To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 314, 3 November 1855, Page 5

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times.

Sir, —I .have read with some attention your last week's article advocating the removal of the seat of Government from Auckland to some place in Cook's Straits, a question which seems, all of a sudden, to have assumed an unnecessary degree of importance in this Province. Your arguments, though put with considerable force, appear to me very one-sided, as you take no account of the objections which may be urged against tbis measure. You do not tell us what, dangers we should incur by increasing the power and influence

of Wellington. You avail yourself very ingeniously ofthe soreness felt here just now ' about the disallowance of our Land Regulations ; and rather illogically attribute this disallowance to the unfortunate position of Auckland. On the other hand you are gratified and cajoled by an article in the Wellington Independent headed "The; Dying Kick," which expresses a feeling rather novel in that quarter—a feeling of sympathy for Canterbury. Because Mr. Whit-taker, who happens to be an Auckland man, has disappointed us by disallowing our Land Regulations, you seem to infer that Messrs. Featherstone, Fitzherbert, and Fox, being Wellington men, would have allowed them. I cannot suppose that you really intend this inference, but if your argument means any thing at all, it goes to prove this. I believe that the people of Auckland, as a body, have not shewn any desire to act unfairly or inimically towards us ; they have their crotchets, as we have ours , but I believe the two do not interfere with one another. We shall be willing to help them in obtaining their objects if they will help us in obtaining ours. The two interests do not clash. You must alwaj's remember in considering this question, the immense influence which Auckland exercises, and will always exercise, over the policy of theGeneralGovernment, by reason ofthe number of members which that Province sends to the General Assembly. No flimsy pretext, in a moment of irritation, ought to be allowed to betray us into exasperating so large a section of the Assembly against us, when by a little forbearance we might make them our firm friends. And so far from assuming that, this party can be weakened, I believe that, if right were done, Auckland ought to have a still larger pro-' portion of representatives than she has at present. I believe that Canterbury and the other Provinces*of the Middle Island might easily accommodate matters with Auckland. The objects which Auckland has most at heart do not run counter to those which the Middle Island wish to promote. It is not an article of the political creed of Auckland to rob us of our Land Fund. The very existence of Wellington depends upon their getting a good slice of it. Your arguments about the difficulty of forming a responsible Government at Auckland composed of Southern members, and inferentially the ease with which this might be done, were the seat of Government at Wellington, appears to me to be plausible, . rather than sound. I cannot see why a gentleman, from Otago for instance, if he has once made up his mind to leave home and take office, cannot just as well take a longer trip and go to Auckland, as stop short at Wellington. Surely the few days' longer voyage would not so materially alter his plans : and you do not suppose that an officer ofthe General Government, would be allowed to be constantly running backwards and forwards to attend to his private affairs. An amateur Government will never do. You do not allude to the immense expence which would be incurred by moving the seat of Government from where it now is. Yet this consideration is of some interest in the present financial state^of the colony. The erection of a Government house and offices for instance, do not enter into your calculations. Nor does it enter into your calculations that when you have expended £10,000 or £20,000 of the public money for these objects, the whole may be at any moment swallowed up by an earthquake. Do you suppose that a nervous representative from Canterbury or Otago would not submit to a somewhat longer voyage, and quietly take his seat, in the General Assembly at Auckland, rather than, tor the sake of shortening the trip, take his seat upon the top of a volcano at. Wellington ? I fear lhat I have already trespassed too

much upon your space, and I will therefore conclude, Remaining, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Quieta. non Moveue.