THE BOMBARDMENT OF AUCKLAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 253, 16 October 1876, Page 4

THE BOMBARDMENT OF AUCKLAND.

The following is Mr Dargaville's letter referred to by the Governor in bis despatch to Earl Carnarvon. Below it will be found a memorandum by Ministers on Sir George Grey's letter : J. M. Dargaville, Esq., to the Private Secretary. Northern Club, Auckland, [June 8, 1876. "' My dkar Maling, — I was surprised yesterday, when reading in the Herald Sir George -Grey's letter to Lord Carnarvon, to find the following passages: "I beard that in two parts of the colony her Majesty's seamen and marines are to be used to put down by armed force ail opposition to the Ministry, &c. ," and " that opposition to the Ministry might involve the city (Auckland) being cannonaded by the men-of-war in the harbor;" also, "I feel sure there are substantial grounds for (be statement." Now, I can assure you that this monstrously absurd cunard, which every intelligent man in the Province treats with ridicule, was first given currency to by Sir Grey himself some twelve months ago. During the last session of the Auckland Provincial Council, Mr Reader Wood, the Provincial Secretary, intimated to the Council that it was the intention of the Superintendent to assume the control of the police force within the province. Upon hearing that, I aa a member for Auckland City East, gave notice of a motion affirming the desirability ot the police remaining as they were, i c., under the control of the General Government. This motion was subsequently carried by & large majority; but one evening, just before the debate upon it came ou, I remember holding a long conversation on the subject with Sir George brey, who endeavored to dissuade me from going on with it. la the course of that conversation he expressed himself in, as neariy &c I ced recollect, the following words:— There may come a time when, in some conflict of authority between the Provincial and Central Governmentß, I should find myself seriously embarrassed by reason of the control of the police being out of my hands; " and upon my expressing astonishment at what his words implied, he went on to say, "Yes; and what's more, I can easily believe it wiibin tbe range of possibility that we may yet see a British man-of-war in tnat river (the Waitemata), with her guns pointed towards the city, to coerce su into submission to some intolerable measure of tbe Government at, Weliingtou " I could not help laughing at the outburst, which, however, was uttered with apparent sincerity and much earnestness. That evening and next day I related what had occurred to several gentlemen, who all ridiculed bir George Grey's notion. During the last session of the General Assembly a telegram from tbe Wellington correspondent of the Auckland Evening Star appeared in that paper, attempting to give further currency to the canard which Sir George Grey affects to have heard now for the firat time. I cannot find that any section of the Press so far has attempted to justify Sir G. Grey's conduct in this mutter, and every supporter of his here with whom I have spoken on the subject expressed regret that he should have magnified what at most could be only idle street gossip into a matter of sufficient importance to treat U as worthy of communication to the Imperial Government. 1 think it only my duty to write you this letter. You can show it to Lord Normanby if you think fit.— -I am, &c, J. M. Dargaville. Captain Maling, Government House, Wellington,