A CORRECTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5437, 30 August 1878, Page 2

A CORRECTION.

TO THE EDITOR OE THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —Your reporter has made a mistake of two letters in a word, which seriously misrepresents my meaning in some remarks I made in replying on my motion for the production of papers relating to the suspension of Messrs. Grindell’s and Davies’ licenses as Native Interpreters. I am made to say that Ido not wish a return to a system “ alien to that of secret despatches.” It should have been “ akin,” not . “alien.” I was objecting to two persons, virtually Civil Servants of the colony, being punished to probably the full extent of ruin, apparently without trial of any sorb or any opportunity of self-defence, on the mere decision of a Minister, founded, as Sir George Grey admitted in ono case, so far as his action was concerned, merely on the perusal of some old papers. I said: “Sir, we have had enough of the system of secret despatches iu the early years of the colony, and I protest against the return to a system akin to it in the administration of the Native Office—a system resembling the Venetian Secret Council,” &c., &c. In 1860, with the assistance of Mr. Sewell and others, I succeeded, through the Waikato Committee in the House of Representatives, in forcing open the previously closed doors of the Native Office. It seems to me that an attempt is being made by Sir George Grey, in obedience to his natural instincts, and in conformity with the practice of his proconsular career, to resort to the old system of secret government. We had another instance of it a few days ago in his attempt to restrain our cariosity as to the contents of the Governor’s correspondence with the Colonial Office. We have a trace of it also in the extreme tardiness with which papers asked for weeks ago are being laid on the table of the House ; for instance, those relating to the negotiations with the natives at Waitara and elsewhere, which wo are requested to believe in their absence have at last given peace to the colony. I for one, and I believe there are many more who will support me, will do all in my power to resist these attempts to keep the colony in the dark.—l am, &c., William Fox. [We regret that the error, which was a typographical one, should have put the Hon. Mr. Fox to so much trouble, and thank him for the correction.—Ed. N. 7. Times.]