Untitled

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 3, Issue 111, 5 November 1859, Page 3

To the JSdito-r of the HatoJce's Bay Herald. Sik, — I read with considerable regret the letter of your correspondent "Vates" in the last publication of the "Herald," as I cannot see any ground for such an unfriendly attack upon Mr. Ferguson, a gentleman who is justly esteemed by most of his fellow settlers, and one who was, moreover, a warm supporter of the Separation' movement from the first. The assertion of your correspondent, that Mr. Ferguson's election as a member of the House of Eepresentatives was illegal, and that he was not returned by a single elector of this Province, may be true enough, but the blame of that lay with the acting Returning Officer, and with the electors themselves, rather than with Mr. Ferguson. No one else was willing to undertake the trouble of going to Auckland, when our present member stepped forward, and saved, us from being misrepresented by a Wellington anti-separatist, and for 'this he deserves our warm thanks rather than an attack such as that of "Vates." To say that Mr. F. has not experience, ability, and eloquence, to enable him to cope successfully with those Wellington members who will be opposed to us in the next session, on the question of the Wellington debt, is to assert no more than might be said of almost any other settler in Hawke's Bay, and probably Mr. Ferguson may not feel disposed to undertake such a very grave responsibility ; certainly Iho task is one which ought to be entrusted to the best man amongst us whose services could be obtained. If however, Mr. Ferguson should attend as our representative, I am of opinion that it would be desirable he should be re-elected by the present constituency of Hawke's Bay, because he will otherwise bo most certainly taunted with the informality of the former election, and tho undeniable fact that he cannot be said to represent those, who had no act in his election. Moreover, the' luke-warmness at the last election was to some extent attributable to the expectation that Hawke's Bay would be separated from Wairarapa, and that consequently the member then elected would only hold his seat for one session.' I am, &c, An Electoe.