To the Editor of the New Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 716, 23 February 1853, Page 3

To the Editor of the New Zealander.

g lU , —What is everybody’s business is said to be nobody’s business, and such seems to be the ca-e with the present political juncture of the Province of New Ulster. Your correspondent “ Nemo” in your number of the 19th, this date, lias very properly noticed the loss likely to take place to this Province in the Land Revenue. I now offer for consideration the view I take of our position, and present a few resolutions and a protest, which 1 think suitable under present circumstances, which the Members lately elected as Provincial Councillors may consider and place, it they please, -in fitting order for the people 8 adoption, and thus show us that they do not sit down indifferent, as though their only desire was to appear in authority in a legally constituted Chamber, but that they remember they are the chosen of the people to watch over their interests, and until there be another chosen body they are positively the protectors and leaders m whom the people are supposed to trust. You will sec the reason in clause No. 2 ot protest, why I think with “Nemo” every individual should protest (at the time of paying his money for Crown Lands) against the misappropriation of that portion of the Revenue, which both by the expressed, and in all colonies generally understood compact, under which Crown Lands were mid always are to be disposed of, and upon which conditions in Crown Settlements, the people have made and will always have to make their purchases in competition at the highest market

price. But there is also, in my opinion, other consequences of equally great importance to this Province, pending on the acceptance of the offered constitution. One of these is a reduction to a minimum scale in the comixture with the differe t Company’s Settlements, viz. : —New Zealand Company, the Plymouth Company, Scotch Company, and Church of England exclutionists, as well as the consequent reduction of the Province of New Ulster to a confined locality by the partition from the native people, some of whose settlements have arisen and obtained extensive and important conditions under the conjoined influence of the Auckland trade, its people, and Crown Government. As such separation would annihilate the common and existing interests, and lead most certainly to a divergence of some ot the trade ot this Province, as well as disturb the mutual connexion of the nativeand European people so long established, it is exceedingly desirable to preserve as far as possible the former position ot political interests. Now, as this Province is of itself sufficient to form one Government Colony, and as the native people are almost entirely located in it, it would be the more proper to remain a distinct Government, and os the natives are extremely few in the more Southern Province, there would be little difficulty in bringing out their interests, and locating them in the more congenial climate of this Province, where the feuds that originally drove them out, no longer exist. As the Southern Settlements could form among themselves another General Government, no extra expense would be incurred beyond what would exist under ihe contemplated charter. This Government would have the native people more intimately under their care, undisturbed by the legislation of separate interests. This, 1 think, will be found on reflection to be strictly in accordance with the just principles of their establishment, and the true interests of the Settlements concerned.—Yours, &c., P. Proposed Resolutions. I, Thatthe people of “New Ulster” having never had any relations with the New Zealand Company nor any monies of said Company ever laid out in this Province, do now repeat their protest against any such claim being levied principal or interest on any of the revenues of this Province. 1. Because it has always been a principle established by constant usage, as well as by terms of sale desmene Crown Lands that such portion, upon which claim is laid, be expended in the Province where it is raised. 2. Because under the terms of this contract the people of this Province made their purchases at the highest market price, (and not at the Comupset price) believing they were entering into possession in a Government Province, which would never be affected by any of the operations or liabilities of said Company. 3. Because to admit the losses of any Company to be repaid from the produce of Crown Lands of any Government Province or Colon}', would be utterly subversive of the principle before mentioned. 4. Because the purchasers of Crown Lands in this Province never received any remission of any portion of such purchase money, as was the case with some Emigrants to the New Zealand Company Settlements towards payments of passages out. 5. Because by such charge on the land revenue of this Province a larger amount of taxation would need to be levied for needful purposes of public works, (5. Because said Province has always been distinct in Government Revenue and traffic, and is sufficiently important to form a one and distinct Government.

11. That the people of this Province petition to remain a one and separate Colony. 111. That until the withdrawal of the said claim, or separation of this Province, the people will not elect any Superintendent or provincial council under the'constitution proposed. IV. That the gentlemen lately elected by the people of this Province to sit as members of the Provincial Council be appointed as delegates of the people, to prepare a petition and protest on the subjects herein proposed. February 19th, 1853.

To the Editor of the New-Zea lander.

Sir, —Some short time since, there appeared in your columns an advertisement from a native chief, calling for tenders, to be delivered at your office, for the purchase of his schooner, Tc Tere. I, in common with all well-wishers ef the native people, hail with pleasure every indication of their advances in civilization, as shown in the adoption of European customs, and their increasing confidence in the general good faith and kindly feeling towards them of their white compatriots. I am therefore curious to know the result of this attempt of the native chief to dispose of his property in our excellent fashion, by tender. Will you have the kindness, if in your power, to give me this information. I am, Sir, yours., Philo-Maori. Auckland, Feb. IG, 1853. {[Seeing that our correspondent’s question involves matters of general interest, we have made some inquiry on the subject, and have been told that a Tender (the only one) was sent into the Native Secretary from a mercantile house in town, making an offer for the vessel, which, however, the Native Secretary declined to accept until he had an opportunity of consulting the owner, the sum being considered too low. While the transaction was thus pending, a member of the same mercantile concern rode off to the owner, and concluded a bargain with him befoic he had beard from the Native Secretary’s department— the written tender being withdrawn. We wish we could stop here ; but our information goes on to a statement, that while the sum offered in the tender was £2OO, the sum for which the Maori, in his ignorance of what had taken place, was actually induced to sell his vessel to the same parties was only £170! . . . Our contemporary, the Southern Cross , yesterday (in treating of a subject which we refer to in another column) charges us with “ ignorance or reckless indifference of commercial and constitutional principles.” If he will take the facts here adverted to (supposing that on inquiry he should himself be satisfied that they are facts) as the

theme of an essay on “ commercial” honour and “ constitutional principles,” we will study it with as much docility as its merits may claim. And if he could, in addition, prevail on the Editor of the Maori Messenger to base upon them an exposition of the manner in which “commercial transactions” between natives and Europeans should be conducted, would it not do much in the way of imparting sound views and right feelings to the interesting race, a considerable share in whose education for the business of civilized life is entrusted to that Officer? — Ed. N. Z.]