D. H. MERVYN, ESQ, M.H.R.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 147, 1 December 1870, Page 6

D. H. MERVYN, ESQ, M.H.R.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, — I have, for the past few weeks, had my attention drawn to various letters from time to time appearing in your paper, commenting upon the sayings and doings of the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this lettei'. In fact, to such an extent have the severe and sarcastic comments been carried as to cause a feeling of pity and compassion to be entertained for the gentleman in question. In the truly pitiful plight in which he finds himself, and were it not for the cause of truth, I should be inclined to withhold adding another straw to the load already cast upon him. It is surprising to a person who, like myself, is unaccustomed to being brought into contact with political backsliders, to find with what amount of ease and assurance Mr. Mervyn has the audacity to publish his two "truthful and accurate reports of his meeting at West Roxburgh " in the columns of the " Evening Star " and the Tuapera Times, It must be remarkably consoling to that gentleman's vanity to be able to assert, as he does, that "a nure pleasant and enthusiastic meeting I never had the honour to address." This impression must surely have been created iv his fertile brains since the publication of the reports he complains of, or how can this remarkable assertion be reconciled with the remarks he made to the chairiran (Mr. Luv) after the termination of the meeting when, evidently wrifch.*

ing under the " pleasant and enthusiastic " reception he had met with, he said " be trusted the next time he met that gentleman it would be in more civilised company." Mr. Mervyn asserts that there was a delay of only five minutes before the chair was taken by Mr. Low. L think he cannot have reflected on what he was writing when he penned the letters in question, for he must be as well aware, as all others are who were present, that fully an hour elapsed, during which vain efforts were made by himself and others to prevail upon parties to take the place of honour, and that it was only on strong personal solicitation that Mr. Low was induced to, as your facetious correspondent remarks, "fill up the breach." Mr. M. states that a Mr. Beighton complained with reference to his (Mr. M.'s) action in reference to the mutilation of the district and other matters, introducing private conversations which he alleged he had with different persons. Mr. Mervyn must be fully aware that this assertion, like nearly all his two letters in question, is without the slightest ground of truth. Air. Beighton distinctly charged Mr. Mervyn with having acted in the manner he did in the matter of the division of the district from purely personal motives, and for the purpose of venting his spleen on the residents of the district for an imaginary slight they h&d committed towards him in forwarding the Mount Benger Land Petition to Mr. J. C. Brown instead of himself, and not for the purpose of securing additional representation for the goldfields, as he had just previously asserted, and in support of his charge quoted Mr. Mervyn's own remarks made to him immediately after returning from Wellington. He defied Mr. Mervyn to deny his assertion, who, instßad of so doing, read a lengthy extract from a blue book, having reference to the impropriety of private discussion between gentlemen, members of the Legislative Council, baing introduced in the Council. This Mr. Beighton very properly asserted to be a most flimsy shlflue on the. p-irt of Mr. Mervyn. Mr. Mervyn must have a very treacherous memory, when he assorts that he did not intend to come forward for the Waikaia district. The whole intelligible gist of his address was to the effect that in consequence of his having ascertained that Capt. Baldwin did not intend to come forward for the Dunstan district, he should not carry out his original intention of contesting that district with Capt. Baldwin, but would fearlessly coma iorward for the Waikaia district. I cannot help noting the absence in Mr. Mervyn's letters of any mention or denial of the statements imputed to him respecting exclusive class immigration. Possibly ho does not feel very safe in venturing upon thii' rather ticklish ground, particularly when it is known that he is rather oblivious as to what he actually did say upon the subject, although he has, in a most praiseworthy manner consulted several parties in order to ascertain precisely what he did say upon the subject, and endeavoured to impress upon them that if he did state what is reported, he did not mean it. — I am, &(.*.,

\ Rustic Teviot, November 28th, 1870.