The Daily News TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1904. WRONGLY ACCUSED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 107, 10 May 1904, Page 2

The Daily News TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1904. WRONGLY ACCUSED.

Some little time ago the Premier was accused of using his influence to induce Lord Ranfurly to remain in Xpw Zealand until the arrival of his successor for tho sole reason of preventing the Chief Justice from assuming the position of Acting Governor, and so taking precedence of Mr Seddon. This accusation was commented upon in the Opposition journals, and some of them spoke adversely of the Premier in strong terms. Quite recently, too, the Wellington Post had an article upon the subject, and Mr Seddon ha 9 thought fit to reply to it. We publish' his letter below, from which it will be seen that the charge laid against him has 110 more foundation in fact than a great many others that.have from time to time been levelled against him. Mr Seddon writes : —"As I am leaving Wellington to-day, and will be absent for some weeks; I take this opportunity, and the only one for tile present, of placing the following facts before you Prior to the end of last year His Excellency the Governr notified the Secretary of State for the Colonies that he intended leaving the colony about the third week in May. From memory, I believe the dale was May 20, and His Excellency made his arrangements accordingly. At the time of Lord Plunket's. appointment he was in a position to come, and intended to be here byMay 20. As you are aware, Lord Plunket was private secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and His Majesty having signified his intention to visit Ireland, it was only natural that the Lord - Lieutenant should desire Lord I'lunket's attendance during that visit, and His Majesty may have intimated that it was his pleasure that this should be so. Lord Plunket communicated with Lord Ranfurly, and asked hiin whether, in these circumstances, His Excellency could remain for another month in the colony. At great personal inconvenience, and the upsetting of all his arrangements, Lord Ranfurly consented to do so. Under these circumstances the adverse criticism and inference sought to be created in your leading article of yesterday in respect to His Excellency is unjust and unmerited, and, believing that you ever desire to be just, I feel sure that had you been acquainted with the facts the unfair reference to His Excellency would not have been made. The reference to extraneous matters and to myself I must bear with equanimity. I hope it may never be said of me that I evaded responsibility, and to me it is a duty and pleasure to endeavour to see that no injustice is done to Ilis Majesty's representative. 1 liear neither spite nor illwill towards any living being. J presume that the special attention, or might I say tlie facetious references, to myself in your article of yesterday was intended as a tonic and a restorative on the eve of my departure."