ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. January 4, 1853.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 775, 5 January 1853, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. January 4, 1853.

g IR> — Now that the decision of Her Majesty's Government on the Land Claimants Ordinance has been given, and that the Ordinance is "allowed to remain in force," I beg the favour of your inserting tfie following extracts, from which your readers will see that the moneyscrip plan, protested against by Mr. Fox in 1852, was proposed by himself in 1849 :— • Mr. Fox to an Absentee Mr. Fox to the SecreProprifttor of 50 Sec- taryof State, sth May, (ions; 2d March 1849. 1 852. Sir, — Yomr letter to the We learn from private late Colonel Wakefield, letters and the colonial dated the 6th Sept. last, newspapers, that the orhas been placed in my dinance is disapproved of hands. The arrange- by tbe colonists. We ment entered into be- believe that it U calcutween the New Zealand luted to confer unfair Company and its pur-£ advantages on absentee chasers under the sane- proprietors, to unsettle tion of the Governor, i«L, the arrangements which only in reference to re* have, by much sacrifice •idem purchasers, who,' on all sides, been effectbeing oa the spot, weie ed between the reaident able to give their assent colonists and tbe Cornto it, and whose personal P«°y» to destroy for losses, arising out of years all prospect of an their emigration, consli- accruing land fund, and tuted them a distinct to create a spirit of reckcloss in respect of com- less speculation, genepennation. Witb the rally injurious to the approbation, however, of colony and to indiviSirGeorgeGrry, lhave duals, recommended to the Court of Directors a plan by which I hope they may be able to satisfy the absenleepurchasers also. It consists in the Company repurchasing the landordcrs of all who may choose to sell, at cost price, and 5 per cent, interest, and issu- > ing scrip in payment, to be taken as cash at any future sales of land, effected by tbe Company in the colony, which I recommend should be periodically at short interval*. In this way J believe all wouldget full value for their investment, and be able to select from a larger extent of land than was before placed at their disposal : and after much conside- . ration and conversation with Sir George Grey, I do not see any other method in which the case* of the absentees is met: 1 remain, &c, t W. Fox, Acting Principal Agent. Now, if you will look at the. Ordinance, you will see it could only be the scrip schefne to which Mr. Fox refers m such condemnatory terms in 1852 : becanse the other provisions of the law were merely to meet' contracts legally binding onthe Government ; and though Mr. Fox applies his condemnation indiscriminately , to the whole, it is to be presumed he would , hardly, on reflection, have seriously declared that the issue of grants, for instance, wSuld unfairly advantage absentees, or unsettle the resident landowners arrangements, or destroy the land fund, or create reckless speculation. - I am, Sir, Yours truly, 1 A

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, January 4, 1853. Sir, — Allow me to congratulate you upon the occasion of an influential convert to your side of the question. The Independent, as I had long foreseep, has ended by withdrawing its snpport from the " Faction," having perceived that if it is to maintain its position under the new order of things, it must identify itself with the colony, rather than with a party that calls itself a Constitutional Association. It bodes ill to the agitators when the rats desert the house. And it is to be expected that the Independent (so soon as it reasonably can, without making too sudden a transition) will exert itself in earnest against its former allies ; For as the heresies that men do leave, Are hated worst of those they did deceive, it will do its best to atone for past errors. There is nothing like a convert for going all lengths. For the -present the Independent is, of course, obliged to save appearances as far as possible, for fear of being tannted with desertion before it shall have made good its footing on the new ground. The manoeuvre is therefore being executed under cover of a hot fire of invective — hotter indeed than ever. But if this bluster be carefully analysed, it will be seen that it is all blank cartridge, — Salmonean thunder. For though the writing be very strong, it is tempered with great discretion, and most carefully purged of whatever might give real annoyance to, or militate against the present views of the

Government. A single example will suffice. The great cry of the Independent is against the nominee element in the Upper House. It will be remembered that his Excellency in his correspondence with the Secretary of State, declared himself in favor of an elective Upper Chamber ; and that even now, as he himself acknowledges, the great difficulty of introducing the Constitution will consist in the formation of a colonial House of Lords. The very strong writing which has latterly characterized your convert reminds me of the tactics of Sempronius in C.-ito, Vxr. Addison's well known tragedy. Having resolved to change his colours and go over to Caesar, he was recommended caution by Syphax, for Cato had piercing eyes. The answer is a close parallel : Let me alone good Sypbax, I'll conceal My thoughts in passion ('tis the surest way) ; , I'll bellow out for Rome, and for my country, And mouth at Caesar till I shake the senate. Your cold hypocrisy's a stale device, A worn out trick : wooldst thou be thought in earnest. Clothe thy feigned zeal in rage, ii fire, in fury. I remain your's &c, Argus.