MR. JAMES REID versus MR. WILLIAM DROWN.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 752, 29 June 1853, Page 2 (Supplement)

MR. JAMES REID versus MR. WILLIAM DROWN.

To the Editor of the New-Zealandbr. Sir,—Tlie following exposure of one of Mr. Brown’s land transactions has already appeared in your columns, from which I cut it, and request you will re-publish it for the instruction of those who may yet have to be informed as to Mr. Brown’s fitness or unfitness for the office to which he has been foolish enough to aspire.—Yours, etc., An Independent Elector. To the Editor of the New-Zealander. Sir, —I took the following letter to the Southern Cross office at live o’clock on Monday evening, but in a notice to correspondents this morning I observe they say it crane too late for publication. 1 had been out of town and did not know of the false accusation contained in the Cross of Friday until I returned. And I had only time to prepare my letter to deliver it at the time I mention—but I certainly think that even then if there had been any honorable desire for fair play there might have been an effort made to rectify what was so groundlessly put for in the Cross, respecting the gentlemen referred to: — To the' Editor of the Southern Cross. Sir, — I notice in your Friday’s paper an allusion to my application fora piece of land at llama Rama, in which I am sorry to see you state what is very incorrect respecting the proprietors of the ISew Zealander newspaper, inconnexon with a letter which 1 had published in their paper. You say, “ perhaps they might also tell how they concocted a formal letter signed with the names of Mr. Newman and Mr. Dilworth—no such joint surrender of the piece of land having been made by them.” I must ask you, in justice to the proprietors of the New Zealander to allow

me to say, through your paper, that I received the letter to which you refer, personly, from the hands Mr Newman, in Mr. Dilworth’s presence, and that it bears the signatures of both those gentlemen, which I can show, as I have the letter still in my possession, there heir g no use in sending it to the Commissioner of Crown Lands wanting the name of Mr. Farmer, the third and only remaining applicant opposed to me, but which he has up to this time refused to append to it. I may also state that, believing I had fair grounds of complaint against the latter gentleman, I was desirous to let it bo known to the public through the newspaper, but was restrained on several occasions by the proprietors of the New-Zealander from doing so, lest it might prejudice my own case.—Your’s, &c. May 23, 1853. James Reid. But now, Mr. Editor, I trust I may be allowed, without having any electioneering motive attributed to me, to state the whole particulars of this case, which I think ought to be brought before the public, not so much with regard to my own particular concern in it, as to the public question involved, which affects the interests of a class of men to which I belong. I am aware that many farmers and farmer’s sons who have recently arrived in the other colonies from home, are labouring hard in the mines, not altogether with a hope of making a fortune there, but looking forward to realising as much as will enable them to become proprietors of land in these Colonies, so that they may follow an occupation more congenial to their habits than <rold-di"£in2f. The climate of New on n TTi* South Wales and Australia helix, especially at the mines, is almost unendurable to new-comers, and it is not likely that many after they have made money will wish to remain there New Zealand is much spoken of for its salubrity of climate and fertility of soil. And Auckland especially has lately been brrougbt into notice by the pamphlet “ Auckland and its Neighbourhood” which has been circulated at the mines. Now I am aware that very many were contemplating resorting to this colony, — and that too when it was believed country land could not be procured at less than £1 an acre. But when the altered land regulations of New Zealand comes to be known through the mining districts at the Turon and Mount Alexander, there will be a very large emigration from Australia to this district —indeed a number have already arrived by the Raven the other day—many of them men, who, like himself, aic anxious to procure land, and who have the skill and power of body to work it. Surely the Government and the earlier colonists ought to combine to encourage these men to settle down with their means in this country. Would it not be better to do so than to pay away large portions of the land fund for emigrants from Britain ? "Whioh, then, may I ask, is best for tbo intc.iests of this country, —that the land which has lately been brought into market at a reduced rate should be brought up by the large graizer, or that it should pass into the hands of the class of small farmers to which I refer, whose labour would soon improve every acre of it, and whose families would become a benefit to its population \ For my own part, I think that it would indeed be a pity that the fertile lands of this district, capable of maintaining a dense population, should be merely turned into cattle runs for the large stock-holder, while the plains of the Waikato, farther back, might be made available for such purposes until needed by receding inhabitants. But, sir, I wish to come to that which more particularly relates to myself since I came to this country. I fell in with one or two persons at the mines in New South Wales who gave this district a high character, and, with a view of settling, 1 left, and pushed my way to Auckland. The enclosed letters will explain my difficulties in endeavouring to carry out my purpose. The first is one I addressed to Mr. Farmer* in the hope that when my case was made known to him he would not stand between me and the piece of land I sought. I left it at his shop on Saturday, the 30th April, but got no reply during the follow ingweek, except verbally from Mr. Brown, who told me when 1 first saw him, that he could do nothing in it, that the Government had determined to put it up to auction, imtead of giving it to the first applicant;—the next time I spoke to him, he said, Mr. Farmer was going to give it up altogether, and I must apply to the other claimants. 1 took his advice, and applied to the other claimants, who at once gave mo the letter to the Commissioner which I have already published, waiving their application, This letter I took to Mr. Farmer, his signature being necessary to remove all difficulty, but he firmly refused to sign it, saying that “ lie would not move one peg.” The second letter which I enclose was addressed by me to His Excellency the Governor, asking to have the 200 acres put up in a separate lot, so that if the land was to go to auction in consequence of Mr. Farmer’s obstinacy, 1 might have a chance of bidding for the piece I applied for, for if the large block were to be first offered of course 1 could not bid for it. How very favourably does the treatment 1 have received from his Excellency contrast with what I experienced from Mr. Farmer! The Governor has done all that he could under the circumstances to meet my case, and small claims arc to be put up first, in cases where auction shall bo necessary. But 1 cannot wait any longer, and, so far as 1 am concerned, I must leave Mr. Farmer to all the enjoyment he can expect from the acres he has deprived me of. I must only say that if men of small capital like myself are to be thus discouraged on arrival here, and are driven away by such conduct on the part of monopolists, they will no doubt carry back to tbe other colonics a bad report of this place, and of the people, (which 1 believe the generality of the inhabitants do not deserve) and many useful and valuable colonists will be deterred from coming to these shores. I have to thank several gentlemen for the interest they have taken in my affairs

since my arrival —I am sorry that it was nccesstiry to publish the name of any one in connection with my concerns, but I thought it due to thctwocspccially who relinquished their claim in my favour to publicly acknowledge their friendship.—Yours obt. servant, James Reid. Auckland, May 2J, 1853. *To Mr. James Farmer. Sir,—T find that you and 1 have lodged claims at the Land Commissioner’s office for the same piece of land at Rama Rama, beyond Slippery Creek —that is, your claim for an extensive block covers my application for 200 acres included within that block. My object in writing to you is to ask you to waive your claim over so much of the land as I have applied for, and I trust you will not object to do so when I state that I have come to this colony from Sydney with the determination of settling here, and bringingmy family down, if I can only procure sufficient laud to establish myself as a small farmer. The New Land Regulations seemed to open up a prospect of my obtaining, with my moderate means, as much as would answer my purposes — leaving me enough in hand to carry on the necessary operations for turning the land to practicl use. I spent a week in examining the country for an available piece of land, and at length decided on the spot 1 have applied for. lam not prepared to complete with men of capital for it, and if it goes to auction I despair of possessing it, and as there are no small farms open in the neighbourhood of Auckland, procurable at a moderate price, I foci that I will be reluctantly compelled to return with my moans to the other colonics. If you, however, consent to waive your claim over so much of the land as I have applied for, I will be benefited, while you will not be injuacd. Your obt servant, J. Reid. Bv (he Overland Mail we have received Wellington papers to the 28lh of May,—and the Taranaki Herald (o the 8!h inst. The intelligence from Wellington is only a few days Tiler Ilian (hat Brought by 11.M.D. Fantomc , and is not at all iniporlanl. The Governor had nnl yelarrived. The Spectator of Hie 28th nil has an article < n Mr. Gibbon Wakefield s Idler lo (he Duke of Newcaslle conlaining those attacks upon Auckland and upon Sir George Grey’s u supposed in tention” to convene the first meeting of the General Assembly there, on which a few days since we animadverted. We quote from that article the following passage, which we commend to the consideration of those very sensitive persons who are so much afraid lest ihe Southern colonists should “ laugh” at Auckland for its choice of Colonel Wynyard as Superintendent. It shows, at ail events, that Ihe laugh will not I>c universal, but that even at Wellington (here will he found some to appreciate the wisdom of the choice. The Spectator says, — “ In the same spirit Mr. Wakefield presumes that Lieutenant-Colonel Wynyard will owe his election as Supcrinlemlanl lo Government influence and talks of Auckland as only a military selHomcnt as respects political influence/’ Now it is well known, that Colonel Wynyard fell considerable reluctance in offering himself as a candidate for (he office, and was only induced to come forward from (he serious apprehensions by which (he possible contingency of the election of Mr. Brown was regarded by persons of moderate opinions in that province. We may safely leave Air. Wakefield's disparaging reflections on Auckland to he answered by the Auckland settlers, hnl if is sufficiently notorious that Colonel Wynyard, if eleclcd, w ill owe his election, not (o “ Government influence,” hut lo the settled aversion of the moderate party, the majority at Auckland, lo Mr. Brown and Ids clique, and their determination lo discountenance agitators and men of violent opinions; to the same influencc, in short, which may possibly prevent some of (hose in this province who affect to consider themselves popular leaders, from obtaining a seal in Ihe -Assembly.

A Government Gazelle was issued yesterday evening, in which the Electoral 801 l for the Bay of Islands is published, in the same form as Ihe City and other Bolls appeared in a preceding Gazelle. We find that the total number of voters on the 801 l for the Bay District, is one hundred and forty-two. The Gazelle also contains the appointment of Thomas Beckham, Esq,, to act as Sheriff of this Province during Mr. Berrey's absence from the colony ; and of Messrs. William Fulham, and Henry Nlcoll to survey vessels under the u Passedgers Act.”

Masonic Ball. — On Friday evening, being the Festival of SI. John, the Master, Officers, and Brethren of the Auckland Lodge of Frecand Accepted -Masons gave a Bail at Ihe Masonic Hotel, for which invitations had been liberally issued, and about one hundred ladies and gentlemen wore present. The occasion, supper, dancing, and all passed over in a manner which those who enjoyed i(s festivities unite in describing as highly gratifying and satisfactory.