ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, April 5th, 1848.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 281, 8 April 1848, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, April sth, 1848.

Sir, — I beg, through the medium of your journal, to call the attention of my fellow-set-tlers, of late, located in the district of Wanganui, to the concluding portion of an extract, from the Times, and also to a thing, entitled " Despatch from Governor Grey, Auckland, July Ist, 1847," as published in this day's Spectator. From the former of which, it would appear, that though this " Wanganui affair," at the time, had an ugly look with it; yet we now learn, that the butchery of an estimable lady, with part of her family : the plundering and burning of houses, &c. ; shooting of cattle and recklessly destroying even thing within reach of the gentle foe, and its not retiring until these undertakings were accomplished ; " are occurrences in which," the calm and dispassionate writer of the article in question, being at the other end of the world, " can see nothing that can form the subject of a moment's regret." For the comfort of this philanthropic writer, I may add, that the Friends of Humanity, (meaning thereby, the Friends of any nation of savages in arms against Friends of Humanity's countrymen, or whose sanguine dispositions may betray them into committing any of the improprieties above referred to) need not be under any apprehension respecting the extermination of these " misguided men ;" or that, during the humane presidency of Capt. Grey, they will, in their hostile expeditions against the farming portion of the settlers, encounter even the least inconvenience. With reference to the notable GovernmentHouse effusion, of date July Ist, 1847, I do not find in it any allusion to the distresses of the settlers, the destruction of their property, or a single word about them. Forbearing, as I gladly do, any observations on his Excellency's military vagaries, leaving such discussions for the consideration of those more qualified to argue the point ; I respectfully pass on to record my humble tribute of praise at this display of a most fertile imagination in thus pleasingly describing things as they ought to have been, and ingeniously avoiding any allusion to those families who, driven from their hardly earned homes, were left in penury and degradation to seek a precarious shelter as best they could. I may add that whatever differences of opinion may exist with respect to his Excellency's judgment in the Field, yet, with regard to certain Cabinet qualifications, appearing to great advantages, namely : — In the colouring of a Government-House story. In the "burking" of a law when opposed to his Excellency's fancies. In succeeding to convince the Hon. the Colonial Minister that such proceeded entirely from a ' tremblingly-alive, breath-taking feeling of anxiety for the interests of the dear community over which his Excellency has the charge ; and not from a remote idea of retaining the dictatorship in his own hands. In a conveniently Lethean memory. In a facility of smiling when he dare not strike, and calling it " humanity." In playing with the feelings of the broken down settler under the name of " attending to his interests." In these, at least, public opinion cannot but unanimously assign to Governor Grey the palm of victory,. I remain, Sir, Your very faithful servant, Henry Shafto Harrison.