✨ Correspondence regarding Election Dispute
Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, 26th March, 1855.
Sir,—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day’s date, and in reply beg to observe that I am unable to admit your right to see my written decision as to the validity of the City Election, but as a matter of courtesy willingly comply with your request.
As you ask me to fix a time, I shall name 2 p.m. to-morrow.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) WM. BROWN,
Superintendent.
Walter Lee, Esq.
Albert Street, March 27th, 1855.
Sir,—I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your courteous letter bearing date the 26th instant in answer to mine of the same date, and in reply, regret I cannot avail myself of your invitation, as I still think my request to be founded on the principle of justice, seeing my seat, with others in the City Council, has for a time become affected by your decision; but, however, as you think differently, I must wait the result.
I need not add that the course adopted by your Honor appears to be one of the most absolute and inquisitorial, and opposed to the very principle of free institutions; and, if such an oligarchal or despotic power is to be wielded, the sooner it is checked by the legislature the better, or revert to the old state of things.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) WALTER LEE,
Chairman, or Ex-Chairman, as the case may be, of Auckland City Council.
To His Honor the Superintendent,
W. Brown, Esq.
(Note endorsed.)
[Should any letter couched in disrespectful terms arrive, the Receiving Clerk is directed for the future not to register number it, until it should have been submitted to the Superintendent, in order that it may not necessarily become a record of the office.—(Signed) W. B., Supt.]
City Council Chamber,
26th March, 1855.
Sir,—Having read your notification in the “Auckland Provincial Government Gazette” bearing date the 24th instant, wherein you declare that “The Election of persons to serve as Members of the Auckland City Council, which took place on the 28th day of February last, was and is null and void,” I have the honor to request you will forward to me (with as little delay as possible) the name of the gentleman appointed to act as Returning Officer, as I find it is my duty to carry into effect the provisions of the 24th clause of the “Auckland City Council Act, Sess. 1, No. 10,” wherein it declares that—“Every vacancy shall be filled up by an election within 28 days after such vacancy shall have been made known to the Returning Officer by a certificate under the hand of the Clerk of the said Council,” and I am thereby required forthwith to make known the same.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) JOHN MITCHELL,
Clerk of Council.
To His Honor the Superintendent,
&c. &c.
Auckland.
Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, 28th March, 1855.
Sir,—With reference to your letter of the 26th instant, requesting me to forward “the name of the gentleman appointed to act as Returning Officer,” I have the honor to inform you that “all necessary information will be forwarded to you, as you request, with as little delay as possible.”
I have, &c.,
(Signed) WM. BROWN,
Superintendent.
Mr. John Mitchell.
Printed by Williamson & Wilson, for the Provincial Government.
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Auckland Provincial Gazette 1855, No 7
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏛️ Response to Request for Written Decision on Election Dispute
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration26 March 1855
Election Dispute, Written Decision, Auckland City Council, Local Government
- Walter Lee (Esquire), Requested written decision on election dispute
- William Brown, Superintendent
🏛️ Reply to Superintendent's Letter on Election Dispute
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration27 March 1855
Election Dispute, Local Government, Auckland City Council
- William Brown (Esquire), Superintendent involved in election dispute
- Walter Lee, Chairman of Auckland City Council
🏛️ Request for Name of Returning Officer
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration26 March 1855
Returning Officer, Election Dispute, Local Government
- John Mitchell, Clerk of Council
🏛️ Response to Request for Returning Officer's Name
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration28 March 1855
Returning Officer, Election Dispute, Local Government
- William Brown, Superintendent