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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 74, 27 November 1862, Page 3

To the JSditor of ihe Hawke's Bay Times.

Dear Brother or the Qrn.E, — Does it not strike you as very remarkable, but not more remarkable than true, that the good folks of iXapier never meet to discuss public matters without quarrelling about some trifle or other of the utmost insignificance in itself and generally having little or no reference to the subject under ventilation, and of course (he confusion worse confounded which supervenes is indescribable ; amidst which, with assistance of a little personal abuse, the “ knowing ones,” taking advantage of the uproar, carry their point, whatever that may be, with success ? The last public squabble of which we have any record, appears to have had its origin in a landable desire on the part of some sclf-sacriiloing parties to get an Athenaeum erected, wherein they can, when opportunity otters, regale themselves and their admirers with a modest quencher in the shape of a neat speech. Should this valuable Institution ever succeed in getting hatched, and should diat memorable event be marked by the festivities usual on such occasions, one of ‘lie songs sung ought certainly BJtbe that pithy lyrical composition of T)r. Watts, beginning “Let dogs delight” !! Ac., &c. But to proceed at once to the main object I have in view in addressi: ; (his espistlo to you, my learned and esteemed brother! The fact is, I have come to the determination to set a good example to my fellow-citizens, and (hereby remove that galling stigma of utter selfishness under which we, e.s a community, at labor : and instead of ass'rting at the cap-pulling part of the business, I purpose to contribute something towards the practical development of tho uses of

an Athenceum, and with that praiseworthy object before mo, 1 propose to present the Institution, when finally set going, with a valuable collection of curiosities, paintings, MSS., &0., Ac., Ac, and many antipue articles besides, of which I will enumerate a part, in order that therefrom you may derive some idea of the great value and utility of the whole, and thereupon insert, in the columns of your paper, a paragraph in praise of me, the de-servedly-renowned, and, at the same time, libera 1 , donor. Amongst tbo curiosities (Mo. 2,t JJ) w: ’ be found tlio identical pen with which one t: Yeritas” —of—as far as w r e are at present concerned—-defunct-notoriety, wrote his celebrated letter, (published, with the editor’s usual keen and farsighted discrimination, in the Hawke's Bay HeraldJ, and to which wc may be mainly thankful for having relieved Hawke’s Bay from the incubus of at least one able man sitting upon her Councils, by whose assistance it is most likely wc should bare had the misfortune to get out of some of our difficulties. No. 5,'1-2C. Also, a pair of his honor the Superintendent's boots. The dilapidated condition of the upper leathers, particularly towards the region of the toes, indicating most forcibly tlio energetic and determined manner in which he kicked out and at all the humbugs with which his official path and Council have been beset. The soles, by the well worn and decidedly seedy appearance, speak whole volumes as to the wearer of the boots having been a man of unconquerable perseverance, travel 1 dug untold miles in pursuit of his duties. A grand example. No. 100. Under the head of paintings, Ac., will be found a beautiful representation of a Civil Commissioner, taken from the life, being a blank sheet of paper, handsomely framed and glazed ; not easily surpassed for originality of conception. No. 1,002. A most striking likeness of a Justice of the Peace of the period, sketched from nature, with this powerful appeal in behalf of that numerous and afflicted family of mankind, inscribed at foot “ Am I not a man and a brother.” No. 1500. A beautifully executed engraving, from (lie original picture in the possession of the late Prime Minister, of a Civil Commissioner administering justice. The C.C. lias just swallowed the oyster, and is represented in the act of giving a shell to each of the contending parties, with that courtesy, cleverly depicted by the artist, for which officials of magnitude are generally remarkable. M e corno next to the MSS., amongst which you will discover some rare and valuable productions, collected by me after severe and long-protracted research and enquiry. As an example, I will cite No. IJG I—a1 —a most beautiful speech extracted from the honorable member for Napier, upon what occasion does not so easily appear upon the surface, but that i consider us decidedly indicative of the profound oratorical skill of the speaker (very scarce). Written on vellum. (1 have heard it objected to this inestimable production that it-is quite impossible to make out what it is all about ; that, 1 need hardly say, I attribute to t he ignorance and stupidity of the objector. And No. 57J. A choice and most powerful lender from flic Hcncke s Bay Herald, supposed by some to be a spirited attack upon the present administration of Native affairs. That tam bound to confess is doubtful. But then you know our admired friend the Kditor has a good deal of the Delphic oracle in him ; Ids sayings will turn out first-class pro, heeies, let (lie result predicted bo what it may. Therefore the value of the production in question. And so on, not forgetting sundry selections from the proceedings of our learned Provincial Council for 1862, making altogether a curious and interesting collection of valuable articles, which will contribute in some degree to the foundation of a Museum, greatly to the instruction of the present and of future generations. 1 am, Ac., A Collector of Curiosities. Napier, 19th November, 1802.