We have made these observations in no spirit of hostility to Mr Fitz Gerald, 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 embarass other officers expressly sent so many thousand miles on a work in which they might fairly have hoped for the forbearance; at least, of all parties. And we bring the matter before you mainly to give you an idea of the entirely unexpected diffi culties by which we have been beset.—We have, &c., (Signed) F. D. Bell, I. E. Feathebston. Comptroller’s Office, Wellington, June 9, 1870. . Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant, .enclosing the copy of a letter from the Com missioners 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 any thing which 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 recognise the principle, that any such attempt on my part would be inconsistent with the understanding upon which my office is held. But in the letter re ferred to I thought that I was only dealing with matters which had already been decided, and which could have no bearing on the action by the Government. With respect to the expression relating to a loan, 1 was 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 would be deemed to have more significance as coming from the Comptroller, and I can only express my regret that it should have been taken for more than it was worth, and my hope that the Commissioners have somewhat overrated the effect.—l have, &c., (Signed) James Edward Fitz Gerald.
