Original Correspondence. To the Editor of the New Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 327, 12 July 1849, Page 2

Original Correspondence. To the E ditor of the New Zealander.

Fir, — I have this morning read in the columns of the Southern Cross a smart attack, made in anticipation of the acceptance of seats in the Provincial Council, by those gentlemen to whom the offer has been made. I think thnt it was uncalled for and ill judged, for two reasons .-—firstly, that it is likely to produce the opposite effect to that which was intended by the writer, inasmuch as the fear of being supposed to be influenced by it might be sufficient to turn the scale, inducing those who were before undecided to meet his Exce'lency's wishes at once ; and secondly, because I am distinctly of opinion, that agitation on the subject of Nomineeism, would be a false move on the part of the Northern settlers. For it would involve the loss of the fine position which we nowhold, as contrasted with that of our fellow colonists in the Sou'h. Secure of free institutions being conceded to us within a reasonable time, we alone had the good sense to repudiate the crude unmanageable scheme which Lord Grpy presented to the colony, showing willingness to allow the Home Government ample time for maturing what at last might be really well suited to our peculiar exigencies, without deeming it necessary to fill up the interval with ceaseless clamour. Ido not mean this as an oblique insinuation against the Cook's Straits settlers ; on the contrary, they are perfectly justified in their outcry. They have been cajoled and fooled ; a constitution has been pressed upon them, and arbitrarily snatched away again: but as to ounelves, illused as we may have been with regard to other matters, we cannot, quoad hoc, complain of having been, token in. I believe indeed, that the great body of Northern settlers, are at present very indifferent about the question ; that the attempt to raise a cry would succeed only so far as to create division of opinion among them, and that at a time when our unanimous and combined efforts are requisite for self defence ; whilst we should throw away the chance of our reosonableness^ on one subject obtaining a heiring at home for our just complaints on others. The danger of untrammelled councils to very young colonies, is that the particular and private interests of the members are likely to be too immediately affected by the votes. This, although a mere generality, I hold to be sufficient cause for a certain degree of restriction. But I think that a more specific objec lion to representative institutions for New Zealand might be urged. For I cannot^ help coinciding with His Excellency in opinion, that the colony is not yet fit for them. In the North, I am sure that we are no' : representation would be the instant lignal for splitting up the constituency into two most violent parties— Scotch and Irish; the former more influential, the latter more powerful in point of numbers, and in fact, nearly certain to carry all before it. Bitterness of political feeling, which may be generally estimated by inverse ratio to the numbers in exercise of the franchise, would in this case be aggravated by nationality, and electioneering would be one continued scene of strife and animosity. In the South, for other reasons, I believe the settlers to be no better fitted for self government than ourselves ; but whether I be right or wrong in that opinion, it must at least be acknowledged that they are less fit than they were, and that this unfitness is increasing upon them day by day. For by his Excellency's peculiar mode of management their minds haye been unsettled, their passions have been roused, a spirit of resistance, and an habitual suspiciousness of constitutional authority engendered, from which I believe them two years ago, to have been almost wholly free. Sir George has himself taught the trick of agitation, Which it will non take them many years to unlearn. I am, Sir, Yours faithfully, An Ex-Editor: