CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 80, 8 January 1863, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Haivke's Rag Times. Siu, —In reference to the questions put by me to Air. M'Loan at the Country Districts’ Nomination held on Friday last, at the Green Meadows, as touching the enforcement of the Native Land Purchase Ordinance, I beg you will allow me a little of your space to vindicate myself against the most unjust charge of having acted with partiality during the time I held authority, to lay information under the Ordinance referred to. The fact is that the person who, upon the occasion in question, thought it necessary to call me to account under this heading, happens to be a firm believer in Mr. M‘Lean, which article of my amiable neighbour’s faith, it is not my purpose to discuss; but, when that loquacious individual actuated by a too ardent zeal in defence of his idol, attacks me in a public manner, upon public grounds, as to the whys and the wherefores of my action in the matter of the Native Land Purchase Ordinance, then, it becomes a duty which I owe to myself and to the public at large to seek publicity for a short explanation of my conduct, and with inllinching impartiality to give to “Caesar the things which are Caesars.” Alter having received the necessary authority T made immediate application to the Chief Land Purchase Commissioner, and to the Colonial Secretary, for information as to the intention of the Government in this matter, at the same time sending a list of the names of the delinquents, accompanied by an expression of opinion to the clfect that instant steps ought to be tak ■. : ■ bring those offenders to task. In this dccisiv > course of action those high functionaries objected, desiring me to act according to order, which I accordingly did. Hut finding that those orders had a strong tendency to what was manifestly a most partial and unfair course of proceeding, I resigned the olllce, and under the circumstances am by no manner of means responsible or answerable for the action, or rather, no-action taken in the punishment ef persons committing a breach of this much abused, but most essential and necessary Ordinance. I am, Sir, Yours, &c. O. L. VT. Bousi'if.ld. Country Districts, December 29, ISG2.