Correspondence.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 424, 27 September 1866, Page 3

Correspondence.

•** Wo do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. %*

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Sib, —By the report in your issue of the 20th inst of that portion of the debate on the Poverty Bay petitions, in the House of Representatives, that had come off previous to the last moil leaving for this port, we are informed that Mr Donald M'Lean pledged his word to pay out of the funds belonging to this province no lees than fifty thousand pounds by way of compensation to friendly natives, in settlement of losses sustained, and in the purchase of lands; also for the natives, and for the proportion of the Three Million Loan falling to the share of that district. What are we to think of this? Where did he.get authority to make such a promise for the people ? Erora them ? Assuredly not; for the question in any of its practical bearings has never yet been brought before them. From the Council ? As certainly not. I remember that it was distinctly refused to expose the game that was being played to tbe light of public discussion. Where then did ho get his authority to make such a pledge ? No doubt ho thinks he has strength enough in the Council to carry a proposal of the kind through it, in fulfilment of a pledge made so boldly as that was made; and should the prayer of the petition be granted, we shall, without doubt, find him coming before the Council with a scheme in accordance with it.

I have nothing to say now of the question of Poverty Bay annexation—its j ustice or desirability; but I must say that fifty thousand pounds is a large sum of money to dispose of on the presumption simply of an after confirmation on the part of those who would have to pay; and I much fear that, if accomplished, it would prove an apt illustration of an ancient proverb which testifies that a game is not always worth its (s) candle. Has the promise of the large expenditure anything to do with the petition ?—I am, &c., Napier, 25th Sept., 1866. Qtjeeist.