THE LOAN ACT.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 158, 22 January 1864, Page 3

THE LOAN ACT.

Per favor of the Editor of the llaicke's Bay Times. Sie, —By your leave, I will just say a few words on the above. The Opposition have manfully and nobly stood their ground. With Ormond arrived and Fitzgerald away, they did right to beat a retreat —by no means an ignominious one. Let not the battle be fought! the principle is an evil one. Stave off the evil dayl Give the people time for talking it over. £60,000! What will they do with it ? Every one knows, and every one ought to care, but few do. Awake, ye careless ones! Arise, indifferent! They would rob —not your superfluities, that would matter little—not your birthright—that, indeed, has long passed away — what then ? They would steal|from you your good name. They could borrow for you and give no security while they profess to give one •, they would bequeath to your posterity a lasting legacy in the shape of DEBT ! O ! never! Let free men say NEVEE. Let those who value their good name say netee. Let all virtuous sons of the soil put down this infamy—this attempt at coercion. ’Tis not for your good to bring out emigrants without a place for the sole of their foot to make roads through Maori soil! Pause! Consider! Did

not tney oppose t-iic iigiit the jjoople ha. it to sco that the fine plains about you are not devoted to grazing sheep? And what do they care for the far-spreading lands, the very cream of which are the sheep-walks of their hangers-on. Pshaw! Begin at once to agitate for the doing of something which will gain for you eventually the possession of those fine lands as farms for yourselves and your friends. Then , and not until then, immigrate. Never fear; it is the right quarter whence should proceed agitation on the subject; nay, excited enthusiasm. Agitate! Petition the Governor for immediate steps for the procuring the plains for farms. Sanction no loans until you have land, good land, to back it, until you see a way of paying it. Let no man blind you with Executive and Inal-administrative dust. Call your members to account of their stewardship; reject all offers of peace on this important question.

Let “ war to the knife” be your cry, and “ tho plains for the people." While M’ Lean, with that oily gammon manner of which he is the perfect master, assures you that the squatting and town interests are identical—you know differently, and however he may wish it otherwise, he is widening the breach daily This is the old poking system of theEeatherston Governmentrevived in Hawke’s Bay, and you must not have it. A Superintendent is bound to carry out tho wishes of the people, —if he attempts to coerce or thwart them he is a doomed man, and should be made to know it at once, and sycophants, hangers-on, and knownothings should be swept from the Council. Take courage, then, Opposition!—rally round them, citizens ; —stand by the good causo’of the people and the lands! I am, Slc., A FRIEND TO THE SETTLERS.