MR. TRAVERS IN EXPLANATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4595, 11 December 1875, Page 3

MR. TRAVERS IN EXPLANATION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sm, —Would you permit mo to correct some mistakes in your report of my speech to the electors on Saturday night. I did not say that the scheme of public works ** had landed the colony in heavy debt ” I said, in effect, that this scheme, if fully carried out, must add very greatly to our already heavy debt, and required that the whole available resources of the colony should be at the command of the General Government and Legislature. You have confused the observations I made as to the line of railway from Wellington northward. I pointed out that although the contracts extended to Fcatherston, nothing was being done as regards the seventy or eighty miles intervening between the latter place and the Manawatu Gorge; whilst the line from Napier southward (nearly completed to Waipukurau, a distance of forty-seven miles), was being rapidly pushed on, and would probably meet that from Wanganui long before the Wellington line was much, if at all, extended beyond Featherston, I also pointed out that, as a consequence, Wellington must long remain cut off from its most valuable agricultural and forest resources, for years after these had been brought into direct connection with Napier. I further called attention to the fact, that whilst between Wanganui and Napier a good metalled road already existed, over which coaches have long travelled, the only road between Wellington and Napier was via Porirua and the Paikakariki hill, between the foot of which and Foxton there were nearly fifty miles of sea beach with four difficult rivers to cross. I pointed out that the direct lino from Masterton to Woodvillo, in continuation of the Wellington and Masterton road, was still in the condition of a bed of clay unavailable for coach traffic ; and, whilst I taxed the present representatives of the city with apathy in not urging upon the Government, which they so consistently supported, the duty of pushing on these works, so as to bring Wellington into connection with its valuable back country, I stated that the greater success of Napier was duo to the influence of Mr. Ormond and Sir Donald McLean, whose interests both lie in that province. You appear to be more concerned in abusing a political opponent than in advocating the interests of the city, or you would join with mo in urging upon the Government the duty of pushing these works forward. I did not say “ no doubt Sir Donald McLean has managed to keep peace as between Maoris and Europeans, which some of us may lament.” Such a statement would have been absolutely absurd. I said that Sir Donald McLean had been compelled to expend large sums of money in maintaining peaceful relations between the two races which might have been otherwise employed, but that, although we might lament the necessity for such outlay, the result had, on the whole, been satisfactory. I did not say *‘we have a million of money at present, and that will only go to complete the works in hand.” I said “ we have a million a-year to pay in the way of interest on existing loans, the balance

of which is no more than sufficient to complete works now in hand.” I did not say that the Hon. Mr. Richardson was a “simple-minded man.” The expression I used was “single-minded man.” In citing instances of men who have risen, X did not call Hugh Miller a “ theologist." I used the word “ geologist.” I don’t pretend to know who “ Sutton” is. I mentioned Hutton, the bookseller. I did not say “ this class of men are represented," &c. I said “tins Class of men is represented,” &c. When I expressed an opinion that _ the English version of the Bible might be read in schools, I distinctly qualified it by adding, “ but only where no violence would thereby be done to the religious belief of those who attended them and I stated that, however much I might approve of its introduction under such circumstances, I should prefer its being altogether excluded to incurring the risk of violating conscientious scruples. There are a good many other inaccuracies which I might notice, but the above are the more salient and important ones. In reference to your leading article, permit me to express my great surprise that, with such opinions as you now express, you should have approved so strongly as you did of the appointment to the Attorney-Generalship of the colony being offered to me last year by the members of the present Government. It is a pity that you did not then call attention to my utter unfitness for any political position involving trust, for had I ultimately accepted the high office offered to me, I should, by the act of the present Government, have been placed in a position of very great political trust and power.—l am, &e., Wm. Tuos, Locke Travers.