Original Correspondence. To the Editor of the New Zealander,

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 507, 19 February 1851, Page 3

Original Correspondence. To the Editor of the New Zealander,

Sir, — In your remarks on the election of Wardens for V\s Hundred of Howick, you ircm to censure the Pensioners for the course they then adopted. You aUo say that yon are at an utter loss even to conjecture on what reasonable grouodi they could make ao ot range a choice. The choice may appear strange, but I believe the grounds on which it was made was good and reason* able. First, could any reasonable setller, or experienced ncr.iculturalut expect that the Pensioners would vote them 10 an office and give them powr to tax them heavily without appearing before the electors and manfully dating what benefit the* intended to do for the Hundred — more tip c'mlly as it h*d it b en titated, that should any tax be levied they could drive their Cattle within their enclosures and leave the Pensioner! to pay the tax— under these circumstances the only reasonable course the Pensioners could pursue, was io vole for those who wmld pledge themselves to prevent useless and unnecessary taxation. A practical agricultu>u]ist was put in the two last yars, and the only thing known to be done, was to expend £2^ on a p'iun.l that, other practical men has siid, can never be of arty parctical use to the Hunri cd. Bdievinjj this, and knowing that a p >und would he uselesx without h poundkeeper who must have a houio to live in and a galaiy to support him, together w'nh one or two rangers to give him something to do for his money, and tie pen«idneri having substantial grounds to sun pect that the w hole or nearly the wbr le coit was to be drawn from the.ir one or two hundred head of cattle. Thene, sir, ure the grounds upon which the Pensioner*, as you suppove, acted so strangely. It is the opinion of come of the settlers, that in the present state of the run there is no ocraiion for any further exp-nditure • in this the Pensioners perfectly coincide, but should it be shown at the end of the present year that the time has arrived when something further ought to he done, I am suifl that the Pensioners will be most willing io give every consideration to the advice which the ex* pcrienced settlers may offer. I am, Sir, A Depasturing License holder. Howick, 10. Feb. 1851.