ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 74, 14 April 1843, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the New Zealand Colonist. Sir, —A correspondent in your paper of the 14th inst., has expressed his opinion of the onward progress of Mr. Bell, as contrasted with other settlers at Wanganui, and seems to think that impediments to the occupancy of the land might have been readily overcome. 1 know not who “ Alpha” is; but of this lam convinced, that he is not a sectionist, neither can he be a long resident, and is consequently incompetent to form a correct opinion of the past and existing state of things at Wanganui. However, as his opinion may have some influence beyond this district, besides being an echo of the oft-repeated assertions of non-residents; amongst others, the quilom Editor of the New Zealand Gazette: perhaps I may be allowed to enter somewhat fully into the subject. I have no desire to detract from Mr. Bell’s deserts. I willingly accord to - his family the fullest measure of praise for activity and industry, b.ut I question whether they have done more than other settlers would, have done if placed in a parity of circumstances. The real cause of Mr. Bell’s precedence as a “tiller of the ground,” was the possession of an early registered land order. The very first week after the commencement of the survey, Mr. Bell could track the surveyor’s line, and say, “ this or that shall ' be my section.” He had only to obtain the sanction of the few previously registered sectionists, and without waiting the general distribution, commenced his operations. He could make a friend of that chief whose ground he was about to occupy, and by a gratuity secure undisturbed possession. This Mr. Bell did; and this is the whole secret of his “ ability to surmount difficulties which deterred others. No other resident settler had the same advantage. We were obliged to wait until the partial completion of the survey, and the aggregate meeting of the sectionists, none of us being disposed by our improvements to enhance the value of acres, the future possession of which was beyond probability. When the survey was so far completed as to enable us to choose our sections, there still remained that grand obstacle, the Native claims. Choices were made in places which the natives had either in occupancy or cultivation, and which they refused to alienate on any condition ; some natives demanded an exorbitant price for a few acres, whilst others refused to hearken to any terms, until the whole matter was arranged with all the tribes : in fine, it was evident that such a coalition existed, as to render any attempt to locate our sections in the highest degree imprudent and hazardous. Mr. Bell was obliged to remove from the place of his first choice, and if I mistake not, his hut was burned; and although the chief E-mo-ko, on whose land he is now tolerated, is one of the few friendly to European occupancy, and the progress of civilization, yet he participates with his brethren in a refusal to yield the land without adequate compensation. He will not permit Mr. Bell to cut a furrow beyond a prescribed limit, nor fell a tree in a bush in immediate proximity to his house, without “ utu.” Mr. Bell’s extent I imagine to be about 20 acres.

Such are the circumstances which affect the general body of settlers at Wanganui. Is it to be supposed that a number of persons would agree to idle away two years could they bypossibility avoid it? It is preposterous. It is reported that the Agent of the New Zealand Company has said, that were he a settler, he could arid would occupy his section. Perhaps he might. Perhaps he enjoys warfare. I hazard an opinion, however, that were he to come hither, divested of all factitious advantages of situation, holding his land order as we do, he could as readily grasp the tail of the comet as the quiet possession of one hundred acres of country land. We are reproached with being “ discontented grumblers.” We are “ discontented,” not with our local situation, our soil and climate, but with compelled unproductiveness of our lives. We “ grumble” to have our industry shackled, and at being obliged to be a community of buyers. We “ grumble” at the New Zealand Company, who, instead of listening to our remonstrances made to their Agent two years ago, have by their apathy checked our advance, crippled our resources, jeopardied our happiness, and entailed upon many of us years of enduring hardship. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, SAM. KING. Wanganui District, March 24, 1843. o To the Editor of the New Zealand Colonist. good enough to satisfy the Wanganui people as to the proper pronunciation of the name of the town on the banks of the river Wanganui. Some who have breathed the atmosphere west of Bloomsbury, tell us that at Almacks it is pronounced Pe-ter; others who pride themselves on a musical ear, tell us that euphony demands Pe-tree , and that it would be excruciation to say else. Wishing to be correct, I asked that man of letters, the Postmaster; but Irishman as he is, he says, “which you please, my dear!” My own opinion is, that it is a’ most inappropriate and petty name, and entitled to general disclaim. It tells us nothing ; we cannot attach an idea to it; and the sooner it falls into desuetude, either by common consent, or .application to authority, the better. PERCUNCTOR. Banks of the Wanganui, March 30, 1843. [We cannot pretend to decide the question raised by our correspondent; but we believe that the word is pronouncedPe-for.—Ed.N .Z.C.]

To the Editor of the New Zealand Colonist., Wellington, April 12, 1843. Sir, —“ Tie Mortuis nil nisi bonum ,” is so popular,. so trite, and so good an adage, that even the writer of the leading article in this day’s Gazette , with all his self-assumed knowledge, taste, and breeding, ought to have adopted and acted upon it. As a member of the professions slandered in that article, I, in common with my comrades, would scorn to notice it, but that I find one of the most upright, independent, and liberal of men pursued into his grave, with accusations of despotism on the one hand, and fulsome slavish obsequiousness on the other. - I knew the late Governor Hobson through all the different grades of his profession;. I knew him also as a private gentleman, as a bachelor, as a husband, as a a father, and as a Governor. I knew him in all quarters of the globe; and I assert that a more honest, straight* forward, independent gentleman, never existed. From these well known and acknowledged good qualities, as you will find, if you refer to the early part of the correspondence published" in the Blue .Books, he was chosen by the Whig ministry (although a Tory in politics) to establish order and good government in this Colony. He held that the laws of his country were

framed in justice and mercy, and that it was his sworn duty to administer them with vigilance and impartiality; and this he did to the utmost of his ability. Shame, therefore, say I, on the individual who, in order to serve his own mercenary interests, and bolster up a tottering cause, could intrude ou the. sacred grief of his bereaved and sorrowing widow and family. I offer no apology for intruding on your columns, convinced as I am that it is the object, as well as interest, of your paper, to afford a fair field for the exposition of public truth to all parties. I am, Sir, Your very obedient servant, A TRUE BRITISH SAILOR.