To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 82, 2 May 1846, Page 3

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator.

Sir,—l beg you will give insertion to the following facts in answer to some remarks in the leading article of last Saturday's Spectator, as well as to a letter in the same paper, relative to my duties in a medical capacity. In the first place, it is not true that I receive fifty pounds a quarter for attendance on the natives, the sum I receive is ten pounds per month, and for which I perform the following duties, namely; — Ist. To attend to the prisoners in gaol, and supply them with medicine. 2nd. To attend the lunatics confined in the asylum and supply them with medicine. There are always from three to four. 3rd. To attend and supply medicine to a native population of upwards of eight hundred, the great majority of which have recourse to me. 4th. To give advice and medicine to any and every native coming from the interior, numbers of whom are to be seen daily at my house. sth. I have some time past attended and supplied medicinp in cases of accidents occurring amongst the white population, amongst persons

unable to pay for medical advice, and who make application to his Honor the Superintendent. I have several such cases under my care at present. I also for the first six months, while the militia weie doing active service, attended and gave medicine to those who got sick on duty, without receiving any additional pay. I say here nothing of the private charity which I am called upon to afford in common with every medical man in the place. With respect more particularly to the natives, although for the first fourteen months after I obtained my appointment, and though the care of the natives formed no part of my duties, I attended generally to the wants of the native population, and supplied medicine without receiving the slightest remuneration. I was not only the first, but have continued to be the only medical man who has attended generally to the wants of the natives ; and that I had, and have now, the confidence of the great majority of the natives, is not only well known to all this community who are acquainted with them, but is pioved by the following circumstances ; — I was the first medical man in this part of the Island to whom a native submitted to have his arm taken off. This native lived at Petoni pa. It was in consequence of the confidence reposed in me by the natives that the wife of the chief of Wai Nui was induced to come down to the small wooden building- on Pipitea Flat, and place herself under my charge. Thi9 woman was carried down here the distance of nearly thirty miles. When she recovered, it was the same confidence which induced Te Hiko, a chief of the highest rank amongst the natives, to come down to Port Nicholson, and reside in the same wooden building under my care, and although I told him I could do him no good, as he was far gone in consumption, he persisted in remaining, and said he would die with the Pakehas. Since then, Te Rauparaha has sent a letter to the Rev. Mr. Hadfield, thanking the Pakehas, through me, for the kindness evinced towards Te Hiko; and the same chief has since sent me his child to have my opinion. These facts show that my labours have been appreciated, and that, through my exertions, I nave become one of the most popular amongst the natives ; that my house is beseiged by natives morning, noon, and night, is also well known; that I am thoroughly incapable of wilfully neglecting the natives is believed, I am sure, by a large portion of this community. That a few natives may and do apply to other medical men for salts, " Pero Pero," and other medicine, is very likely; but that the visiting, attending, and supplying medicine to the large bulk of the natives, devolves on me, is equally true. That I have often been till twelve o'clock at night attending the sick, and subject to the heat and smoke of their small houses in the maori pas is also true. That I have never refused to attend a sick native for five years I can, I believe, solemnly declare. That I have never turned a sick native away from my house at any hour. That I could fill an hospital to-morrow with patients; that the Lord Bishop of New Zealand has borne testimony to my zeal and efficiency, and to the esteem and respect with which the natives generally regard me ; — that the Rev. Mr. Hadfield has also borne his testimony to the same effect ; and that I could appeal to every respectable man in this community to bear the same testimony, are facts not only true, but I believe also generally known. That as far as my knowledge of the language extends, I have used my influence on all occasions to engender a good feeling in the minds of the natives towards the settlers, and to make them obey and respect the Government, is equally true, as it is also that natives frequently come to me to ask me to use my influence for them. In short, Sir, although inadequately paid, I have discharged my numerous duties to the utmost of my power, zealously and efficiently, and I may defy any one to allege one single act of wilful neglect. That from want of means and a good hospital I may have failed to please some natives may perhaps be the case, but even those would come to me to-morrow if I knew who they were. In conclusion I beg to state, that these facts would not have been put before the public, but for the remarks alluded to ; and as I have never wilfully injured any man, I freely, and from the bottom of my heart, forgive them. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, J. Fitzgerald, M. D. Mulgrave- street, April 25, 1846.