ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 10, 2 September 1842, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Neiv Zealand Colonist. Sir, —It appears to be a question with some persons in Wellington, whether the sendees of the New Zealand Company might not be dispensed with, or the withdrawal of its support be more advantageous to the progress of the Settlement, than its continued exertion to maintain the claim of Port Nicholson to the first commercial position in New Zealand. Assuredly, every endeavour has of late been made to instill this prejudice into the public mind; and all who feel convinced that the stability of the Colony —still in its infancy, and requiring the fostering hand of its parents —hinges on the aid of the Company, are considered as hostile to the prosperity of the Settlement, and are designated, “ Company’s men,” “ Walcefieldites,” &c.

I would venture, however, to ask, how can it be other than the interest of the Company to uphold the “ First and Principal Settlement,” by all their influence at home, and by their eveiy effort in the Colony ? What would have become of any surplus labour, had they not. employed, and still continue to employ, it on the public roads ? Let us suppose that the Company’s Agent fell into the views of those who seem to think that the circulation of no inconsiderable capital is of little moment to us at this juncture, and that he were-—immediately on the 1100 sections having been taken up—to withdraw himself, the surveying staff, and other officers, to Nelson or New Plymouth, and there take blocks of land from the Government, for future sales to the public; would not propertyin this place be seriously deteriorated in value, the demand for labour decrease, and consequent gloom and depression ensue ? And yet it seems to be the desire of some—a few, I trust—to consummate all this. Gentlemen who talk of the “ representation of labour,” “ balance of parties,” and so forth, by implicatiSh, assert that it would be the aim of each class to' take care of itself, and of itself alone. Now, were this to be the case, one would imagine that the principles that constituted the elements of tills Colony, when first projected, have been entirely lost sight of and abandoned, and that we were nearing the shoal upon which almost all other attempts at colonisation have foundered/ ' He who would, either in or out of the Council, suggest an unequal or burthensome impost upon the labour of the community, would not merely stultify himself, but would at once render himself unworthy the confidence of his fellow citizens. So much for the representation—or rather, I should say, misrepresentation. The observations made at the public meeting at Barrett’s Hotel, on Friday evening last, by one or two speakers, as to “ intimidation,” “ undue influence,” &c. &c., and the resolution submitted by Mr. Hair, scarce merit further notice, than, as far as I am

concerned, and my own knowledge goes, they are totally destitute of foundation. If those who are edging themselves into notoriety by calumny, by misrepresentation, and by insinuations against others—without giving names—would adhere a little more strictly to sober truth, they would better serve the public weal, than by the false colouring they give to the most ordinary action. No one can deprecate, in stronger terms than I do, any “ course of proceedings whereby the independence of any elector is compromised and it is upon 4Hhis principle I am desirous of seeing such men only, who, by their talent, knowledge of business, and having the true interests of the Colony at heart, are qualified to be the representatives of the people in the Council of this Borough. Talk of intimidation, “ threats to withdraw custom,” &c., these are but the old scarecrow at home; yet, I trust this community is too enlightened to be alarmed at this bugbear, or so easily led astray by the “ State-in-danger” cry that is now raised, for party purposes.

I have merely to add, that had such a resolution as that proposed by Mr. George Scott, at the meeting just mentioned, been, in the first instance, brought forward, I, for one, would not have obtruded myself* on the present occasion. From all that has, however, transpired, and the determination of a few to have matters all their own way, I consider it due to my own, and to the interests I represent, to use every exertion, and every means, fairly within my reach, to ensure the return of fit and proper persons to represent this Borough ; so that the prospects of one of the boldest, the most noble, and best matured plans of colonisation, of this, or any other age, may not be blighted, but may have a fair chance of realising those results that are but reasonably hoped for. Feeling strongly upon these points, and echoing the sentiments of those gentlemen who passed the subjoined resolution, I have to solicit space for their insertion in your columns; and remain, Mr. Editor, your most obedient servant, HENRY ST. HILL. Wellington, September 1, 1842. At a Meeting of the Committee appointed to make the necessary arrangements, to ensure the return of lit and proper persons as Members of the Council for the Borough of Wellington, held at the “Thistle Inn,” Mulgrave Street, on Thursday evening, the 25th August 1842, Mr. St. Hill in the chair, it was unanimously resolved—

“ That, in order to testify the sense of this Committee “ of the efforts of the New Zealand Company to uphold “ the interests of this Settlement, Colonel Wakefield be “ requested to allow himself to be put in nomination as “ a Candidate for the office of Member of Council for “ the Borough of Wellington ; in which case, the Mem- “ bers of this Committee pledge themselves to do all in “ their power to secure to him the office of Mayor. “ That the Members of this Committee do wait upon “ Colonel Wakefield, at 10 o’clock to-morrow morning, “ with the foregoing Resolution.”

* Henry St. Hill, Chairman of the Committee. Members of the Committee present — Messrs. Mocatta, .. Chetham, White, Levin, Wilson, St. Hill, and M‘Donald, who retired on being informed he had been proposed as one of the Council. The Committee having, accordingly, waited upon Colonel Wakefield, and the resolution having been presented to him by the Chairman, with a few preliminary remarks, he replied to the following effect: —He felt highly honoured by the compliment paid him as the servant of the New Zealand Company, in proposing that he should permit himself to be put in nomination as a Member of Council for the Borough of Wellington, and the proffered support of the Committee, in aid of returning him at the head of the list, to qualify him for the office of Mayor. In declining the honour, he did so, not from any desire to shrink from the duties that would devolve upon him in the execution of his office; and which, as a citizen, he should have felt it not only his duty, but his pride, in devoting his best energies to fulfil; but from his situation as a servant of the New Zealand Company, rendering it incompatible, that both the functions of Mayor, and of the Principal Agent, should be in one person. “ As he would) he trusted, frequently be in communication with the Members of the Council for the Borough, be took the opportunity of observing, that the terms of the resolution were such as assured him that the Committee would exercise their endeavours to return those gentlemen only whose interests would be to promote the prosperity of this Settlement, in which object he would most heartily join. On any question arising hereafter between the Corporation and the Company, he had no doubt that the utmost cordiality would be maintained. He should avail himself of the earliest opportunity of transmitting to the Company the compliment paid them by the resolution now presented him.”