CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 5, Issue 265, 15 May 1865, Page 3

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 colony, 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. : Ail communications must 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.

Sib, — In your issue of Ihe sth instant you hare ■ long extract from the Southern Cross on the “ Occupation of Waimate,” in which the story of “Jack Guard and his captive wife’* is given, and said to be truthfully related. Such, however, is not the case; very far indeed from it. And therefore, as you have an “ open, column,” and as I hope you care more for truth than party, I trouble you now with the truth of a •mall portion of that sad story. I was well acquainted with Captain Guard, as also with some of the officers who were in that expedition (particularly with Dr. Marshall, surgeon of H.M.B. Alligator), from wiiom I received the whole story as it happened. But it is from Dr. Marshall’s interesting published narrative (1836) that I rather choose to select the few following sentences, merely adding, for the information of many, of your readers, that Dr. Marshall was not only an eve-witness of all which he relates, but a truly amiable, good, truthloving man, whose memory his friends still love to cherish! Southern Cross and ‘ J)r. MdrshaWs Narra • li. li. Times, tive. “At Te Namu, apa “The tribe on the between Cape Egmout beach...deposited their and Waimate, Mrs. female prisoner and her Guard was recovered infant in a canoe, with her infant child. launched it from the “ She had been forced shore, and brought them to live with a native off alongside the Aliichief, and had often gator’s gig. In a few been ill-treated a.ideven minutes more they were wounded by the natives, on board that ship, and In the conflict in which under the protection of •he was taken site had His Majesty’s pennant, received some wounds She was dressed in nain the head; and afrer tive costume, being comthis, the head of her pletely enveloped from brother (heads seem to ' head to foot in two

have been at a premium superb mats, the largest, then as now),, who had and finest of the kind I been killed and his body had ever seen. They eaten, was constantly were the parting present exhibited to her, after of the tribe among whom offering her part of the she had been sojournflesh.” ing. She was, however, barefooted, and awakened, very naturally, universal sympathy by her appearance. From her own lips I gathered the following particulars of what had befallen her. (Premising that, the day before;—“ In Te Namu pa, the lodging allotted to her was discovered at once by the size of the door—the addition of a small window, on the ledge of which was the soap she had that day used—and inside, her child’s frocks and her own stays.) The door had been enlarged for her accommodation j the window had been made in compliance with her request; and a singular proof of considerate kindness and deference to her supposed delicacy of feeling, was furnished in the owner having caused the entrance and window both to be secluded by a close paling set up In front of the house, which effectually screened her from observation from without .Of the treatment she had all along experienced at their hands her report was extremely favorable.”— p.p. 188, 190. Speaking of “ Jack Guard,” you also say s—“ A true type of those daring spirits of the olden times, who used to manage the New Zealander by what shall I call it ?—well, by honest John Bull pluck.” Dr. Marshall relates a conversation he had with Mr Guard;—Mr Guard scouted the idea of New Zealanders becoming Christians, I asked him how he would propose to effect their civilisation in the absence of Christianity F The reply, made in serious earnestness, and in a tone of energy and determination, at once unmasked the man, and made one’s heart sick at the thought that, upon the uncorroborated testimony of such a man, an expedition was fitted out against, Now likely to be fraught with disastrous consequences. * How would I civilise them F Shoot them to be•ure! A musket bail for every New Zealander is the only way of civilising their country !’* (p. 162.) The writer of this hasjdso more than ones beard 1 J. Guard say tbe same. |

’ As Dr. Marshall's book is well-known in England, and of com *so Jack Guard jand hjs peculiar views, , it is considered to-hb somewhat nnhappv for the colony. that the Southern Cross and the Hawke's Bay Times should now be found apparently enforcing such opinions, particularly as the colonists have been often wrongly and calumniously charged at home with holding them. 1 am, &c., WILLIAM COLENSO. Napier, May 9, 1865.

To the Editor of the Hawke’s Bay Times.

Snt, —The greatest privilege of an Engllsnraan, that of electing their repreentatives in the government of the country, is next week to be exercised by our fellow-townsmen. I hope, therefore, that every elector will weigh/weU the merits of the different candidates that may be brought forward, and {above all means put in those who are thoroughly independent. I know little about, those coming forward, except Mr Newton, of wiiom I would wish to put the electors on their guard. There is no doubt he is brought forward by the Government, and has just got possession of a Maori run. He must therefore back the. native run-holding interest, and follow the flour and sugar policy; anything in fact whereby they ean keep in with the natives at public expense—to wit, the Maori feed the other day, and the pint of wine to each of the dark skins. Yours, &c., LOOKER ON, Napier, May 13,1863,