ECHO OF THE BY-ELECTION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3349, 16 October 1911, Page 5

ECHO OF THE BY-ELECTION

WONG KING AGAIN BEFORE THE PUBLIC.

APPLICATION FOR NATURALISATION FAILS.

SYMPATHETIC LETTER FROM CANON FOX.

"Wong King, who was recently a candidate for a seat on the Borough Council, called at the “Times” office on Saturday with a grievance. He explained lie had been refused naturalisation by his Excellency the Governor. , He mentioned also that the applications of Willie Tan, Lee Choy, and Cliing Ling, all residents of the district, had met with the same fate. Jocularly asked if his object in seeking enrolment was to qualify for a seat in Parliament, Wong King jocosely replied that he was full of fun, but there was a limit to all things. Wong King went on to say that, he regarded himself as a Christian, in view of the fact that he had long ago embraced the Christian faith, and contributed largely to the funds of different denominations —in fact, it was becoming tedious the calls made on him from different sources.

He emphasised his belief in the Christian faith by flourishing a letter from Canon Fox (who will be well remembered here as being formerly in charge of the Native Mission at Wae-renga-a-hika), and he asked us to publish Mr. Fox’s letter, which is as follows :

“Sept. 21st, 1911. “Tinwald, Canterbury. ‘ ‘Dear Wong King,—l thought you had left Gisborne as I have heard no news of you for a long time, but I heard last month that you were' still in Gisborne and doing well. I also heard you were a candidate for. a seat on the Gisborne Borough Council. Were you elected? How is your son—is he still with you? I am sorry to. say I have had very had health for the last three years, and I have now very little strength, so I find it very hard to do my work. “I am sending you a bundle. of Chinese magazines, which I think will interest you. I will send them regularly to you in future. You need not return them to me, as I do not want them. Do you still read your Bible regularly, and do you get any help from it? May God bless you and teacli you always. “From your old friend, “B. G. FOX.”