OUR AGENT GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1971, 29 April 1875, Page 2

OUR AGENT GENERAL.

The London cprraspondeat ofthe Ota go Daily Times writes : —In considering this subject, I am compelled, as in the case of the Cospatrick, to remark upon the inglorious figure cut by l)r Featherston. In neither of these instances, nor in the former assault upon the finar ces of New Zealamd, made by Mr fellows in the Pall Mall Gazette, has your Agent-General had a word to say in defence of the colony. On the other hand, let the least attack be made upon Canada, Victoria, or Queensland, and it is instantly replied to by the Agent-General of the colony assailed. 1 hare, indeed, heard it said that there must be some truth in the charges frem time to time made in the papers against New Zealand, or they would he officially contradicted. I give you an instance wittin my «wn knowledge of Dr Featherston's inertness in matters affecting the interests of the colony he is supposed to represent. On the ■. 31st last August a letter appeared in the Scotsman, con* taining a grave charge • against the manner in which a number of emigrants selected in Shetland, had been treated. It stated that they had been, induced to give up their situation! on the understanding that they were at once to be sent out to the ' colony, whereas they were left in Shetland for four months, during which they were for the most part compelled to live upon the charity of their, relatives and friends. Thinking Dr Featheriton might not see this letter, I cut it out, and sent it to him in an envelope, with the passage in question marked. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the serious nature of the charge, the deleterious effect it was like to have on emigration from Scotland* and the consequent importance of a reply being promptly published, not the smallest notice of it has been taken up to this moment by Dr Featherston. I am told, too, that much difficulty is frequently experienced in obtaining from the AgemtGeneral replies to ordinary business letters. I mention these facts without further comment, and leave it to the people of New Zealand to decide whether their interests are properly looked after by their representative in this country, only adding that I write as an entirely disinterested party, not having one title of personal interest in th* question of whether Dr Featherston is or is not to continue to he the Agent-General of New Zealand. •■■■.•-