DR. TENNENT AND THE CORONERSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7270, 7 March 1885, Page 5

DR. TENNENT AND THE CORONERSHIP.

In reference to his removal from the office of coroner, Dr. Tennent writes as follows : — "Re the Gazette notice in this morning's Herald notifying my removal from the office of coroner within New Zealand, permit ma to occupy a small space in your columns to ventilate the matter, believing as I do that it is genuinely of public interest, and stands out as a glaring proof of what certain parties can do when pitchforked into power. Early last month I received a letter from the Department of Justice, Wellington, under date January 30, acknowledging mine of December 12, ISS4, wherein I stated that I had retired from tho active public practice of my profession, given up midwifery oases, and confined it within such limited bounds as in my opinion should have satisfied the Minister of Justice tbat 1 had fully complied with the spirit of the resolution of the House of Representatives. In his letter under date January 30, mentioned above, Mr. Joseph A. Tole denies that I had done so, and demanded from me the complete extinguishment of my public and private practice as a medioal man or my resignation of the coronership within New Zealand. On February 18 I replied to that letter, and the following are extracts from my reply :—• I have voluntarily relinquished a very largo proportion of my privase practice, and narrowed it down to a select few (and a very few) private patients, the surgeonship of a portion of the Hibernian Society, and the Lock Hospital.' 'I now supplement my former statement by saying that without any difficulty I have undeniable reasons for knowing I could at any time augment my practice and profits to the extent of £30 per month. , ' I again most positively and distinctly declare i am not in the active practice of my profession, and if this declaration on my part fails in setting the matter to rest—having mine eyes the fact that Dr. Philsou, enjoying as he does the post of Health and Quarantine Officer, Public Vaociaator, Surgeon to Mount Eden Gaol, and large practice amongst old settlers suporadded thereto, having likewise his consultation room and surgery in Queen-street, and remains in undisturbed possession of his coronerahip—l can but view your action to me but in one or more lights : a feeling of bitterness towards myself (I refer to the matter of Goodward in that infamous rape case, who was mainly convicted through my sworu testimony), aud that you have fixed views regarding the coronership which would be at your disposal in tho event of its being vacant through my resignation.' Sir, lam a plain spoken man. Those who know me best are fully aware that I neither speak nor write upon matters that I have the shadow of a doubt about. I have no doubt whatever regarding Mr. Tole and his attitude towards myself. I charge him with allowing private acrimonious feelings and spite to (in my case) direct the power temporarily placed in his hands. I further charge him of removing me from the list of coroners of New Zealand to oblige one of his own personal friends, and I plainly tell him that by his wrongful act he has grossly abused the power which in all good faith was placed in his hands.—l am, &G., C. Emmek.son Tennent."