MR. WAKEFIELD'S STATEMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume XIV, Issue 46, 23 August 1876, Page 2

MR. WAKEFIELD'S STATEMENTS.

. Th . 6 f o| lowil iff letters were received yesterday by Mr. South :— J "Sir,— l have the honor to acknowledge - receipt of your letter of 19th inst., handing me copies of resolutions passed at a pEblic meetine held at Princess Hotel on the evening of the 18th. These resolutions have reference to certain expressions used by the member for Gerald«e iv Parliament, when alluding to the recemion of Sir Julius Vogel by the people of Wellington on his return from England in S >te w 1 ? 1 « 8 M l " Tas * ot , in the House when Mr. Wakefield made the observations to which exceptions have been taken, and the debate was closed by Sir George Grey replying, immodiatelv after the member for Gcraldine sat down. 1 had thus at the time no opportunity of answering him. Mr. Wakefield, lam sure I spoke without sufficient knowledge of the facts' otherwise he could not have used the words he did, and I gladly take the opportunity of bearing testimony to the thoroughly spontaneous nature ol the demonstration referred to I may add that no more sincere and hearty we come was ever, in my opiuion, given to a public man than was accorded to Sir Julius Vogel on that occasion.— l am, &c., Edward PKARCE-Alr George South.— Wellington, 22ud August." 8 ' ''Dear Sir,— l have the pleasure to acknowedge receipt of your letter ot the 19th inst. to baud this forenoon, also copy of the resolutions passed at a public meeting held at the Princess Hotel last Friday evening. Iv reply, I beg to express my regret that so much importance has been attached to the expressions made use of by the hon. member for Geraldtae. *fr. Edward Wakefield, and to remind you tHat there is nothing Parliament is more jealous about than the right of allowing perfect free* dom of speech to the representative! idf.the people. lam satisfied that Mr. Wakefield regrets the hasty and uncalled-for remarks which dropped from him in the heat of debate, and if an opportunity should present itself, I shall be glad to draw his attention to the subject, so that he may be able to withdraw, or qualify, that portion of his speech which has given such general cause of complaint.— I am. to.. Geo. Hunter.— Wellington, August 21, 1876."