ENCLOSURE-COLONEL M'LONNELL TO MR. BRISSENDEN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 295, 8 November 1875, Page 4

ENCLOSURE-COLONEL M'LONNELL TO MR. BRISSENDEN.

? W?l!iijgton, September 23,:]187.5. —• Sir,— I enclose you the note, addressed to yourself. 'It 'was given to me a night or two ago, in an envelope with my name written in pencil. — I aid, &c. Thbß.'M-DoDnell. E. T. brissenden; Eeq. ,•»•:.*■!.•.•: -MR.-B3ISSBKDSK TO COLONBL LYON. Wellingtoo, September 23, 1875.— Sir,— l think it is only right to bring to your /notice the following facts, as they affect the oharaoter of an officer of the; Militia, of which I believe you have charge:— On Tuesday, the Slat, Mr^E. Brown, M H,R., asked; me, "Have yon got the^ letters which were atytbe Cl.ttb-for you a couple of days hgo?** *t said I had not and went for them. I did not flnd them, and the next day I'went, and . saw the housekeeper.. . She told me she had seen pome letters for me, one of them being in a lady's hand (presumably my wife's as I bad no letters from her ior two taails.) A search was made, but tbe letters have not been forthcoming. I inquired'at; the! Post-office, on the chance of their having gone back there, but to no purpose. I also asked at the Goverhtoent. Buildings, but with the same result. . This morning I casually met Mr Sheehan, M.H.R., and on my mentioning the fact of some of my plotters being missing, he told rae that . on the day ofthe dinner to Sir George Grey, Monday, the 20th, Lieut. Col. M'Dbnnell had shown him (Mr Sheehan) a letter from J. S. Macfarlaoe to me, and told me its contents. I had then to go before a committee, and on coming out I received a letter of which I append a copy. Accompanying this; ■letter was the original from Mr Mao-: lariane to myself, which was a strictly '. -private one, but the original envelope ; r was not enclosed. Now, air, I wish to j 'point out to you that although I have , as yet no knowledge of how, the letter : came into; Colonel: M'Donnell'a possession, yet the fact remains that he had tbe letter on Monday, that he must have seen that it was a private one addressed to me, that he kept it from me, and that he showed it. I have Mr Sheef han.sauthority for saying it was shown : io him, and Mr Berry has informed me ' in the presence ot Captain Fraser that; Sir George Grey has seen it. I have ; j qlso learned that before sending me the ; letter Lieut. Coi. M'Donaell went into * - the committee clerk's room, got one of I o t£e clerks (Sir Meredith) to copy it, find filed sent me the original. For ; this Mr J. E. Dalton is my authority. I can also add that I thank Mr Sheehan for obtaining tbe letter at all, as he informs oae he advised Col. M'Donaell 'to send it back to me at once, and that • Col. McDonnell had ample opportunity ; JJoiiSLise it to me. as we were connf— *<ty ; meeting in the Government Buildings. I r-iDneed not comment on the facts above ! -•stated; but I request you 'will kindly ' (bring the matter before the Native! Minister, an I hardly conceive that j Lieut. Col. M'Donnell's conduct in thia matter can be considered as becoming -an officer and a gentleman.— l have, &c, E. T., Brissenden. -- • n , ; , qOLQNKL LYOK TO MR. BRIS3ENDEN. , ■ Native Defence Office, Militia and 'J.Yplunteer Branch, , Wellington, 29th September, 1875.--Sir,— l have the 'honor to acknowledge the receipt of letter of the 23rd inst., relative to the retention by liieut. Col. M'Don- : nel of a, private letter belonging to you,; and. to inform you that a copy thereof -haviog been sent to Lieut. Colonel' M'Donnell, he has furnished an explanation, copy of which I transmit; !* herewith.— l am &c, William C. Lyon,; • Acting Seoretary Defence. To E. T. ''Brissenden; Esq./ Wellington.