To the Gentlemen Settlers of the Province of New Munster. Wellington, 24th Jannary, 1849.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 365, 31 January 1849, Page 3

To the Gentlemen Settlers of the Province of New Munster. Wellington, 24th Jannary, 1849.

Gentlemek,-t-I have now been about two years in New Zealand, and have, during that period, seen a little of both the Northern and Southern Provinces. > I must confess that, on my first visit to Wellington, I was very favourably, impressed with all that fell under my observation, and I will say, without detracting from the character of the Northern settlers, that I felt a preelection for those of the South. Why I, a stranger, should have entertained such a feeling for the latter, I know not, unless it was the effect of the apparent harmony and good feeling which seemed to me to peivade all classes of the inhabitants of Wellington. I have, however, of late, had cause to change my opinion, <as, instead of that concord and kindly feeling which I admired so much on the occasion in question, I now find that the demon of anarchy h£s been busily at work, for sometime, back, and Ihat'nothing is to be heard, or Seen, bya.stranger visiting Wellington, but slander and low personality ; and I regret very much to find tljat ihe gentlemen who conduct the Press, instead of checking this spirit of discord, dp their best to fan the flame, by retorting upon each other in' language the reverse of courteous. ,' I deem it necessary, before I proceed further, to premise, by stating that I am totally unconnecteot'witn New Zealand, — that I do not possess an inch of -land in the colony, — nor a single tie to induce me, to bind myself with .either of the political parties which now, unhappily, distract this community. You must therefore consider me as an impartial observer of passing events, — as one, in fact, here to-day, and away to-morFow : so that, should 1 state, truths which may proye unpalatable to wiser heads than my own, I trust you will be candid enough to impute! them to the real motive that dictates them, and that is, Gentlemen, a sincere wish, on my part to see harmony, concord, and good fellowship re-established between the parties which now'disturb the colony. To the Gentlemen who conduct the two journals published at Wellington, the public looks for useful information on all subjects connected with the progressive improvement of the colony. What is it to the laborious cultivator, or the industrious artlzan, whether such a person be a Nominee, rogue, knave, or liar ? 'Do they suppose that the staid shopkeeper thinks" that his affairs would prosper better by having a Legislative Council composed of men elected by the people in place of one formed of men named by the Goverubr-iri-Chief ? Not a whit. But what, may I'askj'have been the contents of the'columns of one at least of the local journals for the last two mo.nths? Most ceitainly ; not of such matter as an intelligent and moral community would like to read, but of such as would suit the ciavings of the infidel and the slanderer. ,'I was truly, shocked, a few days back, on reading, in the columns of one of the , local journals,, an article which, professed to be a, translation of'a Chaldee 'tnanuscript, said to have been found in the temple of Cloacina, near Government House, It was a profane and miserable attempt at wit, and could only have created disgust in the breasts of the thinking portion of the community. It was well suited to the diabolical taste of a Carlisle, or to thatj of the Roues at present so rife in the streets' of Paris, but nowise congenial to the taste of a young and moral colony like New Zealand, i Then, again, as I was loitering about town dv- j ring the Anniversary Fete, my attention was J arrested by a singular figure, exhibited in the window of a house near Willis-street, which, on close examination, I found to be a ludicrous representation of a most respectable and useful member of society — of 'one who certainly deserves something better at the hands of his fellow colonists, than to be turnedinto low and vulgar ridicule, for the gratification of every idler now to be found about Wellington. I am only surprised that there could be found a set of men' to countenance such low It savours badly of a cause that calls to its aid such a despicable, means of. annoyance. I shall now'say a few worifls of the Governorin- Chief arid his late attempt* to form a Legislative Council from the 1 men who 'call themselv.es patriots, par excellence.. Why did they decline meeting the wishes .of Sjr Ge.qrgeGrey? i Because they were not elected by the people. , Antl cfo they suppose that if they had been elected' by the people that they would be of greater service to. the colony, than if named by Siri George Grey ? , > ,<, . Will any man. tejl me that Sir George Grey has anything "nearer his heart than the welfare and: prosperity ' o f New' Zealand? If- there be such, a man,, he imustbe very ignorant-of human nature^ - for an whatever sphere men may Be Placed, Bigh-j as& low, their passions and. love , of mine "are .the «arn e; and- notKiupT would re.doun'd more to'&e'ali'e&dy^well-earn'ed fame of Sir George Grey, than to see tthS colony,' over 'whagh he .preside^ happy: and flourishing* , j Sir George T G,rgy,,f having failed in -inducingjeeTtaingentlfenien fo become members of the tegfelative''C<funcii; was undeVth'e tfcceMy tsf ! • 4d4ressing himself to othersf wftbV fo 1 their 'h'6'i' nou&jbetit isaid, ,met his ,vjeW*,tTajid tendered him their aid to theftycst^f^heu^abJT.

lities.^-Is not, then, the circumstance arising from one set of men having refused, and another set having accepted office, the cause of all the bickering and' bad feeling which now dfitufb the Province? Andvcan there be a more silly and foolish cause, for, jnen of sense to 'come to loggerheads, than that, forsooth, they are not all of the same was of thinking, and do not view things in the same light! — Why, if all men were of the same opinion,' knowledge would soon come to a stand still, and the world, would be filled with fools. For shame, Colonists of New Munster, cease your squabbles and broils', — Sustain the high character' which you have always borne, and unite, as one man, for the welfare and prosperity of your adopted country. — Recollect, "united you flourish, divided you fall." I have, Gentlemen, in a cursory way, been in every colony belonging to the British Crown, and I must say-that experience has taught me to know that party spirit is the greatest curse that can befal a young and enterprising colony, — Bury, then, alt yqiir differences in oblivion, and,- henceforth, let your motto be " Forgive and Forget/' and believe me, Gentlemen, no man will rejoice 'more at such a restored tone of-har-mony and good feeling, than the humble individual who has how the honour to subscribe himself, ' ' ', Gentlemen, • ! • Your' obedient servant, Kau.