Mr. J M Dargaville to the Private Secretary. "Northern Club, Auckland. " June 8 1876.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 678, 17 October 1876, Page 2

Mr. J M Dargaville to the Private Secretary. "Northern Club, Auckland. " June 8 1876.

"My dear Malinsf,— l was surprited yrster.liy, when rending m the ' Herald' Sir Ge>rite Grey's lerter to Lord (JarnarTon to find the following p^Sia^ea : — ' I hpard that in two parts of the colony repors hid been ciculited that her Majesty's wsmeti and mtrineß are to be useu to pub down bv armed force all opposition to the Ministry,' &c. And, ' It.at oppo-irion to ih- JVfiniitry migliC involrn the city (Auvkland) being eaon >nadrd by tne men-of-war in the Iru-nour.' Al-o, *I feel sur« (hre are sub»taniial grouti-ls ior tho etttement.' "•ow, I ciin as-ure jou, that thU raon-•T-usly absurd canard whum every iit ligent man in the province treils with liiiiculo, was firat given currency to b Sir George Giey himself some twef**^ months ago. During the 'a«t letson^dE the Provincial Coon, 11, Mr Reader W ud^ tho IV •< incuvl Seer tary, intimate 1 to the Council that it » as the intention of the nnie'i ent. to ass'im* the control of the j/O ice lore wuhm the provnee. Upon lu-ari"g that, I, as member for Vunlland Cny Kast, gate n>tic« of a mot on nffir vi .q the desirability of tho p>ice renuiniui as they w ie, i c., lifl ler Ihe control 01 the Geafral Uoy-rn-ment. This motion wn« aubtrquently carried by a large maj my, but on« evening, just befoie thf deb.te upon it dime on, I remember ho ding a long i on »ersjl ion on th<» su jout with Sir Gojr^e Gray, who endeavoured to dUiUi.Je ni from goint{ on .vith it. In the cuurse nf that conversation he expressed hiaeelf in, a nearly as I can reollect, tho idllowiug words : — ' There m-tj come a time nhen in so'ne conflict <>f authority between I lie Provincial and Central Governmeut*, I" s).ouul fin<l myaelf seriously embtrraase I by rt-aaonof the t'ont>"ol of the policu being out ol my bunds ;' and upon my e\pro sin« a#ior.iBiimi-iit at wba- ila words implied, he went on to i»ny ' Yes, sn'l what's more. I can »-asily believe it within the range of pomibility, that we may yet are a Brititth mm-of-war in that ri»ei (the WaitemaU) with her guns pointed townrdi ihe city, to cocrco us into •übmis^iou to sotn<> mt >ler>ibln measure t>f the Govemmnnt at Wellington ' I could r-«t help laughing at the outburst whish, howevt •, wat uttered with apparent sine nly an I much earnestnpss. Tiiat and next day I re ated whit h«d oci-iured to s veral geutlem n. who al< riiluufd Sir George Giry'- motion. During ihe la t • *mo(\ of the General Assembly a telegram fro*n the VV r < llinnton carr. sp<rident o tie Aucklani 'Evsihiik Siar ' appea od in th>t iapei, aitetpting o give fur hrr 0 irrrncy to tho anard which S r «eorgo Greyafl'ecis to hivn bend now for the hrst time I cannot hnd ihat any -ection 01 tse Pre»s to far Ins attemp ed to justify Si. 0-,-org^ Or y's conduct in this mutt p, aid every auppoiter of h s here »itn whom I 1 aye «pol»en on the su^j-ct, oxprei ed rejiet that he should hare m mn'Q -d wnar at moat c ,uld be only idle 8 reet uo-sip into a matter of eufEripnt imp •rtiiuce to treat it as worthy of communiciti >n t> the Im erial Govern-in-lit. I Hunk i' only my duty to wire y>u tliit Wter. You can chow it to Lord Normauby if you think fi f.—lf .— I hare, &l\, "J M JJakoatiulb. '• To Capt Miline. Govornment. Houte, " We hn«to •."