ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 19, 26 August 1843, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the Southern Cross.

Sir, — I dare say you get many letters complaining of the powers that be, and though. I much dislike writing, still I cannot keep my pen from reminding you of what is passing in this our adopted land. Your valuable Paper has often spoken of, and dirfcribed our fine climate, lands, rivers, ■ timbers, minerals, flax, &c, and I am sure, faithfully you have also spoken of the Hue race, our industrious natives ; pardon me in saying, you might have said more of their kindness to the old settlers, who used them well, how they, after selling them lands, always considered themselves bound to protect the Europeans, and how quietly they put them in possession, and after pointing out the boundaries, never suffered the European to be annoyed. You know how they have treated yourself, and before the English government took possession of this country, you could tell how they behaved ; the old settlers, much to their credit, assisted by the Missionaries on their part, in my opinion, did much for tho natives, teaching them to read and write, though now it is the fashion to abuse tho Mission, whose labours must have been great, and their duties every person honestly must praise, Four years ago I arrived iv New Zealand, I then found that nearly all the natives could read and write ; every morning they sang hymns and had prayers, in the same way also they closed the day. I went into the interior, and travelled a great deal about, often alone, and every where I went I met with kindness and hospitality from the natives. It was the old settlers and Mission alone, that paved the way, and I hope that you will give praise where praise is due, and though like all good men, they have had many enemies, I trust tho new governor will clear all abuses, and givo things a proper colouring. But, what has been done for the natives by the government ? Have they built any Schools and places of Worship, given any encouragement to the Missionaries, or done any thing to instruct or improve the native ? Has any Hospital been erected for the native sick, or any Medical Man appointed to attend them in sickness, or was there ever one shilling's worth of medicines given to them? and above all, what has been done to preveut those diseases that Europeans are subject to, | spreading among them? Have any been vaccinated ? «I trust, if you know one good thing that has been done for- the native by the government, if you have space you will fairly and faithfully point it out, for many of your readers think nothing has been done. I wish the Europeans could speak in their praise. They arrived here, and many wrcalthy persons followed, intending to commence farming, &c, and after waiting many months for land to be sold, about 100 small lots of town land were sold, enormous prices were obtained for it, there being so many in want of land, even to live upon. The town was disgracefully laid out, and nothing but blunders and confusion have ever since been felt by the unfortunate purchasers. Next, were sold a few small farms near mount Eden ; and also brought great prices, most of these have been cultivated and fenced at great cost, but after this expen.ee, out goes a surveyor, who says every fence is wrong, and

again throws these industrious farmer? into confusion, unnecessary expence, doubt and trouble. The suburban lots in many instances also, were laid out in the same careless way, and I am told, a road six feet wide, was laid out to lead from Auckland to tho bay where the Judge resides ; another road was laid out to run over Mount Eden. Tho next farms sold, were at the Tamaki, many called them figs of tobacco, being about a hundred times as long as they arc wide ; hero also, good surveying was again discovered, roads running over mountains aiul deep gullies, and farms laid out as usual ; one was found to contain nearly fourteen acres less than was charged for, and 1 believe the unfortunate purchaser cannot get redress. (If natives acted thus, what should we say of them.) The last farms Hold, I believe, aro those taken from Mr. Fairburn, a man, who for years, has laI boured zealously to improve the condition ] of the natives ; he found them horrid caunibals, he educated them, and has now the 1 pleasure of seeing them industrious, religious , .Christians ; he must have toiled hard, ho and his family subjected to many hardships : and dangers, and 1 hope the Home Governi ment will grant in'm the land he purchased ! from the natives. And, what good has been 1 done with tho monies received ? Not ona shilling has been paid for education of tho Europeans, no School has been erected, no Wharf has been made, not one street made and mettaled, no drains made. Ligar canal 1 cannot be called a drain, this attempt has made some of our most enterprising merchants and traders suffer ; in fact, for our good, nothing can be said to have been done. 1 hope Sir, you will call loudly on the people to petition the new Governor to allow a fresh survey to be made in both town and country, not to disturb the present occupants of land, but to compensate those who have too little. Bog of him to ertcourage education among Native and European — do away with Protectors ; appoint in their place School Masters ; and above all, not to act like a dog iv a manger. Neither purchase land himself | from the natives, nor suffer others to do so. I am, Sir, &c, A Subscriber. Auckland, August 15, 1843. [Tho letter of a Subscriber contains all tho answers to its own questions. Had he any favourable accounts to give of this Government, doubtless his generosity would lead him to publish them. — Ed.]