbat we should sco troops of visitors from Ohristohuroh ooming hero pale and omaoiatod, soon to acquire the ruddy glow of hoalth in our braoing olimato - and that fcho movo of thorn that oamo tho bettor wo should bo pleased. This utterly inoffonsivo remark you have twisted into a deliberate insult to tho guests who wero prosont. I may say that I merely wont to tho luncheon as a privato porson, and was only asked to speak after I had boon at tablo somo time. I do not oonsider that I was oooupying any publio position thore whatever, and you have no more right to notioo my actions thoro than you havo to como into my houso and tako notes for publication of my convocation during dinnor, The only thing I had to do with tho affair was, on my advioe boing asked as to tho etiquette of inviting the representatives of tho nowspapors, to express mysolf warmly in favour of doing so. I nover dreamt that ono of thorn, at all events, would mako use of the courtesy thus oxtonded to him, fco slandor mysolf and tho rost of his entortainors. Wo shall know hotter in futuro. Tho libellous imputation convoyed in tho last paragraph of your artiolo is boneath contempt in its prosont shapo, whilst, if it was a littlo moro boldly expressed, it would oxposo you to a proseoufcioti. I am, &0., EDWARD WAKEFIELD.