ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 680, 7 January 1854, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Td the Editdr of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, January 5, 1854. j " Little Bo Peep went after his sheep," &c. Sir, — Is it true that the Provincial Secretary | has been absent from his political duties, following the example of Little Bo Pepp, and looking after his sheep? If so, Mr» EvHtor, he" ought to be called to account, for surely the business of the colony ought to receive his attention before bis private affairs—and if not, he had better resign his salary. He was in a great hurry to gel that voted, and when that was done be considered himself safe, and does not care one d — for any other business. Look after his sheep, indeed ! Bah, for such a sheepish politician. Is the Independent asleep, Mr. Editor, that he did not notice the absence of the Provincial Secretary. If the late Colonial Secretary had done such a thing what an indignant outcry there would have been — and how the Independent would have fulminated. Who is the obstructor of public business — the public may now answer the sheepish Provincial Secretary. This must be reformed. 1 am, Sir, your obedient servant,

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, sth January, 1854. Sir, — It would appear that comical proceedings are being performe d in our Provincial Council. Some of the honorable gentlemen there shew that they have all the versatility requisite for political quacks. Some speak one way and vote another, and others are daily reversing their conduct, shewing themselves to be political Jim Crows. I wish, Mr. Editor, to call public attention to the versatile conduct of the Speaker, Mr. Clifford, snd in doing so I make no remark on his extraordinary letter to the Independent, dated 29th December last, further than I consider that letter to be unmeaning, and anything but straightforward and manly — in fact it is a shuffle. I might call it Jesuitical — but let it pass — the public will be no more gulled by it than they will be by his attendance at the public ball last Monday evening. Such popularity hunting is disgusting. I will however put to the public, through your columns, plain facts connected with Mr. Clifford's election ; facts are stubborn things and sometimes make a man look ugly, and if I mistake Dot Mr. Clifford will Had them remarkably unpleasant in the present instance. Mr. Clifford, previous to the elections, when his patriotism was at boiling heat, chose to accept the services ot Mr. Gibson as chairman of his committee, and Mr. Allen as Secretary. Both these gentlemen, with the full authority and sanction of Mr.- Clifford, pledged themselves that Mr. Clifford would not accept office nor receive any salary, and if I mistake not Mr. Clifford himself stated as rruch. Ho* has thii pledge been kept ? By Mr. Clifford accepting the sum of £200 voted to htm {by himself amongst the members) as Speaker for the present Session. How much a day will this be Mr. Editor? If we take the Session at 70 sitting days, which will probably be about the case, this will make it at the rate of £3 1Y«. l|d. and* little more for each sitting. Can any thing exciise this vote? Ought not Mr. Clifford at the very proposal of it, if he be the n\an he wishes to be, to have said, you may vote

it if you please for tha sake of my successor, but for ray own sake I shall decline to receive it and you may place it to the general funds for the Colony?' Mr. Clifford has the loophole'" to do so now, but it will not avail him — ihe public have learnt to know what Mr. Cl fford is, — in a political sense he cannot be considered either as a man of his word or honor, for if he were either, he would have kept sacred the solemn pledge given by his political sponsors Mr. Gibson and Mr. Allen, and ratified bt himself. I think Mr; Editor, Mr. Gibson as the Chairman of Mr. Clifford's Committee has but one course to adopt, which is, to call upon Mr. ' Clifford publiclyto account for the pledge that was given for him — and if Mr. Gibsou rtfuscj theft tbat a.publ-c : meeting he called for the purpose of -taking Mr. Clifford's conduct into consideration, and to adopt such measures as may then he agreed to ;—; — such a meeting ought to be called. Mr. Clifford on the debate of the salary of the Superintendent, on that for the payment of members, and on that on his own salary, has exhibited such inconsistency of conduct as to forfeit the confidence of the Electors of Wellington, and / now ask ihe Electors if such be not the case — that they' HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN MR. CLIFFORD AS A representative? Unless we have men of consistency, probity, and honesty to represent us we cannot expect to make progress, as the means of doing so will be squandered and abused. Have net the means already been squandered and abused ? Look at the extra £100 voted to the Superintendent. Look at the £200 voted to Mr. Clifford, and look at the £100 voted to Mr. Revans — making in all £400, which sums would not have been voted, had the parties receiving stated openly in the Council that, even if voted, they would not receive them. 1 look upon it that this money is absolutely thrown away, squandered, and abused. The Council propose to borrow £25,000 at 6 per cent — this £400 would have paid more than one-fourth of the interest for one year on the loan. Are tee positively to submit k to extra Taxation to put money into Mr. Clifford's pocket.' I am Sir, Your obedient servant, R. ,

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, January 5, 1854. Sir, — It is a principle laid down, and with very few exceptions, subscribed to, " that those who write for public information should state facts." It is an indispensable axiom to which all writers must bend who wish to obtain a standing in this writing age. lam led to these remarks in consequence of seeing a letter in your paper of Wednesday last, signed "An Old Apothecary." He must indeed be ancient, for the rambling statements contained in his letter, •s Jacques would have it, "is second childish' ness and mere oblivion," or more truly, " It is a tale " Told a3 by an idiot, full of sound and fury, "Signifying nothing." The Gentleman who occasionally wtites in your paper under the head of " Caustic," bowever we may differ from him in the principles he lays down we are bound to respect, from the gentlemanly tone that rules his correspondence. He little needs the aid of "An Old Apothecary" who, dealing in low vulgar abuse can neither add dignity, lespect, or strength, to any cause his impotence and shallow malignity might wish to aid. " Caustic " may well exclaim, " Save me from my friends." I beg to' assure "An Old Apothecary " I have no claim to the honor he wishes to thrust upon me as to being the " Caustic "of the Independent. Whoever that gentleman may be I know not and care less. An "Old Apothecary" musi seeupon a little reflection, that is if be reflects, such gross assumptions must and will damage his reputation as a writer in or on any subsequent matter he may wish to spawn his spleen upon. The few occasions on which I have taxed our papers with ray humble effusions, my own name has been invariably attached, and if "An Old Apothecary " had takeu the least trouble by asking the respective Editors, they would unhesitatingly have confirmed my present statement. As to the wand of office which has called forth such a torrent of wrath, if I had no* been sufficiently rich in mental indifference, I "must have sank uuder^ be is equally in error, as in his preceding assertion. Should " An Old Apothecary " be sufficiently curious in those matters, and will honor me with 3 visit in the lobby of the bouse, he shall have the opportunity of exanrning the said wand, he will then see that what he has stated is " A lie, an odious, damned lie, ft Upon my soul a lie — k wicked lie." Not having anything to do with the remainder of his abusive letter, " I take no note ;" but would respectfully request "An Old Apothecary," should the fit of writing come upon him agaiu, to enquire into the certainty of what he is about to enlighten us, so that he may nut again degrade himself by being publicly detected " Walking round the truth." I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, J. 11. MARRIOTT.