"Crichtok, Tokomairiro

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1433, 12 June 1867, Page 2

"Crichtok, Tokomairiro

" May 27, 1867. "Sir,—l duly received, per Mr Dick, your note of the 23rd inst signed as ' Secy, to the Committee' accompanying a requisition from the electors of Dunedin to resign my seat in the General Assembly.

"Iv reply, I beg to say that, in ordinary circumstances I should at once have acceded to the request made but in the present case there are, I think, peculiar circumstances which seem to justify mc in adopting a different course. The requisition itself simply contains what may be regarded as two reasons for asking mc to resign —First, that 'the representatives should be agreed on the great question of Separation;' and, second, that I ' promised to resign at a public meeting in Dunedin.' With regard to tho first, it appears to mc somewhat unreasonable that, after all that has passed, I should be requested to resign on such grounds, without a single inquiry being made bs to whether recent events have at all affected my views on that and other important questions likely to come before the Assembly. And as to the other, I have already publicly stated my views, and now repeat, that my resolution in regard to my own case was given when I told the meeting that though I came there prepared to resign yet, on account of the treatment I had received, I would not do so. All that passed subsequently on that occasion was in connection with tlie resignation of the whole fifteen, and had reference to myself only as one of the number. " I regret very much that any misunderstanding should have arisen between the electors of Dunedin and myself, as I have ever regarded the good opinion of my fellow citizens as a legitimate source of gratification. I cannot, however, charge myself with having don© anything to bring about such a state of matters; neither will I attempt here to blame others for doing so, though I have my own opinion on that point. At the same time I have no hesitation in saying that the electors of Dunedin have suffered themselves to be grossly imposed on, and haye in. consequence inflicted on mc a grievouß wrong. They first received, and acted on as true, certain accusations against mc industriously circulated in my absence for the express purpose of injuring mc in my relations with them, and they refused to hear mc in my own defence when I appeared at a public meeting for the purpose of explanation. Were I now, therefore, to comply with their request, it would be a virtual acknowledgment of the truth of the charges referred to, and an admission that the treatment I then received was merited on my part, both of which conclusions I distinctly and utterly repudiate. " I have only further to say that if I again go up to the Assembly it will be at a great personal sacrifice to myself, and it is possible I may yet see it to be my duty not to go. But if I resolve on that course it will be tho result of my own free will, and not at the request of the electors of Dunedin. " You will oblige mc by communi-cating-this reply to the electors signing the requisition. " I am, sir, your obedient servant, "Jambs Patebsok. " David E. Hay, Esq., " Secretary to the Committee."