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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 31, 30 January 1862, Page 3

To the Editor of the Sawlce's Bay Times.

Mr. Editor, —Did you ever hear of any party, who, when about to compete with others in open market for any advantage, and after carefully preparing the estimates of the expense to which he would he prepared to go, proceeded to publish to all, in the columns of a newspaper, what those estimates were? Further, did you ever know a party having or hoping to deal with others of well-known extravagant notions in regard to the value of their property, and whose tendency to make exorbitant demands in accordance with those notions were understood, proceed to explain to them the great value of the article in question ? and throw all kinds of obstacles in the way of an economical arrangement, yet it seems to me that all this, if not more than this, is what has been done by “ the Committee of the Pakehas of Napier” in their letter “ to them friends the chiefs of the Maori people of Ahuriri.” I do not know that there is any need for me to enter into further particulars, as the letter is in the hands of the public, and what it says to the competing parties—to the squatters on the one hand, about the terms to be offered, and to the natives on the other, about the great value of the land that is wanted, is clear enough to every reader. The tone of silliness which pervades the precious epistle is another very striking point in it, as indeed it is in nearly all the documents addressed to these people, When shall we cease to treat these extremely intellectual races as children, while we profess to consider themas men? Very Respectfully Yours,