To the Publisher of "the Hobart Town Riots."

Sir,—As you have been good enough to offer to publish the accompanying letter and speech in your pamphlet, I forward them to you, with the following explanations:

That the Lyttelton Times, after publishing a scurrilous attack upon me, refused to publish my reply;

That, in my speech, I expressed no opinion upon either Father Chiniquy, or his mission. In justice to Father Chiniquy, however, it is to be remembered that he is a priest of the Catholic Church; that he has been 25 years an eminent minister of the Presbyterian branch of the Catholic Church; and that he has testimonials from men of good standing and reputation—as, for instance, Dean Macartney, of Melbourne, "whose praise is in all the churches." With respect to his mission, I believe widely different opinions are held on the part of those who believe him to be a good man. His work is one in which he stands or falls to his own Master. I expressed no opinion upon it. My remarks had reference solely to the suppression of important news on the part of the Christchurch newspapers.—I am, &c.,

H. C. M. Watson.