Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 257, 15 November 1848, Page 2

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the New Zealander. Sin,— l lincerely tiust that the feelings oi sorrow- with which the inhabitants of Auckland hnvc heard of the destruction of so many of the buiidings in Wellington, by the recent earthquake, will not subside, without some more substantial iesu!t thai* the mere expression of sympathy— without some exhibition of pjood woiks. at well as good wordb— -but mny ipeedily induce us all to extend the aid of charitable r lief to the unhappy suftereri, and endeavour in some measure to alleviate their wretched condition— and what a wretched condition to many it must be—zndangered lives, sacrificed property, blighted prospects, imminent beggary ! The destruction of property has indeed been great* AM the edifices of brick or stone— all, in the construction of which the proprietors had invested a larger capital, relying on the fond hope of a greater security and permanence — all which seemed, from their firm baser, to defy every element of danger— all which, in all the pride of substantial structure, and in all the adornments of architectural superioiity, towered ovec their pigmy brethren of wood — have fallen prostrate, and now only cumber the ground, useless, unsightly heaps of ruin. What pen can sufficiently desciibe the mental agony of the poor proprietors ? They had toiled through the heat and burden of early colonization — they left their native country, emigrating to an. unknown land, there to invest their little capital:there, misgoverned by incapable rulers, neglected by a helpless company, exposed to the tender merctes of the savage — paying with one hand revenue to the Government, and with the other black mail to the Mao i, only the latter of which was locally expended — unable to settle on an acre of their country land — they had, in spite of every discouragement, difficulty, and danger, laboured with unexampled indus'ry and iudomitable perseverance, to effect an henebt indepen. dence, and realise a subsistence for f.heinselves and their children ; and now, just as they were commencing to resp the reward of their labours— just as they were struggling from destitution inio competence— just ns the difficulties of the Land Question had been cleat ed a way, and the colonists were cheerfully preparing for a fiesli start, and their retrospective experience of past evil was brightening into the pi ospect of future goo.l— to be again shipwrecked, to be- hurled 3 1 • f.l V int^ot-n 1 «*-» • ■• J,- n iitninfAr)

liopd and ruined fortune. What pen, may I well repeat, can sufficiently describe Iheir mental agony ? May experience never teach us to estimate the extent of its bitterness. What a retrogressive repulse have tlie interests of Wellington received. Not only is there the mere loss of property, great as that may be— look at the future consequences; shaken confidence, emigration at a stand still. Yeais will probably elapse before capitnl is again invested in Wellington to any amount. Evil legislation may l>e remedied, rebellious natives may be defeated ; but what ea-thly power can restrain subter. raneous agitation, and prevent its rerun ence. We may well congiatulate ourseirei on our past and prospective exemption from such a calamitous visitation; but let us do so, not in a selfish spin , coldly calculating what amount of profit is den ducible to the benefit of Auckland from the disisler of Wellington— not actuated, as it weie, by the inhuman jnopensities of the wiecker, who gloats over His anticipated gains from the foundering vessel ; hut rather let u« be grateful that our escape enables us the bettei to assist the sufferers, and increases our. meani of allbrding them relief. Let us at once generously do this, casting into oblivion the memory of all offences of party spirit and political animosly— let us prove that our hearts have not been deadened by the opiatic Jove of lucre to the voice of chdiity ; thut our every thoughts does not point, like the needle to the magnet, with a tremulous solicitude to self; that when we see a whole town, like Wellington, leeling undci im awful vibitdtion, we en shake off the ciumpuig letters of sivalry and prejudice, and with heaits so.iiiug above such narrow bigotry, remember the good Samaritan, .'tnd go and do likewise. J do lir-pe, Sir, that the influence of your Journal may be applied to induce the public to adopt those means wh eh may bekt serve to attain the d?sired object of affording relief to the unfortunate sufferers in Wellington. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, A Colonist.