H.—3o

1874. NEW ZEALAND.

LETTER BY MR. THOMAS BALL, (RELATIVE TO PARLIAMENTARY PAPER H. 37, 1873).

Beturn to an Order of the Souse of Representatives, dated sth August, 1874. " That a letter by Thomas Ball, of Mongonui, to the Minister of Justice, of 29th June last, relative to Papers printed in the Appendix to the Journals of the House, H. 37, 1873, be laid on the Table, and printed."— (Mr. T. B. Gillies.)

Mr. T. Ball to the Minister of Justice. Sib, — Oruaiti, Mongonui, 29th June, 1874. I have the honor to represent that by the kind offices of a friend I am put in possession of a Parliamentary Paper (No. 20, H. 37) included in the " Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1873," being copy of a letter addressed to the Hon. the Minister of Justice by Mr. Harold H. Fenton, J.P., Mongonui, into which he has chosen insidiously to import very offensive matter in reference to myself, in the conduct of a case " Fenton v. Frear," decided in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Mongonui. So far as the matter itself is concerned, I only care to say that Mr. Fenton has drawn largely upon his imagination for the insinuations and opinions he has been pleased to report; my chief object being to express my surprise and regret that the Government should have been made the medium of giving currency to such scurrility without inquiry, or affording the party concerned opportunity for defence. If the Government chooses to grant to unsuccessful litigants on the Commission of the Peace, facilities for giving publicity to vindictive insolence against the compeers to whom they refer their complaints, then no man of honor will care to hold the commission. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Justice. Thomas Ball. By Authority: Geobge Didsbbby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB74. Price 3d.]