Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 124, 7 August 1847, Page 3

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the JVew Zealander. Sin. — In your paper of yesterday theri is a letter from "X," on the all important subject of the recent instructions from Earl Grey, the sentiments of which are very much in accordance with my views and feelings ; and I am glad that all you have to say against what "X" suggests is that it would be superfluous. [ Now Sir, I oannot see for' my own part, why such a ! proposal should even be regarded as "superfluous," and I trust it will not be long e'er you retract that sentiment* Consider the position in which the colony is now placed ! The principles laid down in Earl Grey's Despatch, coupled with the command to His Excellency tliat he is "to look to thost principles at' the' foundation of the policy which so far as it is in hi^power he is to pursue," do, in the opinion of Some at least, amount to a breach of the Waitangi Treaty ; — if that* Treaty is broken by the one party then it is no longer binding, on ttie other, and the natives now relieved from 1 all obligation to regard it, might at onoe form a combination, come down upon us, and order us from their country aa unprincipled intruders j and if they wore thus to.take time by the forelock, before we could muster our forces for defence or protection, what would become of us ? Surely &ir, in such a position as this it should not be oonsidered " superfluous" if we unite as one man to shew to our neighbours, the natives, that we entirety repudiate such unwise,unrighteous, and impolitic- principles. And if our Governor has to sustain the' responsibility of disobeying the orders of the Imperial Governirient, or of risking the terrible oonsequenoes which 1 we' all know would result fiom any attempt to act upon them, surely he would not regard it as a work of supererogation, nor should you denounce it as superfluous, il we rally round him as one man, and letf tlie tDtse mitt at home see, and let the World know that our Governor will got be left to stand alone when in violation of unrighteous commands he resolves to do that which is lawful and right. Let us then, forgetting} all minor differences, and apart from all political excitement, and party feeling, calmly but firmly unite to strengthen his hands and support his policy in resisting that which if acted upon must involve the ruin of the colony, the sacrificing of thousands ofMiws> th«ioa«>of millions of rabney, and the utter annihilation of the native race. Surely, sir, when wo tti ink of these a*wful consequences I Pti the oue hand, and of the strong iuterest and overwhelming opposition we' have* to contend- agaitfst oft the other.wtoriced not fear anything being done tuperjlioufly. ins is one of those cases in which there is- no fear of overdoing our duty. For let us remember that though our present Governor may take a corfeCt view of this matter and refuse to carry out his iristniclions (as we understand them) yet tiutilithotacprinciplei are retracted by the Home Government the dogptf' is the same, because at a future day another Gtavemtr may come into office who ma^ott hesittfe- to du&V &• Attempt,

And let us not wait for His Excellency to take the; lead In this matter. We have a duty to perform independently of him. Doubtless he will do his part in this matter, but he must be allowed to do it fin his own : sphere, and in his own way. Let us do likewise, and when every party, each acting independently of the < other, is seeking to bring about the same object, doubtless the aggregate result of their independent efforts will , be much more formidable than if they had acted as one combined body. Let the Colonists then bestir themselves, and let no time be lost. I remain Sir, &c, An Old Settler. Auckland, August 5, 1847. [Although we still remain of the same mind in thinking the proposed address superfluous, we yillingly allow that it can do no harm, and might possibly do good. We shall therefore join \vith pleasure in fur- ; theranoe of the wishes of" an old settler.',' It is pleasing however, to observe the unanimity of feeling manifested by the colonists on this subject, rising almost to a man in defence of native rights— and then to read that portion of Earl Grey's despatch in which he speaks of " the danger that the powers conferred by this great franchise on the representatives of the people may be converted into an instrument for the oppression of the less civilized and less powerful races of men inhabiting the same colony." Could he have penned a' bitterer satire upon himself? — Ed. N. Z.]

To 'the Editor of the New Zealander, Sir.— ln the present unsettled state of the Land Claims and tbe stoppage put to the cultivation of lands near to the town, held under the ten shilling and penny per acre proclamations, it is quite impossible to furnish sufficient food for cattle for dairy purposes in the supply of the town with milk and butter, unless such cattle are allowed to graze on the uncultivated and uninclosed lands near to Auckland. The natives have comparatively little land left in this locality beyond the reserves set apart for their own use — perhaps the greater part of the land in this neighbourhood, now belongs to Europeans, and though the natives have been so greatly advantaged by tlie residence in their locality of the white inan,in the increased price obtained for their land, also a valuable market for their produce, and though they in common equally with the settlers, have the privelege of allowing cattle to run at large both upon their , own and their neighbours unenclosed land, which some j of them know how to appropriate, yet they are allowed j damages if cattie trespass even when their cultivations are destitute altogether of such necessary protection.— They also leave large openings in their fences without the Jeast hinderance to the entrance of cattle, and claim large damages when no mischief whatever has been done ; knowing that the present law it in their favour, they extort by telling the settler " To look out" — "they will tomahawk his cows" unless their exorbitant demands are complied with, occasionally they destroy the calves with their dogs and actually tomahawk the cattle. The savage propensities of the Muorics are by no means subdued and are daily becoming more apparent, and if something be not done to prevent these mischievous proceedings, evil consequences will likely follow. The insertion of these remarks Mr. Editor in jour Journal would greatly obliged the country settlers. A Fakmbr. Tamaki Road, August 3, 1847.

To the Editor of the New Zealandtr. Sir.— Our Import Merchants feel it a grent wrong that in taking Spirits out of bond, they are in many cases compelled to pay a higher duty than' they deem just. The Act of Customs happens to be so Wofded that whilst over-proof spirits pay, in. proportion, more than the ss. per gallon for proof j under- proof spirits are allowed no reduction. For example, spirits 50 per cent over-proof, pay 7s. 6d., whilst spirits 50 per cent under-proof, in place of 2s. 6d., pay the proof duty of ss. There is little doubt that the Legislature in passing the measure contemplated a duty at rate of ss. per gallon for proof. In the neighbouring colony of New South Wales, the same grievance for some time existed, but on the representation of the duty payers it was redressed. And I see no reason why a similar representation here should not be attended with a like result. I am, &c, Gauger.