Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 535, 31 May 1851, Page 2

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the New Zealander, Sir,— l cannot but feel sorry that your Coirtempor<ry the notable Cross, should have allowed the "unwillingness" he felt a few days ago " to excite uny nerdless nlarm" to passHWay. If he really ever had aiicti a feeling, he seemi to hare got perfectly rid of it, i we may judge by thi* morning* leader. But whothat hat been accustomed to read his lucubrations will ever 10 far" mutake him as to lUppoie far a moment that such a feeling at any time found a lodgement in his microscopic mind. He certainly possesses beyond any of his compeers the power of msgnifyine trifle*. He can Bee mountains where others distinguish only molehills. He can bear or fancy he hears " m interin^ ' from Waiheki, and at once they raise before his easily excited imagination another Maori war. He does not see bo nuny natives at the birthd«y feast und he can find no other came for the falling off compared with former yean thin disaffection towards the government or hostile brooding* among the. triics agni .«l the Pakeha. The H&vannah was to have gone to Waiheki to lake in her water and mischief follow* in htr wake.— And yet he *ays •' we are no alarmists." Just look, sir, at all the " threatninijs" the " muttering')," the "dark hctrti," the " discontent," the "widely and deeply implicated disaffection" that your contemporary puts into his leader of to day and say if he does not deceive' himself when he tells hi* reader* he is no alarmist- But there is worse behind. As though it were not enough to excite the fear* of the u timid I ' by giving utterance to (he native threatening*, that hay* been cxpresied »t the *' featt"— -this notorious alarmist wiehci his renders to understand that ho is in *' pos*<j?i» sion of much other information"— dark and dixmsrl enough of cours;, which he would not for the world divulge— for he is no alarmist ! Why not tell it out? why keep us in suspenie ? If we are to be killed a»2 cooked vrhy hide it from us ? Let us know tbe worst, that we may prepare for it, Really, sir, I scarcely know how to characterize the course pursued by your contemporary. He reminds me of an Irishman who was heard saying; on his way borne, after indulging rather freely—" If my wife is up I'll bale her, if she is in bed I'll batcher ; if cupper i« rendy I'll bate her, if it it not ready I'll bate her,"— » He was determined to bate her at any rate. And, at any rate the Southern Oois «• determined to bate l\ut Colony. He it clearly determined to be displeased with every thing; and to make every body displeased and dissatisfied if he can. If anybody comes to the Country it will not be in consequence of any thing he hai said to induce immigration to New Zealand. If those remain that are here, the C'oss can have no> credit, it certainly has done it* part to frighten the timid away. Nor am I atone in this opinion, I know it is generilly regarded, a* the groateit enemy that exists to the peace and prosperity of the colony. As to all these threatening* and muttering* about which he has just raised such a norm in a tea-pot, there is not a word of truth in the representation. True, the Datives had a feait at Waiheke, but purely in nccordance with native custom, a feast given in return for one previously given to them, and not with any hostile intentions towards either the Government or the Anckland settlers. True, their <l hearts are dark/ but not in consequence of any enmity between them■elve* and the Government, but because .they hear we are distrustful and suspicious of their attacking us. They don't like to be suspected, as though they woufd violate their honour after having entered into a cove, runt of peace with the Governor. And everybody that knows anything of native custom will understand this feeling. When a reconciliation such a* that which took place between the Ngatipoa and Sir George Grey has been effected with native*, the matter is settled for ever. And depend, sir, on their part, it is so considered Sir George is blamed for having driven them away by force. lam satisfied he took, the proper course, and settled that affair much sooner, and with much leu difficulty than if he had yielded to their demand*. He did not decline explanation, if properly sought; but he did— a* every reasonable man must see he ought to do — refuse to give it at the month of the musket. It was a masterly ttroke, which has made a deep impression,— taught them that redress is not to be sought in that way, but by friendly conference, or appeal to law. It is true also that there were not to large a number of natives at the birth-day feast ; but, his your contemporary forgot that in former years we had lome three or four hundred native* working on the road*, the whole of whom were brought in on tbose occasion*. Remembering, then, thw fact, I think tbe number was very large, and that it is by no means clear that the lute disturbance, bO much diminished the number of tbe guest*. Only the Cross wij-l have it so. And as to all the doubt* and anxieties the natives ait; said to feel about their lands, I don't believe a word of it. Tiiey are in no dread of being disturbed I am sure I have as much intercourse with natives as the Editor of the Cross can have, and as many opportunities of knowing what is going og amongst them ; but

neither on the spot nor from the distance do I he»r as much as a whisper on the subject. Jf there be any uneasiness at all, it is amoni? themselves as to who ■hall sell and take the payment for their lands. But to those who would excile their fear* on this subject, I hare heard tlicm reply, " Taiho till we see the Pakeha do 10. We hive often been told he would take our land, but he ha» not done so yet. When he does, it will be time to look out." How much better it would be for the Colony if the Cross would change its tune, and cease to excite her Majesty's lieges by unnecessary alarm. Will you, Mr. Editor, try to perm-dc him to do 10. Convince him, if you can, that he takes the certain course to excite feuds and perpetuate animosities, and ipread " disnffection widely and deeply," and is most effectively retarding the progress of ihe Colony; making our friends in the distance think we are in a most wretched, unsafe, ruinous position—whereas the fact is, nil who arc industrious and virtuous are happy and prosperous , — I am, jours, &c, Auckland, May 30. 1851. ThetA.