TO THE RECENT SETTLERS IN THE COLONY.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 741, 21 May 1853, Page 3

TO THE RECENT SETTLERS IN THE COLONY.

11 You surfacp men are not competent, to judge of Mr. Brown’s qualifications or acts.”— M— To the Editor of the New-Zealandeh,. g rn ,— Differing, as I do, will) the above great and profound author, perhaps 1 may be showed a small space in your columns to explain why I think we surface men (that is, colonists of the last two or three v as), are not only well able, but, perhaps, the best able, to jm<lpre of tin* qualifications an 1 capahilitiesof the various candidates to fill the several offices under the future Constitution of our Colony. First, daring as fdo to dither with the author from whom I quote, let me take the liberty of reminding him that if tlie settlers of the last two or three years were disfranchised, it would make rath, r a hole in the electoral list of the Provinces, 1 fancy we, young settler-’, that is, we, baby colonists , coming here, unprejudiced by past struggles, and. unbiassed by this or that man’s influence or doings, can take a clear and dispassionate view of the case, and. having no interests to serve, nor no thumb-screw to far, just look at it in a common-sense light. We dismiss from our minds the reward asked for past services, because we have always understood a Patriot to mean a man, who, with an untiring St T'-devotion has laboured, in season and out of season, for the weal of his country, without even the hope of fee or reward. But, perhaps, as the sun takes a different course in this hemisphere, a Patriot also has a different meaning, and that the greatest Graball is the greatest Patriot. But, possibly, I may have misunderstood this learned author, as there are, doubtless depths which we “surface men” cannot fathom, and he may merely mean that those who have been but two or three years in the colony, and, therefore, not aware of the disinterested acts of the Brownite sect, should he satisfied to vote at the nod or wink of the self-styled Patriot or his creatures. Perhaps they should take for granted that all his ac's have been of a purely disinterested nature, and that although this man and his moi'op Fzing firm have well-filled their coffers while working for the public good, and crammed their strong box with the title-deeds of large tracts of land, it is merely that they may become more largely useful to their fellow colonists in their day and generation. Perhaps it is desirable out here that our first Superintends.t should he merchant, butcher, spirit dealer, draper, chandler, soap boiler, grazier,dairyman, brewer, printer, arid ironmonger, Kc. But unless in .-mall villages we did not think it at all desirable at borne to encourage such a system of General Pealing, for there the peop'e’s motto was Live, and let live. \io also liked to see another old saying carried out —" L t the Cobbler stick to his Last.” Now, sir, with due deference to this commentator, there are some men amongst us who happen to possess rather independent minds, and although without wealth, distinction, or prominent position, will take the great liberty of thinking and judging for themselves, and have come to the conclusion that, out of the whole population of the Province, Mr. Brown is the most unsuitable man for the posi he seeks. Men do not always kow what they are best suited for: Kean, the great Tragic performer, first came out as a comic actor. A man who may be admirably suited for one post may he most unsuitably placed in another. As a merchant, perhaps. Mr. Brown is unequalled as Mr. M —1 is as a counter man, hut the former would he as wrongly placed as Superintendent as the latter would as dancing master, I like to see men, as well as tilings, in their right places, therefore, although I should have no objection to see Mr. Brown forming one branch of the new Constitution’s tree, 1 should not wish to see him perched at the top. It should be borne in mind that up to this time we are not officially or publicly informed wh may he even one of Mr. Browns supporters, or if there are even six persons who wished him io come forward. He might very fairly blame his friends for placing him in tins odious position. The charge of personality which has been thrown out bv Dir. Brown s friends is a meie f.olish and idle one, to make in such a case as this, for it must be homo in mind that public men. especially when they are aspiring to ihe highest public offices, are pub ic property, and a man who, urn a-ked, thrusts himself so very prominently forward must take all the consequences of the position in which he has, by his own choice, placed himself. — I h.-g to remain, sir, your obedf-nt servant, Old Practical.