Our Auckland Letter.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3893, 21 June 1881, Page 2

Our Auckland Letter.

(from our own cobeespondent.)

Auckland, Yesterday, THE FOUB AUCKLAND BATS. In an article in Saturday's Herald, which is eridently the writing of either Mr Berry or Mr George Martin Mam (the Auckland Agent of the Press Association), in reviewing the political life of Mr B. G. Wood, member for Waitemata, the following untruthful and remarkable passages appear. As the future historian no d iubt will deal with the desertion, I give you in parallel columns the opinions of the Herald writers, together with a telegram which appeared in that important journal on the 28th October, 1879, and if the deliberate opinions expressed by the gentlemen appended to that important communication are not more convincing than the inspired writings of the persons alluded to, let the future historian decide: — Herald, IBTn June, 1881. Gerald, Oct. 28th, 1879. On the ousting of the Wellington, Thursday, Grey Ministry, and the 6.55 p.m.—Chairman podisclosures which followed litical meeting, Auckland, as to the financial malad- —To be read to meeting, ministration of the coun- Understand public meettry, Mr Wood, with the ing to consider to-night other members of "the defection of Wood, C«I----1 Auckland four," seceded, beck, Swanson, and Hurst I stnd gave in their adhesion from Opposition. We to the Hall Ministry, sub- desire to place facts before ject to certain specified you. After defeat Grey conditions. The act was Government forty - two yery much criticised and members agreed that maseverely animadverted jority could be secured upon at the time, but if Grey announced his when it became known disinclination to be in any how narrowly the colony new Ministry. Upon this had escaped ajgreat finan- basis, Pyke, Stewart, and cial disaster, if not the McCaughan, from Otago, ruin of its commercial came over, giving us, credit, most people were without Tomoana (native), thankful that" the Auck- a majority of five. Wood land four" had preferred proposed Mr Macandre* the safety of the country leader, which, under cirto a party triumph, cumstances, all agreed to, When party passion and Grey placing himself in prejudice has subsided, their hands. A managing and the step comes to be committee was appointed, viewed in the calm light who guided operations, of history, they will re- Wood, Sheehan and Grey ceive that meed of justice representing Auckland, to which they are enti- Whole party agreed no tied coalition to be accepted. Defection not announced to party till Friday morning last. Wood on committee up to then acting adviser. No other member of party but the four were made acquainted with the terms made with Government. We hold . ourselves bound by our mutual promises to Otago and the other men who acted in good faith to us, and are satisfied that the Macandrew Ministry, supported by the Auckland vote, would have been strong enough to lead Parliament to do justice to Auckland, and weuld have fully done so.— Signed by F. J. Moss, A. McDonald, J. Sheehan, W. J. Speight, Jas. A Tole, Wi Te Wheoro, Mohi Tawhia, S. Thome George, G. Grey, Jas. Wallis, E. Hamlin, B. Harris, John Lundon. I wonder when the article on Mr R. G. Wood was being written whether it occurred to the producers of the joint talent to think whether this ever memorable telegram would rise in judgment against the four "rats."