GOVERNOR WELD AND THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF TASMANIA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 386, 5 July 1879, Page 13

GOVERNOR WELD AND THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF TASMANIA.

In our issue of Wednesday we published a despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies with r'eg'ard to the controversy between Governor Weld and the Chief Justice of Tasmania. From the following correspondence which has been published in the Launceston Examiner, it will be seen that Sir Michael Hicks-Beacli has effectually succeeded in “ throwing oil upon the troubled waters” of what appeared to be at one time an interminable controversy : “ Chief Justice’s Chambers, “February 3, 1879.

“ Sir, —It has been my belief that the tone and language of my communications to your Excellency in the course of the late controversy between us, were warranted by the occasion. But the Secretary of State, whose authority as arbiter between your Excellency and myself I feel bound to recognise and submit to, has decided otherwise. It follows that I have done you a wrong. I hope I shall never hesitate, as far as lies in my power, to repair any wrong of which I may be made cognisant ; I hasten to do so now. The only reparation which I can make—unless your Excellency can point out some other more appropriate—is to express to you my regret that my communications*were written in the tone and language condemned by the Secretary of State, and to tender an apology. This Ido without surrendering in the smallest particular the principles for which I have thought it my duty to contend throughout the controversy.— I have, &c„ Francis Smith. “ His Excellency the Governor.” “Government House, “ February 4, 1879. “ —Having been on the regatta ground all the morning” I did not receive your note until this afternoon. I at once say frankly that its generous tone cannot, but claim , a response couched in a kindred spirit, and it will obliterate in my mind all recollection of our late controversy. I am sure that you will permit, me to say, as you have done, that I cannot in any way surrender the principles for which I have felt it my painful duty to contend ; and I beg to assure you that if I have said anything unnecessarily to annoy you.or cause you pain, I very sincerely regret it ; and.l trust that you will not look back upon it save in the same spirit of forgiveness which, on my part, I am ready to extend to anything that you may have done, said, or written.. I ask no more ; and it is my hope that the time may come when, like many other men who have had personal differences, we may wonder how they have ever occurred. You are quite at liberty, so far as I am concerned, to show this letter, together with your own, to any of our mutual friends.—l remain, &c., “Fred. A. Weld. “ His Honor Sir Francis Smith, G. J.” “ Chief Justice’s Chambers, “ February 5, 1879. “ Six-, —I beg to assure your Excellency that I fully recognise and appreciate the frank spirit in which you have received and so promptly responded to my note ; and join with you in free forgiveness of everything of the past calculated to offend or annoy. I regard the controversy as obliterated, and hope no one will ever attempt to revive it.—l have, &c., “Francis Smith. “ His Excellency the Governor.”