New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, March 21, 1849.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 379, 21 March 1849, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, March 21, 1849.

M 'I After tlie complete and unanswerable exposure by Mr. Hickson of the unfounded statements made by Dr. Featherston,aridj seeing that our charges against this' trading

patriot have been established on such strong and conclusive evidence, we might well be content to allow the matter to rest, and refrain from wasting either our own time or that of our readers by any further notice ofthe paltry subterfuges, the miserable shifts and evasions to which he is reduced in his attempt to escape from the force of the evidence by which he stands convicted. The letters of Messrs. Bannatyne and Hunter so entirely, corroborate all that had been previously advanced by Mr. Hickson as to le_ave no possibility of doubt. Mr. Hunter's letter, in particular, is so clear and decisive as to leave no loophole for escape, no pretext for equivocation. But why was not this letter published with Mr. Bannatyne's ? It was sent, Mr. Hunter informs us, at a sufficiently early hour to allow of its publication. But this, it is evident, did not suit Dr. Featherston's purpose. He seems to have speculated on the chance of obtaining, by a further correspondence, some admission to which he might give such a colouring as might possibly weaken the force of Mr. Hunter's testimony, and of trying to escape under a cloud of words. But if further evidence were wanting of the truth of our charge already so fully established on the concurrent testimony of Messrs Hickson Bannatyne, and Hunter ; — that Dr. Featherston did waver ere he refused a seat in the Council — the following circumstance, which occurred at the meeting at Mr. Hickson's office so often referred to, as related by Mr. Hunter, affords still further proof, and is instructive as illustrating the. sort of opposition which has been offered to his Excellency's measures,and as affording a tolerable insight into the character of Dr. Featherston. Previous to the meeting at Mr. Hickson's, a report was industriously circulated and generally believed that a seat in the Council had been offered by the • Governor to Mr. , who had defined it. - On Mr. Hunter mentioning this report to. Dr. Featherston at the meeting, and asking him if there was any truth in it, he said he believed there was; and on Mr! Hunter inquiring further why Mr. did not attend the meeting, Dr. F. replied he supposed his refusal wasof so decided a nature as to render further consideration unnecessary. Subsequ. ntly, when Mr. Hunter had discovered the repo -f to , be , untrue, — : that Mr. - had not been offered a s6at.>by:the Governor, — on his tax ng Dr.< Featherston with his unhandsome and improper conduct, the latter excused himse!f on the plea that he had pledged his word to Mr. ■ not to undeceive them. Now we will not too curiously inquire into the motive which induced the Faction to circulate this report, — whether they wished by this manoeuvre to lower the character of the Council in the estimation of the public ; or whether they desired pour encourager les autres, and to influence the decision of those who had really been offered seats and were undecided as to whether they should accept the Governor's offer,- — that they had a motive there can be no doubt. But we repeat, if there needed any additional evidence to that already given of Dr. Featherston's vaci.lating, trimming conduct, of his want of common honesty and straightforwardness, it is furnished in this fact; for, as is justly observed by Mr. Hunter, if a decided refusal of the Governor's offer, in Dr. Featherston's opinion,- rendered an atlendance at that meeting unnecessary, it is plain, on his own showing, that he was still undecided or he would not have attended it. But what must be thought of such a man who, in support of a political intrigue, in furtherance of a factious purpose,' is t so lost to all sense of honour and honesty,! can so entirely confound all principles of right^and wrong as deliberately to assert what he hhew was nbt- true, for the purpose of betraying those who treated him , with an honourable confidence, *and of keeping up an illusion which was .intended to deceive and mislead them ; and who could consider it a sufficient excuse for" such conduct/ that" he~~Tia& pledged his word to do so/ What hollow sophistry, what shuffling casuistry can avail to vindicate suqh conduct ! 7 ~ Every rigfe^y

constituted mind must shrink from the contemplation of such moral ohliquity. To vindicate ourselves or others from the aspersions, of such a man, convicted of so many, of such deliberate misrepresentations, were indeed superfluous. There he stands, unmasked, exposed, convicted, degraded, — the habitual betrayer of private confidence, — for this is not the first nor yet the second time he has been guilty of having, "to say the least, violated the ordinary usages of civilized society;" — an object of scorn and contempt for every honest mind ; and having fallen so low, — having in these lowest depths found a deeper still, — there we must be content to .leave him.

Anniversary Fetb, 1849. — Statement of account with the Union Bank of Australia, Wellington : — Dr. To amount of Subscriptions and • Entrance Money received . . £181 17 6 ] Cr. By amount of Prizes awarded and Expenses paid 179 6 0 By balance in the Union Bank 2lt 6 £181 17 6 W. B. Rhodis, Trea. ! David Scott, Sec. .