THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2127, 28 November 1868, Page 3

THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

To the Editor of the Otago Daily Times.

Siu—As a striking instance of the sensitiveness of the Provincial Government to censure either on the part of individuals or of the Press, I beg to enclose you the following correspondence, with the request that you will be good enough to publish the Barne. Comment upon the impertinent letter of the Provincial Secrotary and Treasurer ia wholly unnecessary. "What particular potentate does Mr Vogol think himself I —l am, Sir, John Mouat. Dunedin, November 27th.

Provincial Treasury, Dnnedin, 25th November, ISGB.

Sir—Mr Koynolds has just called upon me to represent certain statements which he heard you make, to the effect that the Provincial Government lent itself to jobbery ; that there was jobbery going on whilst you were in the Government, of which you were not aware until you left it, and that there is jobbery still going on. I beg to ask you for an explanation of

these very serious aspersions. I consider that I have a right to expect a full and explicit cxplanat'on from yon, since you -were a ruem" crof the Gnvernmentagainßt which yon now make the charge ; and, therefore, your words cannot be treated with the indifference and contempt with which the Government might be disposed otherwise to regard ran dom assertions of the kind.—l am, &c,

Jclics Vocjkl, Provincial Secretary and Treasurer. John Mouat, Esq., M.P.C, Dunedin.

(UEI'LY.)

The Provincial Secretary and Treasurer, Sir—l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 23th instant, and white 1 demur entirely to your opinion that you are entitled to any explanation of what passed in private conversation between me and Mr ituynolds. I hare no objection to state the particular matter which I had in contemplation when I made the statement referred to. I may premise that iii aaing the term "jobbery," I had in view the result of the transaction, and not the motives which prompted it, which last, of course, I am unable to scrutinize. For tho explanation required, I beg therefore to refer you to the lieport of the Select Committee on the Taieri District Petition, No. 15, Session 23—a careful examination of which, together with the evidence taken by the Committee, will, I feel euro, convince you that tho term I used was not unwarranted.

1 may mention that my statement to Mr Reynolds was a rejoinder to one of hie, in which ho charged the Government of tho Colony with corruption, and mentioned as an instance an offer made to him of an appointment cither to himself or any nominee of his. I suggested that the offer might be considered a compliment to his ability rather than en appeal to any lower mental quality, a suggestion which hia modesty instantly repudiated.. fn conclusion, I dcclino altogether to bo forced into the position of a pnblic censor, and would suggest that Mr Reynolds might be more usefully employed by the Government in endeavouring to check a 1 uses of the kiud 1 have pointed out. than in retailing private conversations.—l have, &c., Dunedin, Nov. 27th. John Mouat.