Auckland 19 April/75 My dear Pollen, A circular has been addressed to members convening a meeting of the Club for the purpose of adding a new rule to permit Sir G. Grey to come in without the usual formality of the ballot. The circular is so worded that many members at a distance have supposed that the new rule expresses the wish of the members generally, but as such is far from being the case, I consider it one's duty to put members at a distance in possession of the facts. Sir G. Grey is willing to join the Club but declines to be ballotted for, as I gather, being derogatory to his standing in the Colony. Now there are a great many members anxious for Sir G. Grey's admission, yet opposed to the distinction which he is contending for, as being thoroughly destructive of the basis upon which such an institution should stand - perfect equality inside the walls of the house - who are determined to oppose the innovation and they fairly argue that when a number of gentlemen - like Sir G. Arney, Stafford, McLean, Vogel and yourself all representative men in N. Z. have not thought themselves demeaned by entering the Club, Sir G. Grey cannot feel himself demeaned by undergoing the same ordeal; if there was the slightest fear of an adverse vote I could understand his shrinking from the trial, but instead of such being the case he would be most cordially welcomed. Perhaps if you feel yourself indifferent upon the question you might be disinclined to declare for either side. In political circles there is a very strong feeling in favor of Sir George, he is the idol of the hour, but there is evidently the old Adam strong within him sowing discord; he is commencing it with the Govt. and has sowed it in our Club. Yours &c. (Sd.) Warwick Weston. Would you mind making McLean acquainted with the contents of this letter if he is in Wellington.