Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 96, 3 April 1847, Page 4

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the Neto-Z colander. Si h,— The capability of the Aborigines for labour is, doubtless, a subject ol' in: crest to many of your subscribers. A few facts lclative to their employment on the Government woiks, at present in pi ogress, would perhaps be deemed worthy of insertion in jour paper. The experiment first proposed, as I have been infoimed, by Mr. George Giaham, of employing twenty Natives for preparing the foundation and dressing the stone for the Barrack wall succeeded so well, that their number has been mci eased to upwards of seventy men. Of these, forty arc employed at the Quarry, at Mount Eden, who are proving themselves excellent quarrymen. Of those at the Barracks, some are sinking wells, some dressing stone, and others building the wall. Many of them can dicss quoins as well as most Europeans. In order to give every encouragement to permanent labourers, Mr. Graham has caused a boarded cottage to be erected ; and so easily do they accommodate their habits to constant and regular labour, that many who ■were first engaged five months back have continued at work to the present time, observing the stated hours with Emopean regularity. The civilizing effect this has on the Native popula.ion must be great, and considered merely as a proof of their willingness and ability to pel form work for us, is an assurance to capitalists and intending emigrants of a supply of labour to any probable demand. I have pointed out the Ordnance works in particular, as I imagine that, perhaps, from the stricter surveillanre under which the Natives are kept, the experiment is found more successful than elsewhere. Yours, &c, An Observer. Auckland, 2nd April, 18 47.

Patriotic Drinking.—" Now I ax you fellers who's the bes 4 citiei/en, him as .supports guveininent, or him as doesn't? Why. him as does, in combe. Wo supports guvernment, we fellers— e\ciy man as drinks giog supports the guvernment. lhat is, if he licHers at a licensed house. Every blessed drop of licker that lie sw oilers theic, is taxed to pay the salary of some of them ere great big wigs. 'Spose \>t uas to quit drinking, vhy gu\ eminent must iall-it couldn't help it, no how. That s the werry reason I drinks. I don't like giog-I mortacl ly hatks it. If 1 followed my own incleuiation, I'd rather drink buttermilk, or ginger pop, or «,uda water. Uut 1 Hckers for the good of my country, to set an example of patriotism and wirtus self denial to the rising generation."— Ameiican Paper.