ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 326, 13 September 1848, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator.

Wellington, 12th September, 1848. Sir, — In the Report 6f the Public Meeting held on Thursday last, which appears to have been communicated to both newspapers, I am reported to have said in reference to the question — Whether we are fit for Representafive Institutions? "He thought their self-esteem would enable them to answer tlie first question in the affirmative, but they had also the favourab'e opinion of Governor Grey on the subject." The sentence should run thus, "He thought there was no necessity for them to draw very largely upon their own self-esteem for an answer to the first question in the affirmative, for they had the good word of Governor Grey on the subject, which in the event of the question being raised before the British Legislature would be a sufficient voucher for the fact." Another passage is reported thus, " And if to the possession of absolute power there be added a great degree of tact and dexterity in matters of business there is also a temptation to disguise." It should have been, " And if to the possession of absolute power there be added a great degree of tact and dexterity in matters of business, there will be a temptation to evade difficulties by having recourse to diplomacy instead of meeting them in a straightforward manner." Other sentences are treated in the same way. The favourable hearing given by a meeting which unequivocally testified strong personal feeiings of regard to the Governor in Chief of the Colony, confirms me in the belief that the spuitof the speech must have differed somewhat more than a mere shade from that of your report of it. As to the address I could nave wished it had been of a different tone, but believing that the time has arrived for the settlers to seek earnestly the Institutions which they have been taught to believe their birthright, I did not stop to dispute about words. I remain, Sir, Your obedient servant, Kobt. Hart.