From Mr. Harington to Mr. Wakefield. New Zealand House, February 16,1849.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 430, 15 September 1849, Page 3

From Mr. Harington to Mr. Wakefield. New Zealand House, February 1 6, 1 849 .

Sib, — In reply to your letter of the 29th ! of last month, the Directors of the New Zealand Company desire me to express their entire appreciation of the honorable motives which have induced you to tender the resignation of your seat at their Board, and to inform you that they have determined, after much consideration of the reasons assigned by you, to accept it. But they have not arrived at that determination without the greatest reluctance. They feel that your retirement constitutes an important epoch in the affairs of the Company; and that, however necessary, it cannot fail to be contemplated by the shareholders, as well as by themselves, with deep and sincere regret. It is impossible to forget that the formation of the Company, and through its means, the colonization of New Zealand were mainly due to your individual exertions ; nor, that throughout all the difficulties with which the Company" has struggled during nearly the entire period of its existence, you have constantly, while your strength permitted, sustained the chief part in conducting its operations and maintaining its cause. For the sake of that cause you have freely sacrificed time, and health, and have borne with unflinching courage the mortification resulting from the comparative disappointment of long cherished hopes. It is therefore doubly painful to the Directors, that they should be compelled to acquiesce in a separation from you at a time when they trust that a better prospect is opening for the Company and the Colony. It is true that, as you say, the state of your health has unfortunately disabled you, for many ! months past, from personal attendance at the Board ; yet they have with difficulty reconciled themselves to the idea that your name is to be removed from the Direction, and that they must give up all hopes of enjoying, at any future time, the advantage of your direct co-operation. Under the peculiar circumstances of the case, however, they feel that it is impossible to avoid concurring in the opinion which you have indicated, or believing that the public interests confided to their charge will be best consulted by their acceptance of your resignation. In conclusion, the Directors desire me to reciprocate, in the most cordial manner, the expressions of personal regard which your letter contains, and to convey to you their sense of the loss -which they sustain, not only as a corporate body, but as individuals, by the discontinuance of their present official relations with you. I am instructed to express on their behalf, their best wishes for your welfare and happiness, and remain, Sir, Your most obedient servant, (Signed) T. C. Harington. E. G. Wakefield, Esq