The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1887. A Slanderer

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 79, 8 January 1887, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1887. A Slanderer

Although Mr Froude's interesting but untruthful account of what he saw in New Zealand, put down in hie book Oceana, has been almost forgotten in the colony, yet its baleful influences in England are still being felt. Even among well informed people, who have, we would suppose, abundance of means and opportunities of informing themselves on the financial position of the colony, accept statements made by Froude, which we know to be false, as solemn truths. With some degree of justice they plead that they know Froude, that he is entirely unprejudiced, and that whatever observations he has made apparently detrimental to the colony, have never been;authoritatively contradicted. We can easily understand people adopting this easy way of getting rid of a subject which is only of very temporary interest to them. An instance has been brought under our notice, where an actual injury which might have resulted in serious loss, was caused by this book. A gentleman who owns a considerable tract of land in the colony, went Home with the view of raising money if obtainable at the low rate of interest which prevails in England as compared with rates here. He was introduced to a first class firm to whom he soon made known what he wanted with the security he was prepared to offer. The financier confessed he was unable to form any opinion as to the value of the land as security, but he would refer to the latest "recognisedauthority" on New Zealand, and be guided thereby. To the utter astonishment of the applicant he produced Froude's Oceana, and after reading a few pages he politely but firmly declined to entertain the proposal. This excited the curiosity of our colonial friend, who at once made enquiries as to the estimation in which the book was held, and, to his profound disgust and astonishment, he found it was not only widely read, but its statements were received with an abiding faith, not only by the general reading public, but men high in financial circles. The unfavorable results of our last loan was greatly owing to the efforts of Mr Fboude, and all true colonists should be profoundly grateful to that honest gentleman for the manner he has requited them for their kindness and open-hearted hospitality when he was South of the Line.