No. 74.
The Hon. W. B. D.
Mantell to the Hon. J. C.
Richmond.
Wellington, 21st August, 1867.
Sir,—
Your letter of the 19th instant (N.S. 67-1147), reached me at eleven o'clock this morning. Mr. Izard, the legal gentleman who, with Mr. Allan, accepted the guarantee of the Government contained in your letter of 25th, and minute of 25th July ultimo, is absent from town; a reply to your present communication must be deferred until his return.
In the meantime, to aid in the comprehension of your letter, I shall be glad to receive such explanation on the following points as you may be pleased to accord, only begging more prompt attention to this request than you have granted to my urgent letter of the 7th instant, which yet remains unacknowledged:—
1. | Does the word "Government," in your letters, mean the Governor and Cabinet, or the latter only? |
2. | You speak of "an arrangement" entered into by the "Government at or near" a certain time. Neither the date nor the nature of so important" an arrangement," nor the persons with whom it was made, can be matter of doubt. I would ask to be informed on these points. |