ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 652, 1 November 1851, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

p the Editor of the “ New Zealand Spectator.” River Hutt, October 28, 1851. I Sir, —I am no politician, neither have I attended any of the public meetings which have peen held at the Hutt, nor in any way given my Opinion of, or countenance to, any of the late political proceedings, but in my retirement have patched the progress of events and formed my gpiiiion accordingly; and as bystanders and disinterested persons are generally supposed to form the most correct judgment of men and I'ings, l am inclined to give you my opinion of Bhe leading article in the Independent of the g2nd Oct., which, by its barefaced falsehoods gid gross and wilful misrepresentations, has groused an indignation I find difficult to suppress. I , In the first place, with regard to the difficulty |” s Excellency is said to have experienced in Inducing the Hutt settlers to accept the Corporation, which difficulty he supposed to pro- | f od from want of infortbation, but which the independent has misrepresented him as descri■ng to be gross and lamentable ignorance, it I s my opinion that this so-called ignorance has r cen > in many instances, an honest, upright pish to live retired from the turmoil and strife Pendant on an interference with politics; nor ■°uld they have interfered had they not been (impelled thereto in defence of themselves and |! leir respected Governor against the attacks of Wellington Faction, who, envious of the g r ° s Perity and happiness of the Hutt settlers, Save endeavoured to sow the seeds of strife i'nongst them ; and finding their party going ■° the wall have sought to strengthen theml e Ves with a few of the hitherto ‘despised ignogamuses. aia Pot Kreatly mistaken, the ignorance ■ d boorishness of the Hutt settlers was, a few ff onths ago, made the subject of jest and deri- ■ 8 by the organ of that Faction, the Indepenwhich I am surprised to learn is upheld ■' persons calling themselves gentlemen: but E re 'n^ eK " £!Hefi can lend their support, even se■«l to suc h abuse, and unhandsome, ■ ai^ ar l )locee dings, I am at a loss to under ■iiM ,a^U3 ’°. n *° Excellency's speech at the Ej* ? inner ja unprecedented, even by the Zn■uti,\ r ’-^* ven as * s to a departure from ■ilnti *° r V 8 f a ’ se representation of facts, sub- ■ on of words, and perversion of meaning.

The chairman gave that organ a friendly caution to beware of fibs, and I thought he had taken the advice, for the report of the dinner, speeches, &c., was given with as much fairness as it is capable of. But now that affair is blown over he perhaps thinks that ignorant people have short memories, and will not bear in mind speeches, &c., which they only half understood. Or does he imagine, that because one or two simpleminded persons are misled by designing and Sicipled calumniators, that they have eftheir purpose, and gained over to their side the whole community ? For now we have a succession of low attempts at wit as, “ Who is to pay the piper, &c.” Did one of the gentlemen write this article ? He says the Governor flattered the people when he commended their energy and perseveverance, but who that reads the article referred to, can fail to perceive more gross and mis placed flattery ? Flattery, the more nauseous and repulsive, as it so wholly contradicts the opinion formerly expressed by the Independent of the intellect of the Hutt settlers. Away with such strife makers; we do not value their flattery, nor do we care for their opinion of us, be it good or bad: neither do we wish to link our cause with that of such a quarrelsome set, who will neither live in peace themselves nor permit others to do so. Respecting the vaunted protest I will not now trouble you, as there are abler pens than mine which will soon place tli'e affair in its proper light before the public, and set the matter at rest as regards the doings of the Faction at the Hutt. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, A Lover of Truth.