ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 186, 20 January 1877, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

[Wk are atall times ready to give expression to every shade of opinion, but. in no ease do we hold ourselves responsible for the sentiments of our correspondents.]

(to the editor of the ratea maid.)

Sir, —The present financial position of the Colony lias, it appears, rendered it necessary to make some reductions in expenditure —the two most important being in the Public Works and Defence Departments. The most serious is ilie want, of funds to complete the Public Works commenced, as the whole success of the Public Works policy depended on the completion of the works entered on. For until the larger centres of population arc connected by rail, those expensive works cannot become self-supporting, and in their present unfinished state are only a hut den and tax on the people of the Colony. The present Ministry are not to blame for this, as the Premier was desirous of borrowing sufficient to continue these necessary and important works. To Sir George Grey, and his party, must the blame attach of opposing a loan to continue these important works. There is little doubt that, by next meeting of the Assembly, those members will take a more commonsense view of their duly the country, and see the absurdity of following the leadership of a man who, as Governor, or member of Assembly, has generally pursued a policy detrimental to the interests and welfare of the Colony. The reduction of the Constabulary may, or may not, affect the Colony. The Native difficulty is reduced to a smouldering state, and the natives seem peaceably inclined ; but in many parts of the North Island they are no more ameinable to onr laws than they were at the commencement of the war in 18G0. The protection they afford to escaped murderers show how powerless wo still arc in Native Districts. If the Colony cannot keep up a Defence Force, other moans may bo adopted to crush out the remaining embers of the Native difii unity. This can be best done by the introduction of population. For the interior of the Patea, and New Plymouth Districts, there is a large quantity of acquired forest land is, that it is a long time bringing a return on the purchase money, and is also expensive to bring under cultivation. It is both politically and commercially important that this country should be occupied and opened tip, but to induce settlement, the land requires offering to the public on more liberal terms than at present offered. A liberal deferred payment system might be adopted. The land might be put up to auction in blocks of from one to five hundred acres, but the purchasers should not be required to pay the amount of purchase money until the end of twenty-one years. In the mean time paying five per cent. inUrcs', and being bound to clear, for the first ten or fifteen years, five per cent, per annum of the land. By adopting this plan, small capitalists would be enabled to expend their money in improving their lands—and five per cent, interest, would enable the Government to borrow on security of the land, for the construction of roads, and bridges requisite in the settlements. There is little doubt that numbers would become purchasers of forest lands on these terms, who would not on the terms forest lands are at present sold. There could be no surer means adopted of crushing out the remains of the native difficulty, and, at the same time, giving employment to emigrants and others out of employment.—l am, &c., AN OLD SETTLE H.

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE I'ATKA mail.)

Sir,— Many of the public think that the Waivnate country will be banded over to the Government, without opposition. This is a groat mistake, and the present Government must have forgotten to consider that Tito Knwani, with whom they arc now negotiating, is the same individual who a few years ago was the leader of the rebels against the Europeans, and for whose head a large reward was offered. Tito Kownrn has no influence in land maltcrs ; he can bring no hereditary influence to the fore, and has no more right to sell the W annate land to the Government without the consent of the tribe than I have. Tito Kownrn is no more than a fighting chief, and I know from a very good source that (he tribe are not willing to part with their land without a struggle. The Government, in my opinion, consider the land theirs, and for the sake of retrenchment havo reduced the A.O. Force in the district to a minimum. May their opinionbe right and mine wrong, but I think that in less than three months it will ho found necessary to increase, to a very large extent, the Armed Constabulary hi the district. —lam, fee- . LBTKEN r "H MT.NT