INTERPROVINCIAL. [BY TELEGRAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1780, 1 December 1883, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL. [BY TELEGRAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, Thursday, f Mk Me Bern contradicts the statement that ho ih the author of the letter of the Maori niembeis of the LegKl itui c to the Aborigines Protection Soeietv. Tim following is Mi Mcßeth s \ersnm : — Diuincj last session i w <is dbki'd by Mr Tawhai, wiio met me in Molesworth -street, to attend a meeting of Maoris, including four membsrs whom I had not been or communicated with for ab nit twelve m >nths>. The letter was the joint pioduction of the meeting, and it-, •.üb-.tance had, I believe, been befoie thoroughly discussed in Maoril.ind. T wnli it to be distinctly undeistiKid that I did not even bugyost that .1 letter should be written : and the Maoris piob.ibly consulted mo ineiely becau&e they knew mo to be one of those who objected to the illegal treatment of the Maoi'is on the Webt Coast. The statement that the letter was offered to the Piess i.s quite true. I ofFeied it to the manage) of the Piess Association since its publication in Great J3iitain. I thought that com.se might prove the most expeditious way of raising money to transact _ a little business m the intaiest of the Maoris. [ am fully authorised by the Maoris to act for them m all matteis i elating to the letter. I told them that it might piobubly 1)3 necessary to publi-.li it, and I have no doubt Majoi Te Wheoio would endorse my doing" so. "

CHTtI.STCHUTCCH, Thursday. A fatal accident occunod to-day at tln^ excavation winks in cmnoction with the now lo.ul to the ocu.ui stouneis' wharf, f A s>)lul lunip i)t until woijjhui" «i ton htiuck ]JiMiiaii>in (rios«>i> H. Kydei, woiking uith i)ick.i.»es bolo'v it. Tlio former was killod instantly, and tho liitterV log was Inoken. Tho docosisod is .s;ud to bu married, and tohiu 1 tlnuechildiou icMdont in Clnistchiuch.