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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 1, Issue 35, 22 May 1858, Page 6

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To the Editor of the ITawlce's Bay Herald,

Sir, — Your paper of the Bth inst. only reached me on the 15th — a circumstance I regi-et the more as (in a letter of mine contained therein) you have, by a small typographical error, made me to say the contrary of what I had written : — viz. « (b) For all Mttinhabited houses, &c," should be-, For all inhabited houses, &c. In the P. S. of that same letter I had stated, that "I had Gtill a few words more to say in connection &c. :" but, having subsequently had a public opportunity of addressing the inhabitants of Napier, when in a few strong words I said pretty much of what I had thought of diluting in writing, I will not trouble you any further on that matter. . -

In the same number of the Herald you give your readers a very full account of tlie Public; Meeting held at Napier on the 30th ult. (and I sincerely hope, Sir; that they will at least, duly appreciate your most strenuous exertions, so veiy clearly Bhewn in. the many elcsely printed columns

in small type of that number.) In reading, however, the speech of Mr. Woodward therein reported, it occurred to me, that (while, on the -whole, it is a tolerably faithfid report,) there is some difference between it and the speech spoken — -just such, if I may so express myself, as between a sheep and mutton. This opinion of mine, coupled with a few little wee things in the reported speech, has led me to infer, that, perhaps, Mr. "Woodward had himself furnished you -with it ; or, at least, had the privilege of kindly aiding your notes. Now do not, Mr. Editor, for a moment suppose, that I am going to "pop the question" to you ; so preserve, I pray, both your gravity and the sella curulis. Neither will I venture on a critique; but, as I rose at the Meeting mainly to call attention to certain "fallacies and sophistries ;" and as one of the greatest of them is all but quite ignored in the reported speech of Mr. Woodward (and yet my notice of it distinctly given) ; I deem it but an act of common justice to myself, as well as to your distant readers, to notice it ; — leaving it to those who were present to decide as to the truthfulness of my remarks.

In Mr. "Woodward's reported speech, lie is stated to have said (speaking of the Constitution Act), that "it inipowered the Provincial Councils to make laws for the peace, order, and good government" of their respective communities, terms that gave all the powers of sovereign legislatures, subject to the restrictions imposed by the Act." Now, according to my memory, and any notes (taken at the time), and my severe remarks (for I had felt my loyally touched a bit,) on that particular portion of Sir. "Woodward's speech, (mos>t of which remarks, Sir, you have succinctly given,) and my (brief) conversation with Mr. Woodward after the Meeting, (when I again brought tins one salient point before him,) — according to all these Mr. Mr. Woodward spolce differently. What I then clearly understood Mr. Woodward to say, had no reference to "Provincial Councils" nor to "their respective communities" nor to "sovereign legislatures" (nor to any plural numbers) ; but, to the simple and singular fact, which Mr. Woodward (as I took him, and I sat next to him,) emphatically stated, of "the SUPERINTENDENT possessing sovereign poivcr .'" And, indeed, Sir, there can be no manner of doubt about it ; for, — after I had said (as truly reported by you,) that "I had heard it -with the greatest astonisliment, that the Superintendent possessed sovereign power" : — I further said, that "I would then ask Mr. "Woodward a question to his face" (which, turning to liim, I did) ; — "Did Mr. Woodward believe that the Superintendent possessed sovereign power before he (Mr. "Woodward) became a member of the Executive ?" And to this question of mine, Mr. Woodward, half-rising from his chair, answered, "yes." Then, Mr. Editor, I proceeded, as you go on to relate.

I will not, Sir, make any more remarks ; other than, in conclusion, to say, that instead of "precious Thistle and Bur Act," I said, "precious Thistle and Cur Acts." I am, Sir, Ycur3 very faithfully, Wir. Coiexso. Waitangi, May 17, ISSB.