Letter No. V.

The budget grows in volume, and I should despair of giving you a fair idea of the matter, if it were not for the ample space you are good enough to accord me. I am sure the space will not be ill-bestowed, for the subject is one of great public importance, not only in itself, but on account of the extraordinary proceedings of the Government and of the Commission in connection with it. Why should they have abruptly dismissed a valuable public officer without giving him a chance of even seeing the report of the Commissioners on which the dismissal was based? Why, too, so long keep back from the Assembly the report sent by Sir J. A. Wilson? Both reports are public property, and there cannot be the smallest public reason for still preserving secrecy in connection with them. As it is, Ministers have, without any known reason, thrown the whole of the land purchasing in Mr Wilson's district out of gear, and have wasted the labour bestowed by him during the last two years, dismissing him just at the critical moment when that labour was producing its full fruition.

Among the papers I have now received, are some that have already appeared in print, but which will not be the worse for a wider circulation than the Poverty Bay Standard gave them. It appears that a petition was sent from Gisborne to the General Assembly, "praying that the report of Mr Wilson, Land Purchase Agent, be laid on the table." It was forwarded by the Chairman of the Highway Board to Captain Bead, who was then the sitting member, for presentation. Captain Bead's return, it will be remembered, was disputed by Captain Morris, and Captain Bead was unseated thereupon. The Standard, of 23rd September last, has a leader on the non-presentation of the petition sent to Captain Bead, and soundly rating him for presuming to withhold it. To exonerate the Chairman of the Highway Board, it publishes the letter sent to that gentleman by Captain Bead. I give it verbatim et liberatum:—