Correspondence.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3700, 3 November 1880, Page 3

Correspondence.

SWINDLE. (To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sib,—l am one of those who read your leader a few days ago upon that huge Patetere land swindle. That leader did you great credit, and should increase the circulation of your paPer- * have waited to see what the supine Thames people would say about that swindle, and they say nothing. Th^y are <himb! What is the matter with them ? lam gratified however, to find that a gentleman, who evidently comprehends the ins and outs of the whole of that rascally transaction, has written a telling letter for your journal; and which appeared in Monday night'sissue. lentirely agree with and can endorse all he has said. Being the father of a grown up family, who hare all made New Zealand their home— the Thames in particular with most of them~l have good reason to speak out, for not one of them, though desirous of doing so, has been able to obtain an inch of land except through the medium of some covetouss, grasping middle man, and land shark. These men are the curse of any country in which they set their feet, ■Amfc more especially in New Zealand, jfen whose hearts are as hard as a mill stone ; men who generally play with poor honest, long suffering, and loyal settlers as a cat plays with a mouse, till the life is literally crushed out of them. I know the system they generally adopt to sweat the striving settler, and ultimately to grasp both his land anu the labour of his hands thereon for years. Men of the Thames, have you read and pondered over Mr Bocbe's letter ? if not, do so at once, thoroughly digest it, and then do as tbit gentleman advises you, rise en masse and.denounce the infernal swindle of the present grasp-all., inquisitorial taxation Ministry. Depend upon it, no tame protest will stop the iniqnitous action of the present Government of New Zealand. Let the people of Thames commence an agitation which shall rapidly spread throughout the colony, and let the purpose of that agitation be to oust the most*'grasping and oppressive Ministry that ever cursed New Zealand or any other dependency • of the British Crown. How long shall her money rule ,New Zealand P If you will not move, an -iron despotism, awaits you, such as you can now tcarcely con* ceive. -"Use the privilege the British Constitution gifes you, and speak out like men. Remember, neither Sir George Grey nor any other truly honourable and able statesman can do anything for you unless you back them up with your own unmistakeable voices and determination. It grieves me to think of the manner in which unprincipled statesmen, entrusted with the government of a country will deliberately sacrifice the best interests of that country for individual gain at the sacrifice of that country's very life's blood itself; but the present Ministry are seeking to do this wholesale. 400,000 acres of the best land of the colony to be alienated from the people in order that a few graspers may enrich themselves! The thing is monstrous, and well may the acting Governor hesitate, as it is reported he does, to lend himself to any such nefarious transaction. Up Thames and stop it!—l am, &c, „„ William Wood.