AN IMPULSIVE GOVERNOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 60, 12 March 1901, Page 1

AN IMPULSIVE GOVERNOR.

SLR G. O'BRIEN'S ATTACK. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, last night. The Premier has received a copy of the following letter from Mr Chamberlain to Sir G. T. O’Brien, Governor of Fiji, also permission from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to publish it: —

“ .Downing street, Decemoer 2Stn, ‘ 1900. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your despatch No. 87 of 24th October, forwarding a report of your speech to the Natives at the opening of the Waimbokasi Hospital. I fully recognise the difficulties in which you are placed bv the tactics-of those who endeavored to foment discontent amongst the' Natives to further their schemes for political change, and the desirability of taking prompt action to counteract them. Unfortunately, however, the language used by you on this occasion was open to misconstruction, and has been garbled and distorted by press summaries so as to give umbrage to the Government of New Zealand. I do not gather from the perusal of your speech that you are fully informed as to the elaborate and carefully-considered measures which have been passed by the Legislature of New Zealand for the protection of the Maoris against the alienation of their land by placing them under control of an independent and impartial court, while at the same time they have been given representation in proportion of their numbers in the Legislature. Whatever may have taken place in the early days of New Zealand settlement, when the Maoris were freely allowed to alienate their lands, the resuit of these measures has been that the relations between the - white and Maori inhabitants of New Zealand are most harmonious, and the Maoris fully appreciate the care and anxiety displayed by the Government and Legislature of New Zealand for the protection of their interests and the conservation of their lands. I have too much confidence in your discretion to think that you would willingly use language , which could be regarded as an unfa- ] vorable criticism on the Administral’on of another part of Her Majesty’s ( dominions, and I am sure that you wi 1! join with me in regretting that some passages in your speech were open to misconstruction.”