" THE HOKITTKA EVENING STAR."

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1583, 5 August 1885, Page 2

" THE HOKITTKA EVENING STAR."

. _ Mr Joseph P. Klein, son of the late proprietor of the above journal, publishes the, following valedictory article in his paper of the 29th July. If the case is iaiily and accurately pnt, it discloses one of the most extraordinary instances of execnturship ever heard of. Pending learning what the other side have to say, we reprint Mr Klein's statement: — "In a few days I shall be called upon to deliver up this paper to the purchasers, who, for reasons of their own, have up to the present time preserved (ro the Imlk of the public at least) their incognito. I should not be doing my duty to myself, nor to the pn lie, who generously supported my father for so many years, cln ring his proprietorship of this and other journals, if I did not lay before my readers an account of the ways and means by which the Evening Star pusses into other hands. A wili was executed some Is years ago l»y my father. Mr William Evans, formerly of Hokitika, but now of Timarti, is the sole surviving executor appointed l»y him. The terms of the will renlpred it imperative that the property should he sold, for the puipose of division among the legatees — my mother, my brother, and myself. A short time since I visited Timaru for the purpose of seeing the executor and making arrangements to purchase the paper on behalf of the legatees. Mr Evans completely led me astray as to his intentions, for on the very day of my interview, the Star was advertised for sale by tender, and it was only on my arrival back in Christchurch that my foreman informed me by teh gram what was taking place here. I leave yon to say whether Mr Evan's conduct was either fair or just to the son of hideceased friend. My mother, brothers, ami myself decided upon purchasing the Sftsr from the executor, and I th("eft»re lolled a tender on our joint account !'"j rom iiumjbed pounds more THAN THK PPJCE OBTAINED. My tender v.iis not <uvrpted. on the ground that a dtjosit Ivd uut accompanied the temVr. Will any reasonable mind think- that Mr Evans was doing his duty to my father's wishes ; Or. that i y refusing our tender, the sacred duty . of an executor h.ul the slightest weight wish him ? We, *ha temlerers, were the sole legatees, we vere agreed in re tailing possession of the journal that had been our support for so many years. Was a deposit necessary forns among whom the proceeds were to » c divided % Would not any man in a like position of irns\ having the in.crest of the lenities under the will at heart, receive such a tender as ours in good faith, and p tin it on account of the a'osenci' ot the deposit I Mr Evans then ottVi-pd me the paper for a certain sum rash. I was prepared with the money. Finding this, he \accilated, and I understood that the ■*/<//• should be rim under a power of attorney from himself. This statement was untruthful, for the same evening he present^ himself at the t'tar office, and informed my brother and myself that the paper was sold. The amount that the Star has realised would have gladly been , .riven by me But no, it was predeter I mined tint my fathers property should I pass into the hands of strangers, and i that his son should be denied the ad- : vantages of conducting the journal i that brought him into close and honoriahle relationship with t'.ie W ostland public. I might say a good deal about | outside pressure, but I sha'l be silent, because the new proprietory will speak 1 for themselves, and my fellow citizens will then know all. and more than I can tell him. lucre ise of population in most places is the pretext given for introducing fresh journals to the world. Our population is decreasing, and the liberties of the press are getting narrower and more confined. In a little time those who have wrongs to redress would have no means to obtain pub. licity, if the purchasers of the Star were allowed to enjoy their ill-gotten property in peace. In n short time another paper will make its appearance in Hokitika. It will be devoted to the breaking up of these " little rings" i that have so long been the enrse of j this district, and the sons of Joseph Phillip Klein trust that their friends will rally around them, and assist in conrching this free lance against oppression, tyranny and misrule. — I am, &c, Joseph P. Klein."