CORRESPONDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 183, 8 July 1854, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sir, —I do not know that I am called upon to respond to that portion of your Leading Article last week which refers to the absence of the member for Akaroa from his place in the House of Representatives, or that I am even correct in assuming myself to be the person from whom some explanation or information may be expected ; but feeling equally with yourself the importance of every member of the House being present at the discussion of those most important measures which will necessarily occupy the attention of the first Parliament of New Zealand, I do not conceive it would be just towards the honorable and learned gentleman, in his absence, did I not communicate to you the fact within my personal knowledge, that before he left this place on his way to England, (although with the fixed determination of returning as speedily as possible with his family, to settle in this Province), he intimated to many of his constituents his wish to resign his seat, that they might not fail to be represented in the first Parliament should he not return before the General Assembly were convened, and that on such occasion he was met by their request, and subsequently by an address, numerously signed, not to vacate his seat. I believe, therefore, that it was simply in deference to the wish of his constituents, that Mr. Moorhouse retained his seat: whether right or wrong in this determination, I do not take upon myself to express an opinion. What has prevented him reaching the Assembly, if he has not gone to England, I cannot say, further than, it may be the difficulty of communication with Auckland ; and possibly he may not have received his summons from the Colonial Secretary. '- I cannot but greatly regret Mr. Ms. abser.ce on this momentous occasion, (if indeed he be still absent), I can only believe it to arise from some infortuitous circumstance, over which he has no control; for it was undoubtedly his most earnest intention to have supported the interests of this Province to the utmost of his ability in the present Assembly were it within his power to attend. I am, Sir, Your very obedient Servant, Christopher Edward Dampier. Waicliffe, 3rd July, 1854. [Mr. Dampier will readily admit that so long as the facts which he has communicated to us remained unknown to the public at large, the opinions we expressed were fully supported by the circumstances of the case. Had full publicity been given to them, according to usage, through the press, and at the time they transpired, the hon. member for Akaroa would have left little room for remark upon the course he has preferred to adopt. We cannot think that the interests of the whole Province have been so fully considered as they might have been by the learned gentleman and by those of his constituents to whose opinions lie has deferred. We say this with special reference to, and having solely in view the very peculiar and exceptional circumstances under which the first Parliament is assembled : and the great necessity existing for a complete representation in it of every Province of New Zealand. We cannot then very greatly modify our opinions already put forth, till an opportunity has been allowed of the general feeling entertained at Akaroa becoming known here.—Ed. L.T.~]

To the Editor of the LyHelton Times. Sir, —As I am accused both by you and by Mr. Thomson of making a misstatement, which in other words, means a false statement, you will, I am sure, give a place in your columns to correct such a charge. I am, sir, No PIJSEYITE.

To W. Thomson, Esq., Governor's Bat. Dear Sir, —I am sorry to find that you and I are putting forth statements so contrary, the one to the other, that both cannot be true, and I attribute this to a want of correct information on the one side or the other, as I am convinced you are as incapable of making a false statement as I am. As a proof that I never attributed opposition to you, I may mention that, in the original copy of my letter signed " No Puseyite," I said, " the chief mover is one of the High. Church Party, who came out as Secretary to the ex Bishop Designate." The words in. italics were omitted at the particular desire of the proprietor of the " Lyttelton Times." The first time I heard of opposition at Governor's Bay was from the Rev. Mr. Dudley, while we conversed near the Post Office ; he was lamenting that the schools were taken from under the superintendence of the officiating clergymen by the Prnvincial Government, which had appointed Mr. Gouland at Christchurch, and Mr. Spowers at Lyttelton, as Inspectors of Schools, and nominated the Rev. Mr. Jacobs in the one district and the Rev. Mr. Cotterhill in the other, as Superintendents, the whole being subject to the control of the Bishop's Commissary. In that conversation Mr. Dudley distinctly mentioned the name of Mr. Calvert and the name of the Rev. Mr. Willock, when speaking of the opposition of the Government School as contemplated at Governor's Bay. In corroboration of this information, I know that before the Superintendent and Mr. Sewell left here for Auckland, instructions were given by the latter, that school books were to be supplied for Governor's Bay school on the requisition of the Rev. Mr. Willock, if the opposition was carried out; but if it was to be a Government school, the books were to be supplied through Government. If I could have had a doubt on my mind that opposition existed, it must have been entii-ely removed by the very strong language used by Mr. Calvert to myself a few days ago, when he told me the Government were acting illegally with regard to education. I hope you will see from the above facts, that the statement as to opposition was not " entirely groundless," or existed, if at all, " solely in the fervid imagination of No Puseyite." I am, dear Sir, Yours truly, Henry John Porter. Bellevue Cottage, Lyttelton, July 3. [We observe that the names of not less tlian eight gentlemen are introduced in the above letter of Mr. Porter's, to which we give insertion, —not without trepid<ition,when we think of the limit we may be compelled to place upon a correspondence that bids failto become equally personal and voluminous. —Ed. Z.T.]

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