THE PRESENTATION TO MR GISBORNE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 213, 7 September 1881, Page 3

THE PRESENTATION TO MR GISBORNE.

[From a correspondent.] Wellington, Tuesday night. The Nelson members to-day waited upon Mr Giaborne, and handed him the amount of his fine, which had been remitted from Nehon. The presentation was accompanied by the following letter :— "Wellington, September 6, 7881. " To the Hon. Mr Gisuorne, M.H.R. " Pear Sir, — We 'have been requested by the inhabitants of Nelson to convey to you the assurance of their warm admiration and appreciation of your noble efforts in the House of Representatives on Friday, the 2nd of September instant, in defence of the privileges of the people's representatives in Parliament, and of liberty of speech, We have also to assare you that the people of Nelson deeply sympathize with you in reference to the action of the House upon your conduct on that occasion. The feelings < f admiration and sympathy which those who were present entertain towards you are the deeper because ttu-y know that what you did was entirely spontaneous. At the same time, they feel that your action w.-u in the support of rights, injwhich they arc especially interested at the- present, ami "therefore they Tespectfully request your acceptance from them, as an earnest of their hi-jh appreciation of your ili-fence of Parliamentary privileges, of the refund of the fine imposed" on you. We sincerely trust that in our Colonial Parliament men may always be found when reqaired to stand forward" as fearlessly as you have in defence of the people's liberties. " Yours faithfully. " Alhkut Pitt, " 11. A. Levestam, "Joseph Shepiiakd, " Wm. Gibbs, '• Richmond Hubsthouse." Mr Glsborne replied as follows : " Major Pitt and Gentlemen : — I beg you to convey to the citizens of Nelson my heartfelt thanks for this generous token of their approval of my conduct in the Houso o

Representatives on Friday last. In the course I which I then took I acted altogether on my own responsibility, without the concurrence, aud even without tlio previous knowledge of any other person. I fed that anything to be done for any practical use must he done on the instant. I acted with no selfish or factious motive, my only wish was to ask the Committee to refer the Chairman's ruling, which was m itself unprecedented, and in direct contravention of several Standing Orders, to the House and the Speaker as the highest authority on the subject. The Chairman retused to put such a motion, and I would not accept his refusal. The House has condemned me apparently without considering the circumstances and motives which lea to my action. I bow to the decision, but 1 entertain a strong belief that in the end public opinion will not confirm the condemnation of one who was doing his best to secure further consideration for privileges wjkU are the foundation of our constitug tional freedom. Thanking you for your kind" and ilattering; expressions towards myself, and again assuring the citizens of Xelson of my high sense of their approbation, "I have, &c. " W. Gisbobxe."