CORRESPONDENCE.
We shall always feel pleasure in affording space for the free discussion of all subjects affecting the prosperity and progress of the province and coionv, not endorsing any opinions expressed in this portion of our columns and always reserving to ourselves the right to curtail any expression wanting in courtesy on the part of the writer. tar All communications nm«t he accompanied by the name and address of the writer in confidence, and as a guarantee of good faith. To the 'Editor of the Hawke's Bay Times. Sir, —I am no alarmist, Mr Editor, but as the hau-hau fanaticism is daily gaining ground in our midst, apparently without any effort on the part of the' authorities to counteract the spread of this demoniacal delusion (this apathy respecting it certainly seems most unaccountable), unless prompt measures are at once taken a descent of armed rebels from Waikato or elsewhere will be the probable result of the success attending the prorogation of Pai Mnrirism in this province ; in which case, I may ask, what steps are being taken to insure the safety of the settlers in the southern inland district? We hear a great deal about being prepared for the worst, &c., but 1 fear we are ill prepared for that emergency. ’Tis true there is a stockade which is built in the most isolated position imaginable, in defiance of all preconceived notions of such structures being placed with some regard to centres of population, contiguous to a township, or some valuable property. In this instance, however, with the exception of a solitary shepherd’s whare, there is not a human habitation within a radius of several miles. The settlers for whose safety this “ city of refuge" is supposed to have been built, may fervently pray that their flight be not in winter, or the chance of reaching their destination would be slight indeed, ns the site of the stockade has been ingeniously fixed between two rapid rivers which in winter, on an average, aro fordable probably two days in tha week.
It appear* that the most populous townships representing some thousands of pounds’ worth of property, would (doubtless to the satisfaction of the natives) have to he ignominiously abandoned, as there is not the slightest preparation made for their defence. These, Sirj are plain facts, which, if valuable live* and property were not at stake, would be simply ridiculous. Equal in wisdom is the act of arming natives denominated friendly, whilst a great proportion of the militia (in this district at least) are actually without arms, and whole townships utterly defenceless. I am, Sir, yours, Ac., . , an inland settler. April 16,1865.
To the 'Editor of the Hawke's Bay Times. Sib,— La your paper of this day you state in reference to the late meeting of the Bench of Magistrates, that two new applications seemed to have been granted without a demur. Will you aUow mete say that this is not altogether correct. The application of GK Charlton was for the renewal of a license which had been allowed to lapse for a year, and therefore not quite on the same footing as a new application: it was, moreover, the only public-house on the other side of the water nearer than Petane, With rgeard to Alley’s application, there was considerable demur, partly on the ground of its being for a house to be erected on Maori land. The question was put to the vote in open Court, and was carried by a majority of Magistrates in favor of granting the license, but there were several dsssentient voices. ONE WHO WAS PRESENT. —I was glad to read your remarks on the necessity of doing something to check the spread of drinking (the bane of the Colony) and I hope you will follow up the subject in the cause oil Temperance. J Napier, April 21,1865. [We are sorry to have been led into pointed out by our correspondent, ond our thanks for the correction. While the system holds, the Bench could do no renew the lapsed license for the but the native land question is of a very nature. We had marked it as a subject caustic strictures, but the opposition the members of the Bench (of which aware) removes the necessity for this at Ed. n.£.T.~\
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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 256, 24 April 1865, Page 2
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713CORRESPONDENCE. Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 256, 24 April 1865, Page 2
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