To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington. 8th April. 1847.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 177, 10 April 1847, Page 3

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington. Bth April. 1847.

Sir, — Your classic correspondent (an Enemy to Faction) no doubt considers that he has made a happy hit in his classification of the several letters which have appeared in the Wellington Spectator, evidently taking it for granted' that your columns would be closed against stupid, more stupid, most stupid, but for this once he has calculated without his host, and there is yet sufficient light to discern the reptile through the black and threadbare vestment from which he issues his bigoted and scurrilous personalities with all the pedantry of a schoolmaster. As he does not deign to answer the statements contained in these letters, why notice them at all ? Why not rather admit that he is unable to do so, even with the able assistance of the Proprietor of the Cook's Strait Guardian ? But he may I rest assured that his one-sided statement, based ' upon the miserable subterfuge of Commissioner Spain's pretended decision, will soon disappear, although served up in large type, especially set aside for such learning as his. Let the settlers again read over these so-call-ed stupid productions, and then read the learned letter, attempted to be applied as an extinguisher, and I think it will be admitted that the whole question has been begged by this Enemy to Faction ; instead of answering the simple questions, how, when, and where the investigation and settlement of the Wairau took place. He boldly asserts that it was settled by the Commissioner, and upon this he lerves up a piece of special pleading worthy of a lawyer. Why has he not sufficient honesty to admit that the claim was never investigated, — that the Commissioner begged the Company's Agent not to bring forward the evidence relating to the Wairau, at the

time he decided on the Blind Bay purchase ? Is he not aware that the main object of the late Government was to vindicate Captain Fitzroy's proceedings at Waikanai, by endeavouring to create the belief that the white men were trespassers, and that this claim was therefore religiously avoided, as shewn at page 15 of "the Monster Petition," viz. " And the Court of Land Claims has finally closed, yet no investigation of the claims to the Wairau district has taken place. The only good reason for this seems to be, that the probabilities of its having been well purchased by the Company — since it was bought at the same time, from the same chiefs, and conveyed by the same deed with the lands in Blind Bay proved so well bought — are so strong, that Captain Fitzroy fears their being turned into certainty, and thus furnishing the last and strongest proof of the injustice of his decision at Waikanai respecting the Wairau massacre." But an " Enemy to Faction" did not sign that petition. He has remained consistent on this point. He is one of the old leaven— the friend of Rauparaha, and the vindicator of the Fitzroy policy, now swept away byalmostuniversal consent. His attempt, however, to take the public at a disadvantage, and to induce them to retract their opinions as expressed in the Monster Petition, will most assuredly fail. For if this " Enemy to Faction" really be the same person who uttered an invective against the Wairau sufferers, on the Wellington beach at the time he was sent down as the accredited agent of Rauparaha, and who told the settlers " that they might then take the land as the Natives had received utu for it," he is the very last person to whose opinions on this subject the settlers would pay any attention. I am, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, A. O.

The following letter contains some valuable information which at the present time is well worthy attention : — To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, April 8, 1847. Sir, — Some of your readers may remember that during the late risit of his Excellency Captain Grey to New Plymouth, Wiremu Kingi, of Wdikanae, expressed his determination of returning with his tribe to the Waitara, and that the Governor at once promised either to prevent his leaving Waikanae, or, failing in that, to post troops at Waitara to receive him should he also succeed in. passing those stationed at Petre. As in the event of the resolution of this native being carried out, and he and his tribe adhere moat firmly to it, war will be introduced into a district which has hitherto escaped its disagreeablenesses, I wish to draw attention to a route by which the Ngatiawa of the north shore of Cook's Strait may reach Waitara without meeting any party of military but such as may be stationed at Waikanae; I allude to the path through the Ngatimaru district. From Waitara to Ngatimaru there are three paths; one by Uirangi and the ancient pa of Pukerangiora, nearly impracticable in winter from the depth and rapidity of the Manganui, a large tributary of the Waitara, which must be forded, — a second, and according to the natives the best, commencing nearly opposite to te Mamaku pa, and a third which turns inland north of Waitara at the Taniwa. By either of these lines the river Wanganui may be reached from New Plymouth in two days ; the distance, according to the Rey. X.. Taylor, being only thirty miles from the point in the Ngalimaru country, when the Waitara is left to Taungaraka on the Wanganui one day's journey inland of Petre. To avail themselves of this route the Ngatiawa will require some assistance and canoes from the natives of Wanganui, and an inland path by the Wangaihu by which they may avoid* the garrison at Petre ; their grand objection to it would be the consequent loss of their own canoes. Taungaraka once passed, they may reach the strong old pa of Manukorihi on the Waitara without meeting a soldier. Leaving you to decide whether these hasty and imperfect notes are of sufficient interest to justify their publication, # I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, Tohunga.