EX-GOVERNOR EYRE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 976, 8 September 1868, Page 2

EX-GOVERNOR EYRE.

(From the " Home News," July 2.) An address from a body of gentlemen having property in or connected with the commerce of the Wesfc India Islands, was on June 24 presented to ex-Governor Eyre, at Walbrook-house, Walbroolcstreet, City. The address, which, was drawn up in 1866, and offered to Mr. Eyre, but declined by him at that time on the ground that the prosecutions against him were still pending, was signed by 240 gentlemen largely interested in the West Indian trade, or holding property in our West Indian colonies. Mr. Eyre, in responding, referred to the various proceedings which, had been taken against him, and continued : —

" I am relieved from the obligation I felt under whilst these questions were still pending to decline to receive any public demonstration of sympathy and approval. You, gentlemen, have again expressed your desire to honour me by presenting me with the address prepared nearly two years ago, and in doing so you practically announce that after all which has taken place in the interval you still retain the same good opinion of my conduct and the same confidence in my integrity which you then did. I now thankfully accept this gratifying testimony in my favour, believing it to be an indication that my fellow-countrymen at large concur in and endorse the decision which has been arrived at by three different tribunals. But especially do I value it as coming from a large and influential body of gentlemen, who, on their personal knowledge of and connection with the West India colonies, are best able to appreciate the difficulties of the position I was placed in, and the necessity which existed for the most prompt and decisive action to avert from a British colony the frightful scenes which were once enacted- in the closely adjoining island of St. Domingo. That there are isolated individuals amongst my late assailants, who, disappointed at the authoritative determination of the proceedings which have so repeatedly but unsuccessfully been instituted, have since sought to weaken the effect of those judicial decisions, and have renewed their attempts to mislead and prejudice the public mind by reiterating in the newspapers unsupported assertions and misrepresentations, only shows how great has been the rancour and unscrupulousness which stimulated the prosecutions. I can well leave such persons to their own unenviable reflections, and to the just appreciation of a British public. And now, gentlemen, let me thank you very gratefully for your good opinion and for this generous and public expression of it. On my own behalf I would only say I endeavoured to do my duty conscientiously, in the single desire to preserve the lives and properties of those entrusted to my care, and to uphold the honour of my Queen and country."