THE PARIHAKA PROCLAMATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 6440, 3 December 1881, Page 2

THE PARIHAKA PROCLAMATION.

MR EOLLESTON IN REPLY TO

MR STOUT. (from a correspondent.) Christchurch, December 2. The following letter from the Hon. W. Eolleston has been addressed to the Christchurch “Press” :—“ln my speech at the Avon nomination to-day, X referred to a letter from Mr Stout, which was published in one of the morning papers; hut X spoke only in general terms respecting the latter part of that document. Mr Stout, by means of a series of questions, implies that the Ministry or a member of it had, prior to the issue of the late proclamation to the West Coast Natives, received information that Sir Arthur Gordon’s return was then imminent, and that because of that information the issue of the proclamation was hurried, I shall be obliged if you will allow me to state absolutely that neither the Ministry as a whole nor any member of it had, np to the time when the “ Gazette ” containing the proclamation was published, received information that the Governor’s speedy return might be expected, and that, in fact, no intelligence as to the Governor’s movements, actual or intended, had been received by the Government, or by any Minister, from the time his Excellency left Auckland for Fiji until he returned to Wellington.”