H.—43

1895. NEW ZEALAND.

THE HON. J. G. WARD AND MR. J. DUTHIE, M.H.R. (CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO AN ALLEGED MEETING BETWEEN THE HON. MR. WARD AND MR. JOHN MURRAY.)

Laid upon the Table of the House by Leave.

No. 1. The Hon. Mr. J. G. Wabd to Mr. J. Duthie, M.H.E. Dkae Sir,— Wellington, 26th October, 1895. Concerning the statement twice made by you in the House yesterday, and adhered to after my denial, that, in company with Mr. Watson and Mr. Henry McKenzie, I had met Mr. John Murray, either upon the " Hauroto " or upon the wharf, on the recent occasion of his arrival from Sydney, I have to request that you will be good enough to produce what proof you have for making such a statement, and so clear yourself from the imputation of having promulgated a malicious falsehood concerning me. As you challenged me upon the point in the House, and stated that you had witnesses to prove your assertion, I now demand that you should either prove your words or admit that you have, knowingly, and with attempt to injure me, said that against me which you are unable to prove. I have communicated with Mr. Watson, Mr. Henry McKenzie, and Mr. Murray, asking them to state succinctly whether I did or did not meet them as you have stated. I lose no time in conveying this intimation to you, in order that you may adopt an honourable course in either retracting your statement or furnishing me with the evidence upon which you base your statement. Yours faithfully, John Duthie, Esq., M.H.E., Wellington. J. G. Waed. Enclosures in No. 1. Dear Sic,— Wellington, 26th October, 1895. A statement was made by Mr. John Duthie twice in the House yesterday that I was on the wharf, along with you and Mr. Henry McKenzie, on the day of the arrival of the " Hauroto " from Sydney, and that, with you, I met Mr. John Murray on board .the " Hauroto," or on the wharf. Will you kindly state whether I met you, either accidentally or by arrangement, upon the occasion referred to, or whether I met Mr. Murray with you, either on the "Hauroto," on the wharf, or at any other place before his landing or after his arrival. Yours faithfully, William Watson, Esq., President, Bank of New Zealand, J. G. Waed. Wellington. Deae Sic,— Wellington, 26th October, 1895. In reply to your letter of this date, asking me whether I met you on the wharf on the day of the arrival of the " Hauroto " from Sydney, and other questions, I beg to state that before the arrival of the " Hauroto " I saw yourself and Mrs. Ward walking on the opposite side of the wharf ; but I did not meet you, nor have any conversation with you. When the " Hauroto " arrived, Mr. Buller and I went on board, and Mr. Murray walked up to the town with me. Neither you nor Mr. Henry McKenzie met Mr. Murray, either on the " Hauroto " or on the wharf ; nor at any time during Mr. Murray's stay here did you meet him in my presence. Yours faithfully, The Hon. J. G. Ward, Wellington. W. Watson. (Telegram.) 26th October, 1895. ATstatembnt was made by Mr. John Duthie twice in the House yesterday that I was on the wharf, along with you and Mr. Watson, on the day of the arrival of the " Hauroto " from Sydney, and that with you I met Mr. John Murray on board the " Hauroto," or on the wharf. Will you kindly state whether I met you, either accidentally or by arrangement, upon the occasion referred to ; or whether I met Mr. Murray with you, either on the " Hauroto,'' on the wharf, or at any other place, before his landing or after his arrival. Henry McKenzie, Esq., General Manager, Colonial Bank, J. G. Waed, Wellington. Dunedin.