M-m. 20.

COEEESEONDENCE ON LETTEE BY ME. EITZGEEALD.

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We have made these observations in no spirit of hostility to Mr. PitzGerald or his opinions. As a private gentleman he is, of course, absolutely entitled to hold them ; but it may be doubted whether it is convenient or advantageous to the public service that a high officer should lend his influence to thwart and embarrass other officers expressly sent so many thousand miles on a Avork in which they might fairly have hoped for the forbearance, at least, of all parties. And wo bring the matter before you mainly to give you an idea of the entirely unexpected difficulties by Avhich we have been beset. We have, &c, P. D. Bell. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, I. E. Peatheeston. Wellington, New Zealand.

No. 2. The Controllee-Geneeal to the Hon. the Premies. Sic,— Controller's Office, Wellington, 9th June, 1870. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant, enclosing the copy of a letter from the Commissioners in England on the subject of a letter of mine to Mr. Selfe, which has been published in England. I beg to express my great regret that anything Avhich has fallen from me should have been deemed to impede in any way the action of the Commissioners or the policy of the Government. I fully recognize the principle that any such attempt on my part would be inconsistent AA'ith the understanding upon which my office is held. But, in the letter referred to, I thought that I was dealing only with matters which had been already decided, and Avhich could have no bearing on the action by the Government. With respect to the expression relating to a loan, I Avas only speaking as any casual observer reading the public press of the Colony, the debates in the Assembly, and the published accounts of the Colony might speak. It did not occur to me that such an expression Avould be deemed to have more significance as coming from the Controller; and I can only express my regret that it should have been taken for more than it was Avorth, and my hope that the Commissioners have somewhat over-rated the effect. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier. James Edward EitzGeeald.