ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 677, 9 October 1852, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the New-Zealander.

Sir, — Will you do me the favour of inserting in your journal to-morrow, the following copy of a letter' I have addressed to the Editor of the Southern Cross, and oblige, &c, Thomas Budule. Auckland, Octohor 8, 3852.

To the Editor of the Southern Cross. Sir, — It is gratifying to find in your remarks on my letter a disavowal on your ]>nrt of all intention to impute selfish and dishonourable conduct to the Missionary bodies of this country. 1 must, however, leave the public to say whether such imputations are not contained in the following passages. Speaking of the bums charged under the head of Schools you say "of which sum our contemporary and the hody of which he is the recognized trumpeter have fingered no inconsiderable share." Again you &ay those] sums " were distributed hy the Governor with an eye to political purposes, — to propitiate the body of which, our contemporary is the accredited mouthpiece ;" that we are "feelingly disconcerted at your objections to the colony being fleeced ;" and something more about " (backing .€7OOO a year." Now whatever might be your intentions when you penned such passages as these, in language so t'.ir beneath your subject, but one impression can bo received by the reader that you really considered the Missionaries guilty of gross selfishness and dishonesty. You say you did not intend it, and 1 accept your disavowal, but pray be more careful in future that you be not misunderstood. If you wish to attack the Government why mix up the Missionary bodies with your opposition \ If the Government of the Colony deems it right to loturn, in the way of Education, a certain portion of the revenue contributed by the aborigines, and a certain portion of the proceeds of their land, for which they originally receive but a nominal price, are the Missionaiy Societies to refuse to employ it in aid of the work they are here to piomote? Might they not us reasonably be expected to refuse the contributions of any other parties in aid of their objects \ I most readily giant that all such funds should be spent with the greatest economy, and be subject to rigid inspection. In reference to our own Schools we aie prepared for the .strictest scrutiny, so that if you are aware of any abuse in connection with these Institutions, as insinuated in the closing paragraph of your remarks, 1 can only bay 1 have no wish to cover it, and am not aware of its existence. In reference to the land granted for these Institutio7is it is not in my power to state their value, this I must leave for those versed in such matters, only I have an idea that the Estimate given in your columns, will be found very far in advance of its real worth. Nor must it be forgotten that much of its present value has been created by the pupils themselves. Our object is to render the institution self-supporting, and the moment avc are able to obtain adequate support from the land we shall gladly relinquish Government aid. You hove recommended in your i&sue of Sept. 24, that certain reserves ihouM be made for (he support of such institutions. Sir, T submit that the Three Kings Native Institution is such a i eserve, and fully meets your own view of what ought to be. It is not fair to speak of these grants

as a "fleecing of the colony." Reserves for native purposes must bo made, and hold in trust by some parties. Had the land not been entrusted to llio .Missionary bodies, it must, still have boon reserved for the use of the Natives. The Missionary Societies derive no direct advantage from these lands beyond the aid supplied in carrying out their benevolent objects. They are but trustees in the matter, holding the lands for the benefit of the i\atives. When they violate their trusts, and " illegally and profligately" spend the public monies, then let the Government resume the lands, and dismiss the delinquents from its confidence. Tt is equally unf.tir to talk of the reserve for Native purposes " ileccing the colony." Is it not justly reserved as a valuable second consideration for the lands of the Natives in the shape of Education, &c, gi\en to make up the comparatively small amounts received by them in the first instance for the lands they alienate? It might meet the views of some to leave the Natives in ignorance and barbarism, but it would ill become a great nation to possess itself of the lands of such a people for a small consideration, and then leave them to dwindle away in vice and ignorance. As to the appropriation of the funds by the Government, t am fully satisfied that the only plan that was practicable for a large amount of good has been adopted. The Government might have kept the matter in its own hands, but the funds must have been completely absorbed in creating the requisite machinery. Instead of such an unwise procedure, the existing machinery was improved and extended, while a great and good woik is being accomplished by the union of Government funds and Missionary agencies. Neither party alone could have done the work. The Missionary bodies had not the means to extend so much and so cfliciontly their educational efforts — the Government had not the teachers nox the machinery with which to do the work. You err, Sir, in supposing that the " exposure of a public wrong" is unpleasant to my feelings. If a public wrong has been committed, expose it by all means, and as far as 1 am able I will help you to have it rectified ; but I firmly deny, on the part of the body with which I am connected, any participation in a public wrong. My feelings are deeply interested in the cause of education, and civilisation, and Christianity. When these subjects ate imperilled, though the attempt be made by the Southern Cross, 1 trust neither my voice nor my pen will be found silent. There is one subject on which you arc continually harping, and which you must know is not true. You constantly speak of your contemporary as the organ of a Missionary body. What body do you mean ! We arc thankful to the JVcw> Zealander for its unflinching advocacy of the interests of education and morality and Christian missions, but we have no organ. Is not one at least of the gentlemen publicly known to be connected with the editorship of the Southern Cross well aware of this \ Did lie not edit the New Zealander three or four years ago ? Let him honestly tell the public how often any member of our body interfered with his editorial work, or in any other way controlled the New Zealander. If he will not do this, let him for ever after hold his peace on this subject. As to my wish to make out a case, I can honestly say 1 had no such wish, my only object is truth and justice. The insinuation about "literaiy and moi.il dishonesty" for "electioneering purposes," 1 utterly repudiate as most unworthy, and at once dismiss it «s the vain subterfuge of a man in difficulties. Why again impute unworthy motives? Meet the subject by plain fact and honest argument, if you can ; if you cannot, do not betray the weakness of your cause by such expe~ dients. Your closing reference to " Sympathy" intimates that you ascribe that gentleman's letter on Hospital affairs to myself. Allow me to say that I never saw, nor was I in any way cognizant of that letter, till I read it as published in the New Zealander. Nor have I ever preferred against you unfounded charges ; when I do, and am shewn that I have done so, I shall cheerfully make the " amende." — 1 am, Sir, &c, TIIOMAS BUDDLE. Auckland, Oct. 8, 1852.

To the Editor of the New Zkalandeu. Sir, — As you have given insertion in your paper, to various letters from Mr. Clrisholm preferring most unfounded charges and insinuations against me in reference to a Land Claim of his at Vapakura, I have to request that you will enable me to reply through the same medium. Previous to the late Elections, Mr. Chisholm preferred similar accusations in your columns ;; — • taxing me with socking to purchase, or in some other way to interfere with his land. I then paid very little attention to these charges supposing them to have been fabricated merely for the purpose of damaging my election; thinking, as I then did, that even Mr. Chi&bolm himself could not believe one word of the charges; — and to which I only imagined him to be lending his name to .suit the views of other parties. As liowevcr those accusations have been repeated in another letter in last New Zcalander it would appear that Mr. Chisholm really docs himself believe in the truth of them, the affair assumes a different complexion ; and I think he is quite entitled to have an answer to his attacks ; — the more especially as they can be very shortly and satisfactorily disposed of. It is wholly untrue that I applied to have Mr. Chisbolm's land surveyed. So far from it, I never had the remotest intention, either directly or indirectly of buying his land ; nor have I ever entertained even so much as a wish to do so ; nor hits any one connected with me been influenced by such a desire. This 1 state fully andunreservedly, and thereby give Mr. Chishohn's charges the most distinct and unequivocal denial. So far from being actuated by conduct of this kind, I have on the contrary always lent Mr. Chisholm — as I have done every other person who has applied to me — every assistance in my power, with their land claims. This 1 have done from a belief that the land — when fail ly purchased — belongs in justice and honesty to the claimants, and because the ceaseless agitation about their claims, prevented the parties occupying and improving thciu land, and thus, most seriously, retarded the general prosperity and advancement of the colony. From first to last, I have— without exception ■ — and at no small cost and odium, maintained the rights and interests of the land claimants, and at a period when no other voice was raised in their favour, and I can only regret that the knowledge of this fact should not have induced Mr. Chisholm to have made some inquiries, in the proper quarter, before indulging in such unfounded assertions, wholly at variance with my past conduct. I do not suppose that he has been the originator of these charges ; because I have lately discovered that statements have been made by parties connected with the Government — expressive of an intention on my part, to purchase the land referred to, proving thereby a systematic and premeditated attempt on the part of some ono, for some unworthy puipose, to fix an amount of odium on my proceedings wholly unwarranted and altogether undeserved. — 1 am, Sir, &c, Wm. BnowN. Auckland, Bth Oct. 1H52.

To (ho Editor of the Nkw-Zi;axander. Sik, — I was not much surprised that your contemporary in noticing my last, resorted to his usual style of reply. "With him it is an caiSythingto "call spirits from the vasty deep;" they come at his bidding, — he has but to wave his magic wand and a Vigu; steps forth with "genei'ous indignation" to the rescue of the Cross. But no sooner has Ihe obsequious familiar placed its services at his disposal, than with an air of characteristic selfconlideiice, he dismisses the kind and generous being, declining the help he had himself invoked "feeling quite equal to his own defence."

After reading the " Notice to Correspondents'' in Tuesday's Gross, 1 was forcibly reminded of an event that occurred not Jon"; ago, not far from Mount Eden. The cuttle belonging to a gentleman, who shall at present be nameless, broke down a neighbour's fences and damaged his crops to the amount of some X' 4 ov X'o. The injured ) party called on the owner of the vagrant cattle, stated his giievance, and quietly asked utu ; when, without further ceremony, save the overflowing of unrestrained wrath, he ielt himself collared and in danger* of being thrown to the ground, and at the &iune time ordered to quit the place; being a man of peace he took his departure. Your contemporary seems disposed to meet the facts that look him in the face from my last, in the same style ; he won't reply to them, but orders them out. It may be fashionable with, some people thus to deal with honest argument and ungarnished fact, but "what is the inference? Your readers will supply it for themselves. But, we are told, there is " no public question involved," or a defence would be forthcoming. With all deference to your contemporary, I think there is a public question involved, and it is this, — lias the Southern Gross been to this colony a blessing or a bane ? I contend that it lias immensely damaged our interests, and injured our character as a community, and I have given facts in support of my position. The Editor lias not deigned to grapple ■with those facts. No, no ; he is not to be " dragged into a contemptible squabble." It is true he has referred to three counts in the indictment, not in the way of reply, butuitha passing ilouri&h. "Why overlook all the rest I The reason is obvious enough ; they are more easily overlooked than answered. But if there were " a public principle involved" your contemporary would condescend to reply. And is there then no public principle involved ! la not every public journal expected to be candid and impartial ? Has the Cross been so 1 Is not this the gist of my entire letter, as published in your last ? Do not all my i'acts culminate at this point, that the Cross has evinced a great want of public principle ? Has it not been employed to work out the private views and interests of a clique, rather than the interests of the Colonists generally ? In reference to some individuals and their 'acts, good or bad, the Cross has remarked in terms of unmingled censure ; and while others have equally merited exposure and condemnation, this impartial reformer has been silent. Yet he puffs himself to the wide world as the disinterested reformer of abuses, and the guardian angel of both public and private interests. 0 tompora, 0 mores ! In conclusion, Mr. Editor, I really have no wish, as insinuated by the Cross, to divert public attention from the .£.7000 reserve for native purposes. Certainly not ; let the subject be fairly sifted. Only Ido object to the important matter of Education being the only item that is to be censured and struck off. Shall we throw away what is vcallv of great service to the country and retain what is worthless, because it happens to be of advantage to some of the Cross's friends? What could bo said for public principle if we were to close the Educational Establishments and yet to spend our funds on such a publication as the Maori Messenger has on the average been ? The original idea of establishing such a paper was one comprehensively wi&e and benevolent, and it would not be easy to over estimate the advantages which it might be the means of conferring on the natives ; but what has been its actual charactei*, — [ mean on the whole, or, as I have just said, on the average ? Let the Missionaries of every denomination, and others competent, from their knowledge of the native mind and habits, to form an opinion, answer the question. And then let the impartial and disinterested Gross, which scoffs at " Missionary teachings" say why it has left untouched the notorious and flagrant job of expending money on such a miserable abortion as the Maori Messenger has for the most part hitherto been. But enough for the present. — I remain, Sir, &c, Theta.

To tho Editor of the New Zbalandeh. Sin,— l wrote you a letter on the 24th August last, which you were good enough to insert in your paper of the next day, with a view to call public attention to a nefarious practice then going on in connection with the supply of meat to the Colonial Hospital. I had the very best authority for the facts I stated, and had the satisfaction to learn afterwards that my letter was not published in vain. The attention of some of the benevolent visitors at the Hospital, as well as that of the kind-hearted original contractor himself (who, however willing he was to bear the brunt of tho blame, had no right to have it laid at his door) was at once directed to the subject., and a vast improvement immediately after took place in the quality of meat furnished. The recollection of the circumstance has been brought to my mind now by remarks in the Southern Gross on a letter signed "Theta,"-whioh has lately appeared in your- columns. The Editor of the Gross seems to infer, from the reference in that letter to the Colonial Hospital meat transaction, that "Th eta's" communication and my own were -written by the same hand. I need not tell you that we ure not identical ;—- "Thetn," like many other right-minded men m the community, is not likely to forget, so soon as the Southern Gross would wish, the callous hearted cruel selfishness, exhibited tinder its ovm roof, in the supply of what was sometimes worse than dog's-meat to the unfortunate helpless sufferers at the Colonial Hospital. I remain, Sir, &c. Sympathy. Auckland, October 7, 1852.