THE BISHOP OF NELSON AND THE LATE NATIVE MINISTER.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3257, 9 December 1881, Page 4

THE BISHOP OF NELSON AND THE LATE NATIVE MINISTER.

The following has been forwarded to us (Lyttelton Times) for publication : The Bishop of Nelson forwards the appended telegrams in consequence of the tbreat held out by the Kolleston, that tho Bishop would recognise that he was justified in publishing the correspondence. The Bishop was unwilling to publish them, out of regard for Mr Kolleston, but considers a public duty prior to personal considerations. The Bishop has yet to learn that it is the prerogative of the Government to use the telegraph ad libitum for the purpose of brow-beating individuals who may in the exercise of the rights of private citizens, express their opinions of the collective acts of the Government. The Bishop did not mate use of his office or position to propagate views which, although novel to the Government, deafened with the plaudits of present succcess, are freely expressed by many. The complete independence of any Government whioh the Bishop enjoys, enables him to expross an act of espionage which might be disastrous to a subordinate. I Nov. 25, 1881. To the Bishop of Nelson, Napier.—lt has heen stated to me that your lordship has said to several people, whose statement I do not feel justified in discrediting, that the Government's treatment of the natives on the West Coast has been actuated by political considerations with a view to influencing the elections. Will your lordship be good enough to inform me whether my information is correot ?-— W. Rolleston, Christchurch. ll.—Reply. Nov. 25,1881. To the Hon W. Rolleston.—Tho remarks complained of, whether made by me or not, seem to me to be self-evident and harmless. But I respectfully protest against the Government's requiring of me, or of anyone, an account of private conversations. We might as well be in Russia at once ! Much of my opposition would be removed if you could make ifc clear to mo that Te Whiti really had the amount of land reserved pointed out to him ; if tho Government would allow the question of the legality of the confiscation to be decided by law, and will secure that Te Whiti has the best professional advice that can be got, so that his plan—not bis alleged crime—may be gone into. —Bi&itor op Nelson. lII.— Christchurch, Nov 26, 1881. To the Bishop of Nelson, Napier,—l have received your lordship's telegram in reply to mine of yesterday, asking whether your lordship was rightly reported to have said to several people that the Government's treatment of the Natives on the West Coast has been actuated by political considerations, with a view to influencing the elections. Your lordship's reply is: " The remarks complained of, whether made by me or not, seem to be self-evident and harmless j and you protest against the Government requiring of you, or of anyone, an account of private conversation." I submit that I have not required an account of private conversation, but asked as to the correctness of a statement reported to me that your lordship imputed to me, as lately holding tho office of Native Minister, and to the Government of which I am a member, conduct of a character very disgraceful to us, either as public men or private individuals. I had hoped that your lordship might have been misunderstood, or that you would have been prepared to correct what, on further consideration, would appear to be gratuitous and unwarrantable slander of men acting under a heavy sense of responsibility. Your lordship is pleased to state that much of your opposition would be removed if certain explanations were afforded, and certain utterances given in reply. I have to state that I consider it unnecessary to take any steps for removing the opposition of one who has not thought it inconsistent with his sacred office to privately slander his neighbor, and impute to public men base motives, in action involving possibly the lives of large numbers of their fellow-creatures. Your lordship will recognise that this correspondence is such as I am justified in publishing. W. Rolleston. IV.— Napier, 3 p.m., Nov. 26,1881. To Hon. W. holleston, Christchurch.— As you intend to publish the correspondence, be so good as to publish the whole. If my opposition was worth noticing afc all, would ifc not; seem worth while to allay it by giving some utterances on the points referred to ? Let the people judge whether your remarks on mo are justifiable. Bishop ot? Nelson.