ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, 21st August, 1848,

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 320, 23 August 1848, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, 21st August, 1848,

Sir, — Injustice to the members of the Mechanics' Institute generally, and also to their late President Col. Wakefield; I beg to make the following statement, hoping you will give it a place in your paper. The subject to which I allude is the election of Mr. Justice Chapman in place of the abovenamed gentleman, as President of the Institution, on Thursday evening last. Fearing that invidious motives may be imputed to some of the members who gave their suffrages on that occasion, 1 beg to state that upon Col. Wakefield's being proposed as President several members objected, (with all due respect to him) on the grounds that a person more associated with the mass, would be likely to. take an active in- ! terest in the affairs of the Institute, and consequently prove more eriicient as its principal officer Mr. L\on was proposed as an amendment, and upon the show of hands which followed, was declared elected. Mr. Lyon wished to be excused, farther conversation ensued, and ij was agreed that Col. Wakefield's name should be put, without proper pains being taken to explain to the meeting that it w«s as an amendment to that of Justice Chapman's, whose name had been j reviously suggested, but not audibly proposed and seconded. The show of hands being very sight, the latter gentleman was hastily put and a considerable number of hands were raised, as it appeared to me mechanically, at least, I can state, that some of the persons who stood near me voted as I did, " inadvertently," and from a desire to get rid of a disagreeable discussion allowed the rote to pass. I think Mr. Editor the above explanation necessary, because some of the members irrelevantly deprecated the election of a new President a3 a slight upon Col. Wakefield, and the substitution of a gentleman who, though in all probability equally deserving of any compliment the members might choose to pay him, is certainly equally ineligible as a working orticer, is a circums ance calculated to confirm any impressions produced by aUch observations, whereas I feel certain that the meeting as a whole, was not actuated by any political or invidious motives. Trusting that these remarks will give no offence, I remain, Mr. 'Editor, Your's respectfully, One or the Committee.