LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 6, Issue 287, 10 April 1862, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Wanganui, April sth, 1862. Sir. —l noticed in your last, two .numbers an article headed “ Missionary Influence,” but was more particularly struck with that part Avhere the writer falls into conversation with an aged missionary. Whatever influence these Church Missionaries have, certain it is that it has always been exerted to retard the progress of the settlers. The reverend gentle-, man alluded to admits that they opposed the introduction of emigrants on the score, that as their work was but begun, and considering the example that the whaling, stations exhibited of European life, and the prejudicial effect thereof on the natives, they dreaded the introduction of more.

How complimentary comparing that respect due body of settlers (introduced by the New Zealand Company) to the whalers,'bushrangers, and runaway convicts, that in those days infested these islands. Woidd it not have been more consistent in the missionaries to encourage the introduction of respectable settlers, and, thereby establishing law and order, banish those disreputable.whalers, whose example tended so-much, to demoralize the natives.

Why did not the missionaries exert their influence to drive away those whalers at the time they were using it to keep the settlers from these shores ? There mnst have been some other reason than the effect those early settlers would have on native morals. The whalers wanted no land, and the early settlers did ; therefore their interests and the interest of the Missionaries clashed. William Thompson said truly, that while the Missionaries taught tho Maories to look to heaven they kept their own; eye.?, .on earth.

If the reverend gentleman refers to the penny an acre system when ho says that in early days the natives Were disgracefully cheated he must bear in mind that some of the missionaries were participators in this fraud. Novor was there any ground for supposing that the natives would bo deprived of all their lands, as there-were.always ample reserves set apart for them, which they generally picked themselves as the best of the land. As to price paid, of what value was land in those days to the natives. They would have been gainers now, if they bad made a present of the whole island to government, —having reserved to themselves every tenth section, as was then the system, this island would now have been populated and prosperous, arid those reserves would have become worth more to the owners than all their wilderness of unoccupied land, Hid the Missionaries pay the natives a fair remuneration for their own lands, that they should find fault in the Government prices. .■ ’ ■ ■' - • There are Mioriouiuies fn this island who have conscientiously- discharged their duties, who have pursued their calling without cither

turning violent politicians or land jobbers. Such men are decidedly entitled to a grant of land in their , old; age,d and no settler would object thereto. ‘ : It is not the settlers that have shown themselves 'avaricious. They have, especially the early settlers, Avaited sometimes as long as ten years to get possession of lands purchased.at home. They have put up with petty amu yances and insults from ah over indulged and pampered rape of savages,—and why, therefore, are we to be stigmatized at home as avaricious, blood-thirsty, and unfeeling by these Missionaries, who have ever opposed our progress, and have ever used their influence to prevent the sale of lands by the natives,—AVe even find a bishop justifying a chief who murdered another to prevent him selling land. Missionaries may deny this, yet it is a curious fact that those natives who have opposed the government in land sales and other disputes have been the Church Missionary natives; ha 3 not the king flag -been hoisted at the very door of one of these Missionaries, why should that spot have been fixed upon, unless encouragement Avas given-? I remember tAventy-onc years ago, when this very missionar} 1, was too proud or uncourteous to speak to or notice his countrymen, the early, settlers. There are some in Wanganui who may remember the exertions used by the then resident Missionary here to frighten the first settlers away, and his trying to influence the natives not to sell them either pork or potatoes, hoping, perhaps, to - starve them out. Messrs. Taylor & Watt had not arrived in those days. . This -reverend gentleman did all the business, which must have paid well,. Avhen he could obtain seven shillings each for tlie testaments supplied him by the mission. This man was, I believe, a specimen, as; far as inhospitality and opposition to the early settlers Avent. We were, however, indebted to his successor, who Avill ever be remembered by our early settlers as au exception to the rule; his influence was ever exerted to promote the welfare and comfort .of the settlers. Yours, &c.,

A Settler.

Sir, —EA r ery one must rejoice at seeing the financial position 'of the colony in such a flnifishing state, that the government can afford to offer a reAvard to auy one Avho shall have the luck to discover a payable gold field in this province; but will you allow me to suggest that there are other fields which would produce quite as much to the province as the gold fields if it Avas not for the great risks attending the search. With a climate such as we have, we could produce enough cider to supply all our own wants as well as those: of our Australian neighbours; but Ave cannot do .this, simply because we have no. 1 natural enemies to the American blight-. We- could grow bailey enough to render us independent of any foreign supply of beer; and oats enough to feed oiir horses and our sheep/.to say nothing of distilling spirits,—but we cannot do this on account of the; danger from tlie caterpillars; Avliich may soon also! attack the wheat. The potatoes, I think, are doomed in a very few years, from the same cause. We are forced to live without Avhat I consider a necessary to healthful'life, I refer to the cabbage . tribe of plants, because ;of ; the aphis. Our horses are almost driven mad, and we ourselves are' likely to come to the same end by the flies; and yet I venture to say that if one-lialf of the sum proposed for the discovery of the gold field,' was given to . introduce such birds and insects as feed on' these pests, a very few .years Avould see them so diminished as to enable us to cultivate all we now' can not, as Avell and as cheaply as other nations. There i 3 one other point, not certainly in the same- category,, but still of great importance to the- colony, that I should Avish to draw attention to through your paper,—that is the thousand streams in the islands without fish; whilst, if ,we cannot bring salmon from England (an assertion which I much doubt),we have only to ! send to Australia for some of the; multitude of fiue species found in the rrrers there., I am, Your obedient Servant, “ Kara Avis.” [The aboA r e letter is on a r r ery important subject,, which may Avell engage the attention of tlie Provincial Council at it 3 next session. It is probable they will not move in the mat-; ter actively, however, until the result of the * attempts now being 'made, in this direction is ascertained. The- colony of Victoria has bean moving actively in the matter for some time. Tasmania is co-operating with them. In New Zealand, Canterbury has resolved to folloAv the example thus set. Private enterprise lias done a good deal in Auckland. The Provincial GoA r ermrient might take steps- for the introduction of birds,. Avhicli is comparatively easy. But that of salmon., is so difficult and expensive, that it Avould ' probably be better to wait till a stock can be bad from one of the neighbouring colonies. If there are- fish in Australia, suitable for our Avaters,. they might be tried in the meantime.}

Wanganui,, ■ April 3rd, 1862. Sir, —The undersigned volunteers who joined in requesting Major Durie to call the meeting of the, 6th ult., beg to say tliat Mr. Field’s account of the interview with the Major is perfectly correct. It was in consequence of our explanation, and not before it, that Major Durie requested that one of us would draw 'the notice. He never hesitated to sign it; and merely suggested a slight verbal alteration. Mr. Field and yourself are both, correct as to the marksmanship'; but Mr. Field judges from recent data,—you, from those of a .year ago or upwards. John Davidson. David Bell. John Barr. [The above letter banded us by Mr. Field, we insert with great pleasure.’ It confirms the fact of an “explanation” having been made, arid as to the moment at which it was made, whether before, during, or after the advertisement being written, that is a matter of very little importance. We are not aware of what data Mr. Field judged of the marksmanship from; there have been no recent data, because there have been no recent competitions between the two companies.]