Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 128, 21 August 1847, Page 2

Original Correspondence.

Mr. Edditer,— Mornin' Mr. Edditer, war'nt thorn grand clocks I brought down in the Uncle Sam ; why the folks here when they first got 'em aat up all night to hear 'cm strike, Well now, this is a tarnation fine country und no mistake ; I've nsced something of the world, and, learing out the free and independent country of which I am proud to be a citizen, you may stump the univursc for one like it. And yet ever since I've bin here, the poor critters of settlers look uncom mou streaked like, 'cause they cant get the Government to stick to their word. You know I'm plaugy fond of a little ohat, so I lams a good deal of folks's ideas about what they calls the land question. To'ther day I met Job Clearing, a steady industrious chap is he and no mistake. " How d'ye do Mr. Slick" said he, looking all the while proper chop-fallen. "Why," said I, "what ondar the sun is the matter with you f What's out o' joint now ?" " Nothing ha» gone right with me, Mr. Slick, of late, and this cussed land question has so upset me that I wish I had never socd this country."

"Why, Job," said I, "we manago thing> better in Ameriky ; but what aro you so riled about jist now?" " Why" said he, " listen ; the last Governor allowed m to buy lands from the natives dericl ; and told us that we should, after a year, have crown titles by paying Id. per acre to (he government. It was also well understood that one person could buy about 900 or 1000 acres. Well now, a few days ago, out comes a proclamation that in order to get a Grown grant we must pay five shillings an acre instead of one penny, and the eight hundred acres I bought, and gave the natives nine shillings and sixpence an acre for, (more than 'tis worth), will be cut down to five hundred." "Then I s'posc, Job," said I, "the natives will have the three hundred acres given back to 'em ; 'caasr I find the Britishers generally think much more of tho poor savage than of their own brethren " " No," said he—" the Government lake it." " Welt I'm blow'd," said I, " if that dont beat Penselvany liollor." " 'Tis enough to break a man's heart" said he. " Why the land first cost four hundred pounds, and now to add on 125 pounds more will make a sum more that tho land will bo worth in my day; for I bought it for a cattle run." "T'would been much better," laid I, " y'ould gone to glorious Ameriky where you could have bought a clearing for two dollars an acre"— Well ho went away a looking as dismal as if he'd lost every friend that ho had on airth. Jist a little way farder, and I met Dick Lcary, looking the very rcvarse of poor Job— all agog was he j his eyes atwinkling like two fireflies. 1 knawd ho in Ameriky once. " Why Dick," said I, "your as merry as a cricket." " Yes, Sam, I've pretty good reason to be so, I guess, Why, my fortins made, and no mistake ; and you know I've bin trying hard for one afor* now. My land at Uepson is worth twelve pounds an acre, and I've only jist to pay five shillings more and there's,a grant for me." " Well," said I, " I'm nationglad to see you so cheerful like; praps you can aparo a bit o' your spirits to poor Job Clearing." " Why as to that you know," laid Dick ," I boant the Governor — t'is his adoings. T*ween you and me,, Sam, said he, after all th« fine yarns about helping tho settlers, tho payment of live shillings an acre will jist do this,-— t'will mukt me and other speculators whov'c bought land near town and jist ruin tho settler at a distance." " There sartinly should have been some line drawn," •aid I, " if the Government will go ahead and turn ono penny into five shillings j for five shillings is a lumpy sum 'pon land which would' nt sell, with a crown title, for 6 shillings an acre ; but a mere flc-abito to you and such as you Mr. Dick" "You'r the same shrewd feller you always was, Sam," said he, alooking at me as nobody else can, " and I only wish for poor Job and such as he that you'd abin Governor." " Mornin'," said I, to tho unielin critter, had I bin Governor, Job and such as he should have shared some of your bright looks, and not have to spend all hit bright dollars or give up all ho's agot," said 1, a walking away. Sam Slick.