OUR FRIENDS AT HOME.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1726, 24 September 1862, Page 3

OUR FRIENDS AT HOME.

We cull the following comments from letters just received from England, relative to the altered and amended policy now being pursued. The writers have a full knowledge of this country, and take a lively interest in its progress and prosperity:— " It is an old story with you now; but I can imagine what happiness you would all experience about Auckland on a return to peace. War has its morals and its teachings, and one lesson it always inculcates to its advocates is, how to bear disappointments; for I firmly believe the advocates of war are ever and always disappointed, whether in the old world or the new, or even at the antipodes; and few have been more disappointed with their achievements than the promoters and advocates of the New Zealand war.

"We arcs watching with deep interest and satisfaction the progress of your present Governor's policy, for it is identical with that which thoughtful men * considered to be needed, but which the late war clique so wantonly discarded. Sir George's measures give great satisfaction here; indeed, none other would have been long tolerated. Economy is the order of the day; and the country groaning under Moated armaments (as the phrase is) and excessive taxation, is looking about, both at home and abroad, for some curtailment of expenditure; yet, while all would submit to taxation to protect the colonists if attacked, none would agree to supply funds to carry on aggressive warfare; a state of public feeling which surely ought to satisiy all good colonists. Unless we are driven into war, I predict our next budget will be framed to meet a diminished expenditure. "Much surprise has been expressed on learning, through private channels and official documents, that your great Commodore (Seymour) had placed himself in opposition to Sir George Grey, •and disobliged him as far as he could with the ships under his command; this is the more surprising considering that he had acted similarly towards Governor Browne, and it might therefore have been anticipated that he would have hit it better with your new Governor. The pride of displaying his power was no doubt the controlling motive; but is it not a sad pity that the public service should suffer thaough the Nepotism that entrusts power to such hands. " What a horrible war our cousins are waging against themselves on the opposite shore; its effects arc felt fearfully on this side by some two millions of the most productive of our population, thrown out of employment and on charily. By the way, has not your Governor some project for settling the country with naval and military people. I noticed an allusion to some such scheme in the debates in Parliament. Who that has experienced the delightful climate of New Zealand, but would joyfully flee to the antipodes? Here we have been afflicted with the most wretched weather ever since May; hardly any summer at all. I do not remember a single day without rain; and it is so cold withal; yet it is surprising how well the crops look, and now (24th July), when we have at length got a taste of summer, there is a promise of a fair though late harvest. " It is very pleasing to sec the rapid strides New Zealand is making in material prosperity; the auriferous discoveries in the Coromandel district, taken in conjunction with the head-way which, —in spite of all opposition and predictions tothe contrary,—Sir Geo. Grey is steadily making in his pacific policy, cannot fail to give a great impulse to the progress and prosperity of Auckland. Depend upon it, peace is best for every laud, old or new. War is a losing game to all parties. Let «s have a continued good report of the peace policy, and of Auckland's increasing prosperity, and doubt not the great and beneficial result."