To the Editor of the Colonist.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 356, 22 March 1861, Page 2

To the Editor of the Colonist.

Sir—:On comparing the leading article of the Examiner of the 6th instant with a letter in its issue of the 13thy bearing the signature of James Mackay, junior, lam forcibly struck by the marked identity of subject and animus, resulting doubtless. from : the natural 'sympathy. existing between two such master minds. The letter is varied ; but the spirit which pervades lbbth documents is one and the same. The presumed subject is Maori conduct or misconduct, efficiency or nonefficiency of magisterial and constabulary authority in the Motueka and Massacre Bay districts : yet the Editor ingeniously edges in an allusion to au individual case lately, before the Supreme Court, in which (I believe it is no secret) he was himself a singularly disinterested individual, and enlightens the public to the extent that the inadvertent substitution of one punishment for another has subjected them (the Motueka bench of Magistrates) to sundry proceedings at law and their legitimate results. , Is he well assured (strong, in faith though he betas in duty bound) of the truthfulness of a newsJ paper reporter—that the said case is not adhuc suv judice? I can promise him, whether the matter is or is not in abeyance, the whole of the affai alluded to will, sooner or later, belaid before the public in detail, when they will have an opportunity of judging the merits of the case' in all its bearings, and, among other points, whether there was not more of deliberation than inadvertency in the substitution of one punishment for another— an animus too frequently, I fear, displayed in magisterial decisions in this place. ' Sin has brought forth death.' A positive untruth—loss of life not having resulted from the treatment sustained by the individual alluded to. Again, nearly two months are allowed to elapse before any judicial notice is taken of the facts. With whom rests the blame of the tardy investigation of this'murderous' outrage? 'Of, course,' with the 'obnoxious mere constable' who;only considers it his duty to act when specif liy requested" or desired to do so. I shall not enter into Mr. Mackay's lucid exposition of the tone of feeling prevailing amongst the Maori towards the white population, their imaginary trespass grievances, their extraordinary susceptibility to the idle gossip of our countrymen, nor his parenthetical 'native crops are to be eaten up and destroyed with impunity,' but observe that the whole tone of his'communication :is too egotistical—too much of the offensive pronoun—' I will not however promise, &c.,' 'my answer to this is that for the last six--teen years." Why sixteen years ago the untutored youth had not emerged into his teens. Neither k his age nor his experience, justify such pomposity. In conclusion with the editor of the Examiner he draws attention to the notorious drunkenness of the natives of the Motueka district, and to the fact that some serious quarrel will very probably take place between them and the Europeans in a state of ine-. briety. To guard against this anticipated evil he | proposes an improvement'on'the Editorial record of a suggestion formerly made on the subject to the Provincial Government, purporting to emanate ' from the representatives of the respectability of the district,' for the appointment of two policemen, one of each race. Is it possible that some needy scion of some pseudo-aristocratic family and sonic aboriginal protegee are already selected to fill these offices ? Such anticipatory arrangements are not without precedent. " Mr. Editor admits that Mr, Mackay's duties are too onerous; they interfere with each other, I say. ' Ettubrute,'parnoHlefratruni. ... ~ _.'.,. "A pair of yoke devils, sworn to each . other's■• purpose."—Shakespeare. *-~„ > . • . Mr. Editor, alias Inspector of Schools, Secretary to Education Board, Justice of Peace, Medical Practitioner. — Mr. Mackaj', Resident Magistrate, Coroner, Judge of Wardens' Court, Assistant Native Secretary, Enumerator under the Census Act, Returning Officer, Justice of the Peace. These indeed are multifarious duties. Happy the district possessed of two such admirable Crichtons! all they require ia the genius of übiquity, ''QuodDi prohibeant!' If, however, they would receive a word of advice I would say if they can discharge all these duties to rest satisfied, and not interfere where they haye no business, and neither information nor material to work upon. Since I commenced this letter,,l find that a sneaking Maori fellow has been round in company with others of his race, craving, both himself and through them, for drink; and having in three instances succeeded, lodged informations before Mr. Mackay, who (how singularly fortunate!) happens to be here just now. I have this morning ascertained that & l pafoha' yesterday offered to supply a Maori with money to entrap a publican not victimised— proh pudor ! Now if this is sanctioned and encouraged by the powers that be, it will surely defeat its own object they may rely upon it—it is too un-English, too much of a tyrannical espionage, too much of the odious informer to suit the honest public of Motueka however it may suit the respectability alluded to by the Editor of the Examiner. Yours, &c, W.. F. LITTLE. Motueka, March 15,1861. P.S.—The result of this morning's proceedings in the above alluded to informations has been the mulcting of one of the parties informed against in the sum of^lO, the other two in £5 each, all with costs. Revvi and his friend, both from Mr. Mackay's dbmain, immediately on the termination of the proceedings received respectively £2, and £10. ' From what fund was this money supplied ? W. F.L. .