MR. DARGAVILLE'S EXPLANATION,

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1712, 13 August 1875, Page 2

MR. DARGAVILLE'S EXPLANATION,

(To the Editor of the Eventng Star. ) Sir Mr Dargaville, in his speech at the Parnell Hall last evening, asserted that he would not have addressed the meeting were it not for certain allusions made by previous speakers, and gave as his reason for his intended silence r.hat as he purposed contesting the seat for Parnell with Mr Wood, and to speak behind his back might be construed as taking "a mean advantag " of hisopponent. Further on in his speech he stated that he had drafted his amendment :;.i the early part of the proceedings, evidently forgetting what he had previously stated Now, Sir, either Mr Dargaville did not draft the amendment before any speeches were made on the subject, or he came to the meeting with the full intention of taking that "mean advantage" which he so strenuously repudiated attempting. Which was it Mr Dargaville ? Again, Mr Dargaville, in explanation of Mr Lusk's remarks anent the gum tax, asserted that he telegraphed to withdraw the proposition from before the General Assembly when he read the proposal of the General Government as contained in their Abolition Bill. Now, Sir, I find that Mr Dargaville's telegram is dated July 31st, and the contents of the Government Abolition Bills were not made public in Auckland until Saturday morning, the Ist of August. I am afraid Mr Dargaville attempted to mislead his hearers at the expense of truth.—Yours, &c , Parnell.