Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 138, 25 September 1847, Page 2

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the New Zealand*. Sik, — Another great nuisance, requiring police interference, is exhibited by the erection of a brickkiln, near the corner of Albert and West Queen Streets. It burns night and day, emitting flanut and sparks of fire, enveloping the adjoining bouses, which are apparently within six yards of it, iv smoke, and diffusing a caustic and suffocating effluvia on the adjoining streets. Please to say 'in your -valuable journal whether an erection of this nature, in such a locality be legal. But suppose the law in England tolentes, or does not interdict the erection of brick kilns, at the distance just specified, from houses ; yet surely such a toleration ought to be of no force in this country, where the exterior materials of buildings are far more combustible, and exposed to a far hotter sun during the summer months— the season for burning bricks. Were the fire to come in contact with some of the adjoining wooden houses, by a, sudden gust of wind, one of these days, what reparation could the inhabitants ojf Auckland obtain from the proprietor ? I am, &c, A. B, Auckland, Sept. 23, 1847. [The complainant has his remedy at law ; and likewise, if the nuisance be very glaring, the Grand. Jury j might be induced to prevent it.— Ed. N. Z.]

To the Editor of the New Zealander Sir,— l confess that I was startled at hearing that an honorable member had stated in his place in Council, that discontent and disaffection to Government had arrived in this settlement. Where, said I, to a iriend at my elbow, can they have come from. Local grumblent lam well acquainted with— l know them all ; but discontent and disaffection are illustrious strangers. Where is their home ?— what is the object of their viait to our peaceful town ? They come, said my friend,

from the nortli, mid— tes voila. What! said I, that jolly rosy Pickwickian old gentleman, discontent — and the spare Cassius at his side, of the feline pace and sleek exterior— is that disaffection ? 1 dou't believe a word of it. It is, nevertheless, true, and they have brought with them a despatch, which is the very apple of discord, and they have thrown this apple to the Crosses) man in this community, and this Cross-man is making a most terrible to do about it— a perfect storm in a washing tub, which is very fearful to behold. But that is nothing, said my friend — it is the cross man's way, he was always so. He was cross with Governor Hobson, and he was cross with Governor Shortland, and he was cross with Governor Fitzroy, until that gentleman was persuaded to let the cross man take the reins and and the new Phaeton upset us all into the slough of free trade and left us there ; and now lie is very cross indeed with Governor Grey, because Governor Grey won't let him on the box again, butdrives himself. Now, Mr. Editor, I am a gossiping rambling old gentleman, always abroad, and see and hear as much in the day as the honorable member, and 1 must beg to differ with him as to the diffusion of discontent and disaffection in this settlement. I see ten shilling purchasers whom his Excellency's liberality win put in immediate possession of lands, which having originally cost one pound, they are now able to sell for ten, and then they are not discontented. 1 see penny an acre purchasers about also to be legally invested, and many of whom will be enabled to leave to their descendants mch a fortune as exceeds their wildest expectations— they are not discontented. I sec old land claimants, whom the consideration of Government has allowed to exchange lands which will be of no actual value within the next century, for allotments in the heart of our town, and in its immediate neighbourhood— and they are not discontented. But the only discontented people I can see or hear of, are a few, happily a very very few, gcntlemen,Bwho claim, by tens of thousands, acres, which a solemn commission appointed to enquire into the validity of the purchases, declared not to belong to them— and they are discontented: and as this small party commands a voice in the Legislative Council, and control! a portion of the public press in the colony, it has a factitious importance to which it certainly has no just claim. # Now, Mr. Editor, noscitur c sociis, here is a public imputation made against us, that we are discontented and disaffected towards the present Government, and I think it behoves every man, land claimant or no land claimant, as publicly to disavow this charge, and to declare that we neither countenance, or will support a mischievous party, which, for its own purposes, uses every effort to disseminate and foment the discontent (tiid disaffection which it imputes lo the community. I am, &c, Y.

To the Editor of the New Zealander. ( No. 3. ) g IR _In my preceding letter, it was shewn 1 think, Ymdeniably, that the present head of the Executive authority in this colony, possesses one at least of the essential requisites to constitute a successful Governor,— in possessing the fullest confidence of Her Majesty's Secretary of State,— as amply testified in Earl Grey's despatches, and still more substantially by the recent Parliamentary grant of upwards of together with the considerable naval and military armament, which have been placed at his disposal for the service of New Zealand. It was also asserted that his Excellency has the general welfare of the colony at heart This likewise, I think cannot be reasonably denied. In order to trace out the intentions of a public functionary, it is needful to scrutinize his public -ids, and to follow up their effects upon society at large. If we estimate the public acts of Governor Grey therefore, by their effect upon society, there can be no fair reason to doubt the excellence of his intentions, as no one, not even the party who endeavour to raise an outcry because they apprehend danger to their individual interesis, can deny that his Excellency's administration of affairs has al ready been productive of much public good. Consequently the beneficial character of his Excellency's instructions is proved as far as reasonably can be. As for the acts themselves, it is not needful here to go into details The present result is such as the colonists generally cannot but regard with satisfaction. Let us only contrast in general terms the state of affairs as it stood upon his Excellency's arrival, with the aspect which it now presents. " Look upon this picture,— And on this." A straggling divided community, and a bankrupt treasury, few internal resources, no certain aids from abroad, a sanguinary warfare with the native population, on the one hand ; a comparatively united, gradually progressing community, a growing revenue, methodized finances many sure resources, liberal aid from abroad, in British soldiers, British sailors, British money, public tranquility throughout the northern districts of this island,— on the other! Surely no one can doubt that enlightened measures and powerful means have been actively at work to produce within two short years a change so beneficial and self evident ; nor hesitate what character to ascribe to Governor Grey's intentions and administration from his arrival to the present time. Having achieved so much satisfactorily, it might be thought that the future course of administration would run smooth, but it appears to my humble judgment that the toughest struggle of any yet encountered is yet to begin: his Excellency is taking measures it is satisfactory to find for relieving government from the odium of the debenture business, so that the holders of those hitherto miscalled " securities," may have no just reason to complain. "Whether the mode proposed is the best possible, or whether the whole or what proportion of those debentures should be made a charge on the yet infant revenue of the colony, are debateable points on which I will probably trouble you with some few remarks. Of the good policy of promptly paying off some, and settling all, however, there can be no reasonable question. But the " land claims " continue in abeyance. These must be dispxitated. It will cost a *truggle to do it ; but disputated they must be. The New Zealand Company, the good folks of Exeter Hall, the native population, the bona fide, and the mala fide cum cceteris paribus claimants each must have their rights. If his Excellenoy be expected to satisfy many without dissatisfying some, it will be more than ever was before expected from mortal man. If he succeed in settling all without violating public faith, or sacrificing general interests in any degree to glut the avarice of t rapacious few, he will have accomplished 1 a duty which no praise can repay. Whether his Excellency is or is not equal to the coming exigency, time will determine ; but reasoning from the past, it is not unfair to augur favourably as to the future. I am, &c, No Party Man. Auckland, Sept. 24th, 1847.

T.o the Editor of the New Zealamhr. Sir.— The melancholy death of poor Mr. Campbell, the Pilot, while in discharge ol his duty, a loss

at once to society ami the branch of service to which he belonged, causes the necessity of another appointment lo the situation. It is to he wished, ere the appointment be made, thatihe Governor will pause, to consider the duties required of the holder— the income he receives— and the souice from which it is derived, and I think his sagacious mind will not be long in determining, that as at present constituted, it is upon a most discreditable footing. The salary attached to the office is £100 per annum, augmented by a charge at the usual rate of pilotage to masters of vessels who may choose to avail themselves ot the services of the pilot, but they are not obliged to do so. Thus then, the fixed income is small, for out of it he has to delray the expenses of a boat and crew, and with regard to the receipts from shipping. Let any one glancing at the arrivals in this port, and separating tnos-e vessels claiming exemption from pilotage, will then see how inadequate, how uncertain a source this is, to to make up to the pilot that mnouut so justly due to him for his arduous— his responsible duties. There may he different opinions as to the mode of paying a pilot, to ensure at once due attention to his duties, and affording, at the same time, a sufficient remuneration, but there can be none as to the propropriety of placing him in the same situatiou us any other office bearer that is to make his daily bread a matter of certainty. At present it is most uncertain. I know it may he said in answer, the colony is veiy young, official duties are comparatively" lighl— «our means are small— cut your coal according tn your doth, m all which there is a bit of truth, but is it not inconsistent with such arguments that we have a Haibour Master with an expensive establishment, and nothing to do (for 1 will not call placing the lew vessels we may happen to have in our harbour, either a necessary or important service, neither do I call boarding a vessel coming in, in order to look at the Master and Passengers, very important or necessaiy; what other employment there may be, I don't know, it does not report itself. I am aware the Harbour Alaster is likewise an officer ol the Customs, auJ actually, previous to a ship's departure takes the clearance on board, and waving a white Berlin gloved hand, bids them sail as soon as they like. I conclude with a suggestion, as 1 do not wish to oppose anything already fixed, and settled, without proposing in lieu of it. Unite the two offices, Pilot and Harbour Master— make a good and certain provision, good boat well found— good and ample erew — fix a station lioin which vessels coming in any weather, can be safely boarded (not the present one, and a service wi 1 be conferred on the port and the shipping frequenting it. I am, Sir, Yours, &c. LOOKER ON. Auckland, 24th September, 1847.