CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 248, 25 October 1870, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

We are not responsible for our Correspondents'

opinions

To the Editor of the Evening- State

Sir, —Will you have the goodness to insert, in your issue of this evening, the enclosed letter which I addressed to you yesterday, per favour of the Herald after perusal of your leading article, containing remarks bavins; reference, to my proposed candidature for City West, and oblige—Yours very truly, J. Wl__lA_tßo_T.

October 25, 1870

Sin, —I notice in your leading article of this evening reference is made to the announcement of my intention to present myself as a candidate for re-election to a seat in the General Assembly for City" West at the ensuing general el ction. While I feel very grateful to "you for the flattering terms in which you are pleased to bear testimony to the public service which it may be considered I have rendered to my country, you will permit me correct an error into which you have been, no doubt, unwittingly, led, but which, if allowed to pass unnoticed by me, might lead others also 10 a misconception of my present position. Your remark, in writing of myself, " It wa3 generally understood, when he received from his country a reward for good service done, in the shape of a comfortable provision, that his acceptance of it was a retirement from public life." Now the acceptance at the hands of the General Government by me of the office of Commissioner of Crown Lands—an office which I had held before, du:ing Mr. Whitaker'a Superintendency—was not understood by mo to involve a retirement from public life, nor was it offered to me on any such condition. On the contrary, before I accepted the office, I felt it to be only proper that I should consult some of my friends, electors of City West, as to whether they considered that my constituents would object to my undertaking the duties of an office under the Government while I continued to hold my seat in the Asseinby as their representative, or whether they thought my acceptance of the office would affect my reelection at any future time if I eh .se to resign the appoir.tment. The unanimous reply given to me was that my going into office would in no wise deprive me of their confidence nor of their support on any future occasion. The Act of 1869 under which I was appointed, does disqualifly holders of the office of Commissioner of Crown Lands and Deputy Commissioners from holding seats in the General Assembly, after the dissolution of the present Parliament, but there is nothing in that Act contained to prevent their retirement at any time from an office which is only held during the Governor's pleasure, and not for life, as your remarks might lead some to suppose. —

I am, &c.

J. Williamson.

October 2 L