ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, December 9th, 1852.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 768, 11 December 1852, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, December 9th, 1852.

Sir,' — I venture to request the iosertion of some concluding, remarks on "Metoikos' letter," in which I shall incidentally refer to a subsequent letter of that writer, anil also to two other letters of his admirers which have since appeared in the Wellington Independent of yesterday. To these letters, as they all relate to tbe same subject, I shall, to save time, refer indiscriminately. In his first letter " Metoikos" impudently directs the Governor to " let the natives alone," in other words to shirk bis duty to a large majority of the British subjects he rules, by concealing, or at least by refraining from publishing a legal privilege conceded to them by the Imperial Parliament. He next idly threatens the Maories that *• The settlers* (query the Faction) wiil never forgive the natives if they thwart their wishes," by which I infer Metoikos means, if his nonsense lias &ny meaning, that as the natives are very unlikely to vote as he wishes, he liberally objects to their voting at all. " Pbilo Metoikos" is exactly learned enough in ancient history, and versed enough in local politics to mistake the meaning of everything he reads. The rank of Roman Proconsul did not, as he asserts, resemble that of a British Governor ruling a settlement like New Zealand ; he more resembled iv power a Turkish Bashaw, sometimes, if he pleased, aided by a nominee council of twenty inhabitants of the conquered province, from which, whether they governed justly or like despots, they exacted tribute for Rome ; on the other baud we, far from paying tribute to Britain, receive large donations for our own and the native benefit from that heavily taxed country. Our Northern Mtori wars were caused by the former aversion of the natives to pay any taxes, however indirect, yet they ended by yielding to the Government. From their increased civilization I have no doubt the Governor could, if needful, peaceably reconcile them to direct taxation. " Q," admits that the natives are entitled to be represented if pf ssessed of the same property qualification as the whites, but childishly alleges that they have no crown titles or leases for their lands, which he asserts are owned by them in partnership. As to the* first objection, surely no title can be better than original hereditary ownership; and as to tbe second, it is probable that the value of the jointly owned land may often be sufficient to qualify all the proprietors. The natives are unlikely to wish to elect Maori legislators, but it. is surely just they should have ibe privilege of voting if they please, for those white men who, as "Q" grumbles, " use them best." I am " stupid" enough to believe that the power of electing men who will act the Lest for the welfare of their constituents is one great purpose of representative institutions, second only in importance to national honour and prosperity. With the bray, but without tbe inspiration of Baalam's ass, "Metoikos" last Wednesday thundered forth a tremendous blank cartridge fire of invectives and vague and groundless insinuations, concluding with some melodramatic rant about "daggers" from which I infer he has formerly acted ac village fairs in a travelling penny booth as Harlequin Macbeth in a burlesque pantomime. As one of the Independent trio has admitted the right of the natives equally with ourselves to claim the electoral franchise, and as the two friends of Metoikos have failed in rebutting any of tbe statements I have made, my only object being to assert the equal political rights of mankind, I shall now conclude, remaining your's respectfully JOHN BULL. ■♦ — To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Otago, November 23rd, 1852. Sir, — The Government has undertaken to fulfil the contracts of the New Zealand Company. Tbe New Zealand Company contracted that, if in five years from the -23rd November, 1847, the Otago Association failed to fulfil its engagements, the experiment should cease. Tbe Otago Association has not fulfilled its engagements in any one pomt — the period of probation has expired — the failure is complete. Now, I ask, has our Government the courage to fulfil Mis .contract of the New Zealand Company by resuming into its own bands the management of the lands of this district ? If it have this courage, then we may trust, by redoubled energy, inspired- by new born hope, . to retrieve our losses. If it have not, let it never, again insult us with allusions to the Company's engagements ; and let it charge on itself and be prepared before, eternal justice to answer the charge, with our utter and hopeless ruin and tbe continued desolation of this beautiful country. I am your obedient servant, AN OTAGO SETTLER. ♦ To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Otago, November 23rd, 1852. Sib, — It is of no use sending this to the False Witness. I cant- afford to payfot advertisements. Our five years purgatory is over now and a pretty purgatory it has been. Constant cholera in the body politic caused by one or two irritating morsels incautiously administered to it five years ago by a misguided Association. Are these agonies to continue ? It is tbe duty of the Government (according to the promise of tbe New Zealand Company) now to adopt a new style of managing the crown lands here ; to relieve or

pension the elderly individual to whom .it has been paying £300 a year for abstaining from any occupation useful or ornamental. You* say the Government does its duty — the Otago Witness, when intelligible, says it does not. Which of you is in the right ? Of the uon fulfilment of the promise* of the Association and its consequent loss of claim to any extension of time there can fortunately be no shadow of a doubt. As to its " religious" affairs, it has one clergyman of whom I say nothing. Some splendid sections, the pick of the country, not paid for, — a shingleless humbug, a papyro plastic church at Port Chalmers vwhere there is no congregation — a congregation no church at Dunedin — a huge bell and Elders and Deacons and what not, a great deal of kirk' and a greater deal of fanatical bigotry and intolerance which is mistakenly supposed to be a good subs(itute for Christian ieeling. As to Roads ! ! ! But the sale of land — the mainspring of the w hole — is the most miserable failure. Whether too sanguine a price, or incompetency of agents, matters not, 'tis a failure — a miserable failure. Now comes the question. Suppose the majority of the settlers petition for an extension, a charter, or whatnot, in the shape of jobbing nonsense : — Who are the majority ? Plain common sense sees at once that the majority consists of settlers yet to come ; four-fifths of the land are unsold, the future owners of those four-fifths, that is,* the Government as their representative, is the majority — and to this you may add the majority in worth as settlers of those now here, and even the numerical majority, could they dare to act in opposition to the dominant and intolerant powers that be — excommunication is no trifle, nor is the stopping of custom a small matter to a man with a family. The other and grand question is simple enough. Is or is not our paternal Government to keep the Company's promise (it uever did so itself by the bye) — if so, I # should have a chance of buying a little land at less than Ed : nburgh prices ; if not I mmt try Australia or remain in a bowling wilderness. Please excuse mistakes for I'm now a days a better hand at an axe than a pen. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, W. C.