ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 19, 27 September 1851, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

No Communication will receive any attention unless accompanied with the name and address of the autlior, not necessarily for publication, but as evidence of his good faith. To the Editor of the Otago "Witness. Sib., — In your paper of last week you take notice of the duty of the Committee of the Mechanics' Institution to defend it from the charges brought against it by one or two parties in the settlement. The whole seems to have arisen from Mr. Kettle and Mr. Strode considering themselves entitled to rank among the Patrons of the Institution ; and the former has, according to His Honour Mr. Stephen's letter, been writing his complaints to the Patrons of what he calls his exclusion from the Institution. The two have, it -would appear, succeeded in obtaining a degree of sympathy from the Judge and Mr. Valpy; and thus an opposition has been raised, which, it is to be hoped, will be as transient as its reasons are groundless. The* ostensible cause assigned for their discountenance is, that the affair is a political party movement ; but the real reason, and the true spring of the opposition, seems to be what is stated above. Although, then, the Committee consider the charge so unfounded, and to have so little chance of affecting the public mind in any way so as to be detrimental to this Institution, as scarcely to require very serious attention, yet it may not be improper to publish the whole of the correspondence bearing upon the subject, whereby the community may be enabled to judge. J TO HIS HONOUR MB. JUSTICE STEPHEN. Dunedin, 23rd August, 1851. Sir, — I beg leave to hand you the following resolution of the Mechanics' Institution Committee, viz. : " That his Honour Mr. Justice Stephen be requested to deliver a special lecture in connection with the scheme of the Mechanics' Institution, and in furtherance of the objects thereof ; and that a deputation, consisting of James Adam, Alexander Garvie, John Sidey, and William Langlands, be appointed to wait upon that, gentleman and ask his consent." I therefore, in the name of the deputation, respectfully beg to be informed what evening next week will suit you to receive us. — I am, &c, (Signed) W. Langlands, Sec. TO MB. LANGLA.NDS, SECRETARY MECHANICS* INSTITUTION. Dunedin, August 28, 1851. Silt, — I received your note of the 23rd on the 25th inst., and should have answered it before, but that I hardly know what answer to make to it. As I perceive the name of Mr. Adam among the deputation appointed "to wait upon me to request my consent to deliver a lecture in connection with the scheme of the Mechanics' Institution, and in furtherance of the objects thereof," I cannot but suppose that he has made you acquainted with my views respecting the manner in which that Institution is conducted. You must recollect that, on your and Mr. Clarke's applying to me to support your intended Institution, you represented it to be one of its objects to put a stop to all party political disputes. This it was, as you must have foreseen, which induced me to acquiesce in the proposal. Since then I have found that it was quite a party proceeding, and that the name of Mr. Kettle — whose name being omitted, I had pointed out to you, and for which you seemed unable to account — had been purposely omitted. I have been informed, also, that political subjects are not declared inadmisbable in the public discussions of the Society.

Now I cannot belong to any society of either a party or political character ; and by your allowing it to be so, you must be aware you are excluding me from any participation in the proceedings of the Institution.

I have been waiting, at the instance of Mr. Adam, for above a month past, to see if these things were persisted in ; and although I have been expressly called upon by a letter from Mr. Kettle addressed to

myself, Mr. Valpy, and Mr. Jones, dated the 6th inst., I only returned an answer yesterday. His letter urged us not to lend ourselves to the inflicting on him such an act of injustice as to join in excluding him from a public institution. I had hoped Mr. Adam would have enabled me to satisfy him that such an impression was erroneous, and also, to satisfy me that there was no possibility of political discussions being allowed. I regret I have been disappointedin this expectation. — I am, &c, Sidney Stephen. P.S. — I have to apologise for the delay in sending you the above, which has arisen from the urgency of private business since the arrival of the Scotia. TO HIS HONOUR, MB. JUSTICE STEPHEN. Dunedin, 22d September 1851. Sir, — By direction of the Committee, I hand you the fallowing Resolution in reply to your letter to me, dated the 28th August, and received on the 10th September. — I am &c. * (Signed) W. Langlands, Sec. " That the Committee regret extremely that his Honour, Mr. Justice Stephen, should not have favoured them by lecturing on some such subject as that indicated by the Secretary in his letter of the 22d August, and also that that gentleman should have taken such a view of the Institution as expressed in his reply of the 28th. " Political disputes and agitation are altogether foreign to the objects of the Society ; and the only possible effect in that direction would be the natural result of an increased knowledge of history, human nature and the world at large leading its members to entertain moderate views and expectations, under whatever political institutions they might happen to live. " Political Economy, according to the Prospectus, may be treated upon by a lecturer, though it was never intended, nor would it be allowed, that the Lecture-room should be made a place of discussion upon that or any other subject. ® " The Committee further regret that so much attention should have been paid by his Honour to the unfounded complaints of Mr. Kettle, to whom the Institution is quite open in terms of the rules." TO MB. WILLIAM LANGLANDS, SECRETARY TO THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE. Dunedin, 26th August 1851. Sir, — I have to request that you vrill be good enough to erase my name from the list of Subscribers to the Mechanics' Institute, as I regret to find, notwithstanding your assurance to the contrary, that it has still every appearance of being a political party affair. lam the more confirmed in this opinion from the marked exclusion of the names of several gentlemen who hold different opinions from many of those who appear as Patrons and Officebearers of the Institute. — I am, &c. A. Chethaji Strode. TO ALFRED CHETHAM STRODE, ESQ., It.M. Dunedin, 21 th August 1851. Siß., — I am in receipt of yours of yesterday this afternoon, requesting the erasure of your name from the list of Subscribers to the Mechanics' Institution. It shall be cancelled, for sure I am not one among us would wish to retain the name of a subscriber holding on opinion so injurious to its objects and aims. Though it is difficult to see how such an opinion can be reasonably entertained (and I hold it fit rather for ridicule than refutation) ; yet I will notice briefly the ground upon which you rest it namely, "the marked exclusion of several gentlemen holding different opinions from many of those who appear as Patrons and Office-bearers of the Institute." Now, I affirm that there is no such marked exclusion ; on the contrary, in the list of Patrons you will find those who ranged on different sides in the last political question that agitated the Settlement. The very same thing obtains in the Committee ; and in both there are some who cannot be said to take any political side at all. But you will say there is a preponderance of those opposed in political affairs to the smaller party in this place, to which I presxime those gentlemen you allude to belong. Well, this is just what might have been expected, for when the mechanics, who originated the Institution, looked about them for assistance, they of course found the larger number from the largest party ; and lam of opinion, that in the aspect of political individuality, by no means warrantable, but which you are pleased to take, you will find the Board to exhibit a very fair index of the balance of the two antagonist political parties in the place. This circumstance, quite accidental, just shows that no regard whatever was had to the political sentiments of those individuals, majority or minority, arising solely from the cause above assigned. I hope you may see the impropriety of bringing such groundless accusations against an Association, the objects of which are solely public good, and the diffusion of general knowledge. — I am, Sir, &c. (Signed) TV. Langlands, Sec. N.B. — Your subscription having been published, as a matter of course your withdrawal of it will also be announced. TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTION The Forbury, 20th August, 1851. Sir, — It is with regret I feel myself compelled, after much consideration, to withdraw from a Society, so laudable in its object, and, if properly conducted, so desirable for the good of the community, as the Mechanics' Institution. .When first suggested to me by your respected member, Mr. Clark, it afforded me much pleasure in tendering my supsupport. But I had soon reason to lament the appearance of dissensions, which threatened to check its efficiency, and, instead of rendering it an insrument of good, to produce a directly contrary tendency. I had hoped that a Society for such important purposes would have promoted the harmony of the community, by drawing together in kindly feeling those who might differ on public questions. But the spirit lately manifested by sor.ie individual'

has, I regret to Bay, disappointed this anticipation. The rejection of such persons as Mr" . Strode and Mr. Kettle could proceed only from a party feeling, and especially such an attempt to injure the character of the former gentleman as was made at one of the late meetings. Under these circumstances I should have withdrawn my name from the Society with the less hesitation, had it not been for the high opinion I entertain of the mechanics generally, and the esteem with which I regard many of the leading members of that body. — I have the honor to be, &c, W. H. Valpy. P.S. — I have the pleasure to forward £10, being the amount of my donation to the Institution. In reply to this the following resolution was sent on the 18th September : — " That the Members of this Committee have ever been accustomed in the election of office-bearers to be ruled by a majority of votes, in any society with which they have been connected, and that they have been ruled by the same principle in determining the appointments of this Society. They feel assured that, had the predilections of Mr. Valpy in favour of any particular individual been made known to them, the same would have had its due weight ; At the same time they would have felt bound to select the individual who appeared to them most competent. "In reference to Mr. Valpy's charge against the Institution as being a party movement, the Committee repudiate it in the strongest terms ; but should Mr. Valpy, notwithstanding this their declaration, be disposed to think otherwise, and to disapprove of their principle of election, they regret being so j\idged of by a gentleman whom they so highly esteem, and must in this case crave leave respectfully to return his contribution, however otherwise acceptable in aid of the proposed building." W. H. Valpy, Esq. TO MB. LANGLANDS, SECRETARY. The Forbury, 23d September 1851. Sir, — In acknowledging your favor of the 18th instant, enclosing copy of the Minute of the Committee of the Mechanics' Institution, I beg to assure its Members of my sense of the kind way in which they have expressed their sentiments, and that I never entertained any wish to interfere in the election of their officers. The party-feeling evinced by certain individuals in rejection of the names in question, and especially the mode of attack adopted by them against the character of one of those gentlemen, repugnant, no doubt, to the British feelings of most of the Members of the Institution, led me to the conclusion I had lately the honour to communicate. "With every feeling of respect for the originators of the Institution, and its Members generally, to whom I am far from imputing the feeling above alluded to, and with best wishes for its ultimate success. — I remain, Sir, yours obediently, W. H. Valpy. In reference to this the Committee resolved : — " That Mr. Valpy's letter of the 23rd is considered satisfactory in so far as it withdraws the imputation of party-feeling attributed to the Committee." Such, then, are the several positions which have been assumed by these gentleman toward an Institution intended only for the promotion of education, and which the Committee arc bound as upright men, to carry out faithfully ; and it is right that the public should know who are those with whom this cavilling, and endeavour to hinder, has originated ; and which, it is to be regretted,has been successful in, to some extent, shaking the confidence of two highly respectable and influential gentlemen. In the present Committee the most unhesitating trust has been felt everywhere else, as manifested by the ready response of men in all circumstances to the scheme. Again, it is plain that the annual retirement and election of a new Committee must place the direction of the Association in the fairest manner in the hands of all its members ; so that the Committee must ever represent the wishes of the whole body. This fact alone is a sufficient reply to those prejudicial charges. Let, then, the practical effect be such an additional liberality, energy, and zeal, in carrying out our objects, as shall best silence the objectors : and let our little community go steadily on in the formation of an object calculated to sustain the intelligence of the British people and be a benefit both to ourselves and future times. By the unanimous order of the Committee, • Present — Messrs. D. J, Napier, Thomas Bain, James Adam, Henry Clark, W. H. _ Cutten, Alex. Garvie, John Sidey, Robert Stewart, W. Langlands, Alex. Rennie, J. Scott ; E. McGlashan in the Chair. REPORT by the Agricultural Committee of the " Otago Agricultural Association " upon cases relating to the occupation of Land, submitted to them by Captain Cargill. The Reporters have felt considerable difficulty and anxiety in offering any remarks on the subjects submitted to them ; and they find, that to furnish such a statement as would be applicable to every individual case is impossible. So much depends on the attention bestowed to the economising of time, as well as money, together with a settled system adapted to the soil and situation of the Farm, that to arrive at a fixed rule is not to be thought of. It is, however, a fact universally admitted, that farming, like every other business, will afford a sure

profit to those who manage their resources -with strict economy, and who will also recollect that such profit is made up of savings as well as gains. The profits of the farmer chiefly depend upon two causes, viz. — economy of expenditure and amount of produce: therefore, -however great the returns may be, unless the expenditure is carefully applied and the whole work carried on under a settled system of management, such returns will of course be rendered profitless, by an injudicious excess in the cost of obtaining them. . Again, all calculations as to the profit of Husbandry, whether viewed collectively or in detail, are founded upon an estimate c£ the charges ; and, among these, that of Labour is both the most important in its amount, and the most under the control of management. With these introductory remarks, the Reporters would beg most respectfully to submit the following observations in answer to the several Queries. Ist. — Assuming the parties to be practical Agriculturists, and the man in each case to be his own ploughman, what implements, and how much cash, should he require to land with, so as to entitle him to a purchasing lease of 25 acres ? and how much more cash (if any) for 50 acres ? In answer to this case, the Reporters would state as ther opinion, that a really practical and enterprising ploughman landing with £220 in cash and implements, would possess sufficient property to entitle him to a purchasing lease of 25 acres ; and that, with the addition of £45 (in all £265) for extra fencing and preparatory clearing, he would be equally eligible for a purchasing lease of 50 acres. Again, in the case of practical men who wish to become purchasers of 50 acres at once, and who would employ labour at the outset to a considerable extent, the Reporters would beg to refer for information on this point to their detailed statement which accompanies this Report, and which equally applies to the case of a capitalist employing competent servants. 2nd. — What would be advisable as to a 10 acre Suburban, allotment, the price being £3 per acre ? Ist. As regards the mere Agriculturist, what implements, and how much cash j required, so as to maintain his family I until he has effected the enclosure, cul. tivation, and requisite buildings upon the whole 10 acres ? In answer the Reporters beg to state that, in their opinion, taking 10 acre allotments singly is not advisable, as a general rule, being too small to occupy a man's time, either with bulllecks or horses; and that a man who would employ others to plough his land, &c, for him, would consequently have little or nothing to do himself, and would require a sum of at least £80 ; or, working it himself by hand-labour, £40; and, by adopting this latter process, he could not have more than 5 acres under cultivation. 2nd. (10 acre allotments.) In the case of a tradesman, or country-labourer, who might look in part to the earning of wages for the support of himself and family during the first year, how much ought he to have, so as to make the 10 acres helpful to him; at same taking into view the probable difficulty of his being able to choose the 10 acres in a neighbourhood where he could find work to the extent of the wages required by him ? In answer to this case the Reporters would state, as their opinion, that such persons ought not to have more than 5 acres allowed them ; and that a sum of £10 would be sufficient for such persons to land with in the Colony. In conclusion, the Reportei-s trust that the remarks thus shortly expressed by them will be found satisfactory ; and that Agriculture — a subject so fraught with interest to the furtherance and prosperity of the Otago Colony — will not fail to have that confidence and support which both the soil and climate of the District alike entitle it to. Signed by us itt Dunedin this 19th September, 1851. THOMAS FERGUSON, Settler, N Green Island Bush District, late of Thirdpart Lime "Works, near Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland. DAVID HOWDEN, Overseer to W. H. Valpy, Esq., the Forbury ; late Overseer to Duncan Davison, . Esq., Tulloch Castle, Rossshire, Scotland. ANDREW TODD, Settler, Taieri, late of Ballyclough, Limerick, Ireland. ' • JAMES RITCHIE, Steward to Mr. A. J. Burns, Grant's Braes, late of Monckton, Ayrshire, Scotland.

PETER PROUDFOOT, LandSurveyor, Dunedin, Member of Committee and Secretary Otago Agricultural Association, late of Kincairnie, Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland. THOMAS OLIVER, Settler, Kaikorai Valley, late of Magdalene Hall, Berwickshire.