AN EXPLANATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4493, 13 August 1875, Page 2

AN EXPLANATION.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND [TIMES. Sir,—Mr. Fitzherbert complains that I was guilty of discourtesy towards him, in the observations which I made in proposing the health of the Superintendent, at the dinner in memory of the late Daniel O'Connell. Mr. Fitzhevbert haii written a letter to Mr. O'Shea, in reply to an invitation to attend the dinner, which he expected to have been read to the guests in order to account for his absence, which letter was as follows: " Wellington, sth August, 1575. "My Dear Sir, —In reply to your note inviting me in my official capacity as Superintendent to attend the Daniel O'Connell Centenary Dinner, I beg to say that it is with very great regret I am unable to accept your invitation. "I understand that it is the desire of the committee that politics should be excluded. "I could not. out of respect to the memory of the great orator and agitator, attend in my official capacity a dinner in honor of the memory of one whose whole life was spent in agitating for what he believed to be the political rights of his countrymen, from which reference to politics was to be banished. " I beg you will be kind enough to place my letter in the hands of the chairman.—l am, &c. "(Signed) TV. Fitzherbert. "J. O'Shea, Esq., Secretary," It was, no doubt, contrary to usual practice not to read a letter of this kind to the assembled guests, or to convey, otherwise than in the very words of the person invited, the reasons for his absence. I can only express my regret at the departure from usual practice in this case, and apologise to Mr, Fitzherbert if I gave expression to any erroneous inference, as he assures me I did, from the language of his letter. You would oblige me by publishing this in your next issue.—l am, &c, Wm. Thos. Locke Travers. Wellington, 12th August..