To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, January 20, 1854.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 884, 21 January 1854, Page 3

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, January 20, 1854.

Sir, — The public can hardly have failed to experience some surprise at the selection of m tter in last Wednesday's Independent. With the exception of half a column containing a brief report of the proceedings of one da"y (Thursday, Jan. 12), the Government organ gives no report of the discussions or votes vi the. Provincial Council. In its usual Bbeet, besides advertisements, there is nothing relating to local affairs except one column of anonymous attack on Mr. Wakeiisld in the leading article. The rest of the sheet is rilled with extracts from English anr^Australian papers, containing items ol foreign intelligence and home incidents. Having issued a supplement, the' readers of the Independent might have expected some account of the interesting and instructive proceedings in Council on Friday and Monday,. in which the Provincial Secretary, who is now believed to direct that paper, bore so remarkable and prominent a part, and during which, on Mon- j day especially, there was the largest attendance in ibe strangers' gallery that has yet taken place. ' Bat what is the fact ? The greater part of ths supplement is filled with anonymous attacks on Mr. Wakefield, the longest of „ these, signed " Minos," being founded on the assumption tbat a letter in Saturday's Spectator, signed A., was written by Mr. Wakefield himself! Such an assumption the public will readily perceive to be without the slightest foundation, and bears " internal and indisputable evidence" of its own falsehood. But, sir, is it not fairly to be inferred that, if. there were no iuch paper as the Spectator, the public would have had no report of the proceedings on Friday and Monday to which I have alluded? Does the Independent consider its public duty performed, by giving long anonymous comments on the proceedings in Council without any report of the proceedings themselves — by furnishing its readers with its own party view of them without any report of the speeches aud votes which would enable them to form their own judgment? Or is it so, thoroughly ashamed of the part taken, in, the proceedings by those members whom it habitually supports, and whose dictation it ob,eys, that it would delude its readers into the belief that no proceedings worth noting took place beyond those recorded in its meagre columns 1 If . the .Independent desires any weight to attach to its opinions, it will take more pains to" report fairly tbe expressions and opinions of those who, whether identified or not with the feditor and correspondents of that paper, are to be judged by what they say or do in their own names, \n their responsible position as legislators for the Province, and as members of the Governm ( enu , 1 am Sir, - • - Your obedient servant, , MATTER OF FAGT.