TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

West Coast Times, Issue 3139, 19 April 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[prom a correspondent.]

Reefton, April 19.

John Bates, Allen, late saw-mill proprietor, and long connected with that industry at Ross and other parts of the West Coast, was thrown, from his horse yesterday evening and died this morning, from concussion of -the brain. A profound: sensation is caused here, he being widely respected. The inquest will be held tomorrow. The interment will probably take place on Sunday with Masonic honors.

£W, C. TIMES' SPECIAL WIRE.-]

Greymouth, April 18. Mr Tom Kendrick, Clerk of the District Court, fell and broke his leg last night.

Auckland, April 18, At the Government land sale, 186 acres sold in Lato, realised £3188.

Payments in land scrip are on the decrease, the settlement this time being mostly in cash.

H. .Glappott, city ageai bf thfe government Insurance Department, has arrived and taken over charge of the Auckland district.

Wellington, April 18.

Within an hour after the Stadt Haarlem passed the lighthouse this morning she was berthed alongside the Queen's wharf, and her immigrants were landed. She was thrown open to public inspection and her appearance was much admired. She will be repainted and fitted up. for Homeward voyage.

Messrs Meek and Co., of Oamaru, have now commenced business here as flour millers, having taken Kebbell's mills.

A discovery of copper ore of unlimited quantity: near Masterton is reported. It is said that two settlers who spent their Easter holidays on the ranges made the discovery and Steps will be taken to have "the ore tested.

The newly formed Naval Brigade held a meeting at the Central Hotel last night, when a number of members were sworn in by Mr O'Niell, J.P. The following officers were elected :— -Captain C. Johnston ; First Lieutenant, J. Inglis ; Second Lieutenant, J. Bennett; Third Lieutenant, J. W. Levy ; Secretary and Treasurer, J. G. Fairne.

The following letter appears in tonight's Post. Sir,— "Mr Waterhouse's letter to you on the telegram business did not at first appear to require any reply from me. It gave an incomplete and rather garbled account of the affair and contained rather violent expression but strong language does not create a strong case, an the contrary, it is in weak ones that one hears of the plaintiff's attorney coming in for abuse. Mr Waterhouse I think ha 9 substantiated nothing except that he is liable to unreasonable attacks of temper and anxious to force himself before the public. But I see that the story, from his manner of telling it has been misunderstood, and I have before me an article gravely accusing me of using my official position to intercept a telegram to somebody else, and of disclosing its contents to my colleagues. This out-Waterhouse's-Waterhouse, and compels me to put forward the facts of the case as far as I can do so. The telegram I opened was clearly addressed to me, clearly intended for me, and came to me in the ordinary course like any other telegram. The clerical error to which Mr Waterhouse refers occurred in another telegram altogether, which was delivered in Christchurch. It was not I, but Mr Hall, who mistook the name, and he has clearly stated that he meant his reply for me. I received a telegram signed by Mr Hall referring to one from me. I bad never such a telegram, indeed I had never sent a private telegram in my life to Mr Hall, and have no unofficial correspondence with him. Consequently I could not regard the message otherwise than as a trap and a forgery. Obviously I had not the least reason to suppose Mr Waterhouse concerned. At that moment the air was full of rumors, and the invention of opposition writers was largely, exercised in producing political skits of all kinds, which credulous or raichievous people telegraphed about the colony that morning had read one of these professing to name certain rather improbable gentlemen as. being aboat to replace some of the ninis. Mr Hall's telegram would have been, a reasonable, answer to any message recapitulating the contents, of. hid. skit, and the solution of matters which occurred 1 to me was that, somebody had forged my name to such, a telegram addressed. to Mr Hall, and thatihe regarded, me as. an outgoing. Minister,, and sent a. sympathetic reply. Otherwise it might have been a forgery, and in showing it in Conference to my. colleagues and asking their advice, I did. what [ considered quite natural and right, to say that a forger can protect himself by putting, private on the docu> ment would be ridiculous. My. colleagues concurred in my view-, but the comical side of the matter struck them more forcibly than it did me, and they thought it was probably meant as a jokei However Mr Fisher* kindly- examined all> the telegrams bearing my- signature for the past few days at the Wellington office, and I wired to Mr Hall, so that enquiries might be made at the Christchurch end. The result was unexecuted, Mr. Hall replied 1 that on second reading he found he had mistaken the, signature which was M VRhitehou.se," on this I reply to Mr, Waterhouse, who admitted the paternity, of the original telegram, and I handed v over Mr Hall's with my reply, ooff f which I have now no copy. I remember, however, haying told Mr Hall that I had shown the telegram to my colleagues. This.is the whole story as far as I or my colleagues are concerned. It does notexplaia all the reports which have been ia circulation with which, however, one of the Ministry has any connection. As a rule these-reports have.shown a complete misconception of the contents: of Mr Waterhouse's first telegrams, which he had the opportunity, but chose not to remove. In his letter he gave what purported to be an accpuntof what he had written, but stopped short just as he became interested j why. did he. not, give the names of proposed, ninis in his; telegrams; As- he has not- done so I will try to account for the omission. Had'- he told the whole truth I believe he w.ould have shown that he had jumped too credulous to the conclusion that the political squib above alluded to- was tree, and had hastened' To commmunicate his intelligence to. his political friends. He has . exposed' himself thus as a retailer of silly canards, was 400 galling, to his pride, and 'he preferred ; to pdt forward an account which was hardly ingenious. He however, felt it was true, and that accidently I had come to know it, and his

vexation has betrayed an amiable gentleman into losing his temper and becoming abusive. Ido not intend to follow his example, and I therefore pass over his uncomplimentary remarks about myself without reply. — I am &c, G. S. Whitmore.