To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, 27th April, 1848.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 287, 29 April 1848, Page 2

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, 27th April, 1848.

Sir, — Not being in the habit of writing newspaper articles either for or against any person or party, any long drawn rhetorical remarks are not to be expected here, nor would what follows have appeared in public but for the safety and warning of my fellow-countrymen, as at the present time active measures are being taken at home, with a view of inducing them to put their time and as much of their money as possible in the power of the Broad Street gendemen. Do not imagine that this is anything like meant as a disapprobation of the countiy, its, climate, or soil, or even of the maories, but look well to what kind of bargain you make with these gentlemen, for a history of my own case will show, (and may prevent many a sore heart) that if you leave any hole either to creep out ot in at, it will be taken advantage of for shuffling, and you will lose your money, and what will ultimately be infinitely worse your time, and as a consequence your temper. But before starting.it may be proper for me to say here that, as a body the New Zealand Company are not considered blameable, many of them are known to be highly honourable men, but that from some interested motives the truth h- s hitherto either been di.aguised or entirely suppressed, by those persons whom they have entrusted with their affairs. That sucli is the case few, if any, here doubt, and there is great reason to believe that those parties have too much countenance in London, and although my case has been amongst the worst, my complaint has never been heard in public before, nor would this have been mentioned here had it not been that I see every one who has endeavoured to get their rights by complaining to the public, have stirred up the nest about their ears, trying to run them down as troublesome characters, but in that I can bid them defiance never having even attended a public meeting till after reading an article in the New Zealand Journal, soon followed by Mr. Commissioner Cowell's inimitable Judgment — the lirst evidently put forward as a feeler to prevent surprise. I may venture to say, however little surprise the settlers here felt at the dishonesty of both writers, or what is more likely the same one appearing in a coat grey and a grey coat; it must have surprised all the world at the boldness of one individual attempting to slander the character of above fifty men, many of whom had been brought up as gentlemen, and I question if the lowest of them would have been guilty of such scurrilous language,, against even the Directors in Broad Street, by whom and their agents here they have suffered so much. To come now to my story ; after waiting like most others for nearly two years, some land was advertised for selection in the Porirua district, and my health at this time being bad I was obliged to employ an agent, as Captain Smith who had formerly chosen for those who were absent sent me notice by letter that unless, myself or some authorised agent attended it would be considered that I meant to reserve, the same thing having been several times published in the New Zealand Gazette* Consequently an agent was with some difficulty procured, as by this time people were aware that it was not only an ex--pensive but a laborious duty ; however, the day came, and two sections were chosen in the early part of the day, and two sections, being high numbers, lemained unchosen, it having been agreed upon to reserve them, and in consequence^ of the Company's advertisements, and Captain Smith's letter, my agent left the field ; and many months after when I began to look out for land I found that Captain Smith, in the absence of my agent, had marked them down as chosen by himself, I never doubted in the least that be had done this out of kindness knowing that I was ill at the time, and most likely did nut observe that an agent had been on the spot and chose two sections in the early part of the day. - I have been more particular on this subject as it isdifV ficult for strangers to understand it, and being one of the things for which I have been refused redress. Now it being notorious that no one could see these sections, as any attempt of the kind was sure to be met with the tomahawk, In this state things lasted for nearly three years, during which time questions were continually being put to Colonel Wakefield, whose answers were all of the same shuffling nature, never (at least to me) having given a true statement of the case, and many of which have since been proved not founded on fact ; but as much of this has already been before the public from, other persons it need not be repeated here. After Governor Grey arrived in the colony, m J making arrangements with the natives; they' demanded to be allowed a certain block of land lor themselves and .families, with which reasonable request His Excellency complied: in this blocklay one-'of the sections chosen for me. Soon after which I waited on His Excel-

-lency to know what was to be djne, when he told me distinctly and frankly that I had no »u; m m,™ the Government, as the land which Se Company's Agent had sold me was what they themselves had no right to never having purcha- ' spd itVrom the natives, but that he had now pur!«hase.d it from them with the exception of the jgftock mentioned, and which he had confirmed itp^ibem, so that I must look to the Company for redress. I confess that by this time my faith in the Company's honesty was getting very small, having been amused so Jong with stories about the Colonial Office upon which all our hardships were thrown, and always with the same tale, that things had now taken a favourable turn, and were just on the eve of being all amicably arranged, expected at farthest in a week lor two. Did this appear any thinp like deceit, it having clearly appeared when Governor Grey arrived that a single step had not been taken, nor the slightest progress made, nor does it appear thas any means whatever had been tried to get peaceable possession ? Is this any thing like want of veracity, or a disposition to shuffle? It need not be repeatedhere what has alread \ been before the public, that the settlers had no alternative but to take such land as was held out to them, much of which was only fit for goats to scramble en, and of which they themselves could know very little, as what they called asur- ■ yey had been done by stealth; and I have heard some of it even by moonlight. At all events, as the whole district of Porirua was surveyed by stratagem, there could be no honesty in giving out land to the purchasers in this way; but what follows will show more clearly what sort of gentleman we have to deal with at least here. On my first application to Colonel Wakefield for land in lieu of what had '.been considered mine, although I had never been allowed to set a foot upon it, nor even to see it except from the water at a distance, it being an undeniable fact that any one who attempted to look at land thus given out was met by the Maories with the tomahawk, and threatened with it over his head if he should dare -to advance another step. But to come to the point: At this time Colonel Wakefield said that I would be allowed other land, although he had not made up his mind where. Several months after I again called on him ; he then said that there was a section that the Marries had just left, pointing it out to me on the map, or that I might have town land on lease. After being at considerable expense and fatigue it was ascertained beyond a doubt that the country land was completely worthless, not only as to soil, but that, like many others, it was in some places unapproachable by human beings unless by drawing themselves up by the bushes, so that I came to the resolution of accepting the town land ; but on my application for that purpose I was told that the land before alluded to was wanted by the Governor, but that there were several other sections of town lands belonging to the Company of which I might make a choice ; at the same time pointing them uut upon a map. After examining them my determination was to accept of them value for value, to be settled by arbitration; when to my astonishment Colonel Wakefield told me that the town lands could not be done any thing with until he should write to the Directors in London ; although it is known that he was letting them with the right of purchase. I now left Colonel Wakefield with no very high opinion of his honour. The day after a letter was sent to me saying that he would meet me on the following day at his office, where 1 accordingly went, and saw Mr. Kelham who showed me a map with a number of sections said to belong to the Company, out of which I would be allowed to choose. After being at much expense and fatigue, more than my strength could very well go through, and although none were found that appeared an equivalent, yet being so heartily tired of the affair, I pointed out one that 1 would take, upon condition that he would allow me to have another one that I pointed out on the map not very far separate from the one above mentioned in lieu of the other section which was still held in reserve. He told me that the one first pointed out was let, with right of purchase, and that the deed was just making out, but that I might have any of the others in lieu of the one that I had been deprived of; but for the section held in reserve, I could not be allowed a choice till every one with piior choices was provided for. After taking two or three days to consider, my next offer was to accept of one at a greater distance — but this was also let, and the deed making out. Is this keeping them for prior choices? There was also some quibbling whether it was not quite legal for Captain Smith to choose even in the face of their own advertisements and his letter to me. Here were two sections let on leases with the right of purchase during the time that I was employing myself looking through the country for land to suit me, and decidedly the two best, one of which being the first that I proposed to take, and the other is still better; but time and bodily strength had prevented me from getting a look at it when my first -proposal was made. Besides this, Mr. Kelham told me that one of the town acres that 1 had been looking at had been leased with the right of purchase ; is this waiting for instructions from London ? It is now nearly nine years «nce*l paid my money for land which, if I had got possession of it, would likely have been of some value to-day, in place of being a dense forest; and although the exposing of such things seldom benefits the person who has th« honesty to do so, yet it may do good to others ; besides there is no risk in leaving such a question to the decision of the English public, who will be little influenced by the abuse of either Commissioner Cowell or Colonel Wake/ field. — I km, Sir, your obedient servant, / F. Logan*