64
The Governor's remarks as to the ineligibility of candidates who would be defeated at the elections had reference to Mr. Adam, Sir Virgile Naz, and others, as well as to Mr. Ferguson.
I have, &c. (Signed)
H. N. D. BEYTS.
Letter from the Hon. H.N.'D. BEYTS to the Hon. J. A. 'FERGUSON.
(Confidential.)
MY DEAR FERGUSON,
you
January 9, 1886.
As I told you this morning, the Governor would probably not be able to nominate if you maintained your candidature and failed. I informed you of this knowing that bis Excellency would be glad to nominate you if he could. The verbal communication I made to you this inorning, and this letter, must be considered as quite confidential.
65
his Excellency feared he would be unable to appoint me to such office in the event of my being a rejected candidate at the elections, I regret to say that I cannot meet his Excellency in this matter. I am not seeking honour or popularity in any shape or form. I have been asked by a very large section of the community to stand in an independent and unfettered manner, and I consider that in following the suggestion made to me I should be failing in my plain duty towards those who have given me such a spontaneous and flattering mark of confidence.
Availing myself of your permission, I communicated your overtures to the gentlemen whom I deemed it my duty to consult in the matter, and they, like myself, feel that I am not at liberty to renounce my candidature.
Believe me, &c. (Signed)
No. 24.
J. A. FERGUSON,
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TEC.O. 882
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
Yours, &c. (Signed)
H. N. D. BEYTS.
SIR,
Enclosure 4 in No. 23.
Mr. J. A. FERGUSON to the HON. THE LIeutenant-Governor and COLONIAL SECRetary.
SIR,
Port Louis, August 18, 1886.
In reply to your letter of yesterday, I beg to state that Mr. Beyts certainly gave me to understand that he was deputed by the Governor to give me the assurance of a seat as a nominated member of the Council in case I would consent to withdraw my can- didature at the general election in favour of Messrs. Newton and Guibert. The following is a narrative of the circumstances, which I think it right should be known in order to make the matter quite clear.
On the morning of the 9th January, on arriving at the railway station in town, Mr. Beyts came to me on the platform and asked me where he could speak to me privately as he had a communication to make from the Governor. I pointed out that we had the platform all to ourselves, and said it would save time to speak there and then, as it was Saturday and I had lots to do preparing for the elections on Monday. Thereupon he said he had been desired by the Governor to inform me that he feared he would be unable to offer me a nominee seat if I failed in my candidature at the elections, but that he would give me the assurance of a nomineeship if I renounced my candidature in favour of Messrs. Newton and Guibert. I replied that such a step was out of the question at the eleventh hour like this. To that Mr. Beyts rejoined that all could be very easily arranged; that if I would see Mr. Newton, in a couple of hours or so the fact of my withdrawal would be posted all over the town. Thereupon I replied that I did not quite see it, and pointed out that as I was standing at the request of a great many people I was not free to act on my own responsibility, and must therefore submit his proposal to those whom I deemed it my duty to consult in the matter. Mr. Beyts after a little hesitation agreed to this, enjoining upon me the strictest secrecy on the subject. Immediately after I called together some half dozen of my principal supporters and narrated to them the conversation which had just taken place. After deliberation with them I drew up and forwarded to Mr. Beyts a letter, of which copy is annexed, marked A. Later in the day I received from him a reply, copy of which is also annexed.*
DEAR MR. BEyts,
A.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. A. FERGUSON.
Port Louis, January 9, 1886. REFERRING to the conversation which we had this morning, in which you did me the honour to make a communication from his Excellency the Governor, to the effect that he would give me the assurance of a nomineeship in the new Council if I, to-day, withdraw iny candidature in favour of those of Messrs. Newton and Guibert, and also that
• See above.
The RIGHT HON. EDWARD STANHOPE, M.P., to the RIGHT HON. SIR HERCULES ROBINSON, G.C.M.G.
Downing Street, September 29, 1886. In a separate despatch by this mail you will receive the Queen's Commission appointing you to be Her Majesty's Commissioner to inquire into and report upon the condition of affairs in the island of Mauritius, and I now transmit to you (in original) the correspondence relating to those subjects which will principally demand your attention. Your consent to undertake this important service has given much satisfaction to Her Majesty's Government, as the question at issue involves personal considerations of a grave and complicated character, with which you are peculiarly well qualified to deal; while your great administrative experience and tried ability cannot fail to secure the fullest confidence in your conclusions, as well from the people of Mauritius as from all others interested.
I approve of your employing as your Secretary Mr. F. R. Round, the chief financial officer of this department, who is at present on a mission to South Africa in connection with the finances of Bechuanaland, and whose special knowledge of Mauritius acquired as Secretary to a previous Commission should be of much advantage to you. And I am glad to be able to inform you that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have, in compliance with my request, arranged for your conveyance to Mauritius in one of Her Majesty's ships, which will be in readiness at Cape Town at the time when I understand it will be most convenient for you to leave.
3. I propose, in this despatch, to indicate briefly the principal questions upon which Her Majesty's Government desire to have the advantage of your conclusions and recommen dations. It is obviously undesirable that I should enter into any lengthened examination of any of the subjects of your inquiry, as it would be difficult for me to do so without appearing to have formed, and to suggest, opinions leaning either to one side or to the other, and my perusal of the papers has satisfied me that full justice cannot be done to each interest and each individual concerned without that clearer appreciation of all the circumstances and details which can only be acquired by personal examination on the spot.
4. It is unfortunately a matter of public notoriety, in this country no less than in Mauritius, that during the last three years the administration of public affairs in the island has been the subject of much controversy, and that numerous complaints and protests have been addressed to my predeces-ors and to myself; and in May of this year a formal memorial" was addressed to the Secretary of State by some of the unofficial members of the Legislature, impugning, in general terms, the policy and conduct of the Governor, and representing that it would be proper and prudent to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the facts alleged by them, and to report upon the actual situation of the Colony.
5. The allegations of this memorial (of which a copy has been transmitted to you) were, in the opinion of my predecessor, not sufficiently specific to justify so grave a step as the institution of an Snquiry by a Royal Commmission; and he caused the memorialists to be so informed. I have now received a further communication from them stating that in consequence of this reply they will at once formulate specifically the representations into which they urge that inquiry should be made.
K 94314.
• No. 7.