MR ROYDS IN EXPLANATION.

Evening Star, Issue 8554, 29 June 1891, Page 4

MR ROYDS IN EXPLANATION.

TO THE BDITOB. Sib,—l regret very much that there may have teen an inaccuracy in my letter, published in yocr paper of the 12th inst., with reference to the action of the Minister of Lands in connection jpjith the Invercargill Land Office. I stated that by direction of the present Government a saw-mill area was granted to the New Zealand Pine Company, and I now think that this may probably not be correot. A few days before I left the office Mr Spence brought a letter which he had written to the geeiptary for Crown Lands about this area, and wiijch had been returned from Wellington with an .endorsement, into the Land Office, and laid it on <&3 table, remarking to me .that he was .very glad the Government had granted this, as odium enough had been east Jipon bim for the monopoly, which he was powsrleas to prevent. I was busy at the time, and did not look at the letter, bui it never occurred to me to doubt that the area had been granted until it was mentioned to me a day or two after my letter had ap-

peared in tho ' Otago Daily Times.' Aa Mr Spenoe is not in the colony I cannot now refer to him ; but it appears to me probable, as nothing is known in the Land Office here, and in the face of the Minister's denial, that he must have misinformed me, or that I misunderstood him. lam exceedingly sorry that this should have happened, as I have no wish whatever to do any injustice to Mr M'Kenzie. I had thought every statement made in my letter was absolutely unr challengeable, and, in fact, no other point has been challenged, or is likely to be. I have written Mr Spence on the subject; and and if there is no foundation for the statement I made I shall be only too glad to confess my error and withdraw the statement as publicly aa it waß made.—l am, etc., J. S. Royds. Invercargill, June 25.