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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 3, Issue 134, 14 April 1860, Page 4

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To tlie JEditor of the Hawse's Bay Jlerald,

Sin, — I was not a little surprised to see in your last week's issue certain remarks stated by you to * have been made by Mr. Alexander, (member for jfapier country district,) and placed by you under the general bead of Provincial Council; giving the tuawary to suppose that such remarks were really made t» or before the same. That Mr. Alexander did speak nmeh as you have reported is no doubt correct enough ; but, the council having previously adjourned, there was none then sitting. No notice could therefore possibly be taken of what he (hen said ; to say nothing of the great irregularity of speaking on a subject of which no motion had been given, or for which leave has not been specially obtained ; especially when (as in this case) the words or conduct of a member of council is strongly reproved. Had you, Sir, allowed those word 3 of Mr. Alexander to remain in the obscurity to which +hey were unanimously consigned, I venture to think you would have acted more wisely. As .it is, and as I take it, I have no alternative but tb ask you to publish the following letter to Mr. Alexander — a gentlemen whom I have long known, and for whom I have ever had the highest regard, I am, Sir, Yours truly, ; ■ ' ¥m, Colenso, To A. AiExikoEß, Esq., M.P.C. (Per favor of Editor of Saw7ce's Bay Herald). DEAB,SiB,-r-My attention has been called to a statement in . the " Herald ** of last - week, in which the Editor.reports you as publicly saying :— " The natives were grieved to hear that remarks to their prejudice had been made in the council by one. who knew them well and intimately, and who. should 'have, regarded them with feelings of more deference and respcot." Now there can he

little doubt but that I am the individual referred to by you. And as such a remark is now published to the world as coming from a gentleman who has not only long and intimately known both, the natives of Ahuriri and myself, but who, also, heard what I did say in my place in council at the time alluded to (when speaking on the motion concerning the resolution of sympathy and thanks to the Governor of New Zealand and to the Superintendent of Taranaki). Sir, I have taxed my memory ; I have enquired of those who were present at the time, both in the council and in the gallery ; and I have looked over what I am reported in the "Herald" as having said on that occasion, and I cannot tell what it is to which you, or the natives, or both so pointedly allude. What did I then say beyond the truth which is now by you so strongly objected to ? which is so very grievous to be b»rne ? If any such very prejudicial remarks were made by me in the council, why were they not then met and opposed ? Why did not Tareha's friend do so ? at a time, too, when my sayings were living and present and could be noticed. On the contrary, Did you not say, that you " generally agreed with what had fallen from both the members for Napier " ? that you " entirely concurred in what had been said regarding the course pursued by the Governor j and quite agreed that it was proper and just for the council to express sympathy with the settlers of Taranaki who were quite victims to the aborigines of that part ef the country"? [vide "Herald," March 315t.3 Further, Did any other member offer a single adverse remark? Was not the council unanimous upon that resolution ? Sir, I believe that I may very fairly question your right to make any such condemnatory remark, when I consider the very strong applauding language you (generally too so cautious) used respecting what the two town members had said who had preceded you in the debate. I, also, think, that I may properly enquire, (seeing that you yourself are commonly spoken of as having been their informant,) Who told the natives that any such prejudicial remarks concerning them had been made in the Council ? And, why, in their making such a complaint to you, were they not by you at once set Tight ? You could have told them what had really been said : you could also if you pleased, have translated for them word by word all I said (as reported in the " Herald ") with the whole of the resolution of the council. If it be so that they object to what I really said, or to the resolution, I have nothing further to say — save, that I am prepared to stand by both alike. If, on the contrary, they object to some strange language they have been led to believe me to have said, or to some bugbear of their own, or to the surmisings of a guilty conscience, they must fall back upon the authors. In conclusion, I will add, that, at the time of your (irregularly) making the statement referred to, I was recommended (for several reasons) not to notice it. So it dropped. And, as I have already said, I think it would have been much better if it had not been again resuscitated. As, however, ifc has, I find myself obliged to call your attention to it for some explanation ; which, in the present excitable time, I cannot but think highly necessary. I am, Dear Sir, Yours sincerely, WM. COIENSO. Napier, April 10, 1860.