IRON SAND.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2346, 10 April 1866, Page 6

IRON SAND.

(2*o the Editor oftlie WELLINGTON* INDEPENDENT.) Sir,—ln tlio New Zealand Advertiser," of the ■■6th iustant, an eccentric writer under the appropriate namo of " Dummy,'' makes a faint attempt to justify that journal's sickening advocacy of a Dr. Samuel's private interests in the matter of the Taranaki Iron Sands. Tin's he does in a letter ".which—apart from its piratical quotations —may justly bo likened to a largo bagfull of damaged chaif,, without even one solitary grain of good wheat, ao that, however, amusing its dissection might; prove to your readers—it could scarcely bo deemed a profitable task to open up the subject much further. It; may not, however, be uninstmctivc to pon•dev over the curious contortions of intellect displayed by Dr. Samuel's Advertiser, and by the Advertiser's " Dummy," whereby they can distinguish in this paltry money-lending embroglio — acommunityof interestbetween this worthy doctor and tho general public. Every one can under--stand that the colony must be benulitted by tho speedy development of uny of its manifold reaourees, but really to an impartial enquirer after truth/the manner in which Dr. Samuels' actions tiave contributed towards this desired result, does appear somewhat opaque and mysterious. This plea of community of interest sounds uncommonly hollow imd grates harshly with the Advertiser's weak and monotonous remarks on fclio subject, which it is evident are much rather calculated to frighten and deter, than to induce ? the always cautious capitalist to approach the enterprise at all. The profitable working of those 'iron sands at Tarauaki is not likely to be greatly •' -hastened by such continual allusions to the complications of past failures, and holding up as it were in terrorem to all comers, those wonderful aud far-fetched technical or legal obstacles which *na.y, and very probably may l.ot, have any but the most trivial influence upon the subject. If Dr. Samuels be the consummate patriot whose Bole object in life is the advancement of his adopted country, docs it not, Mr. Editor, appear altogether inexplicable that his Advertiser should so earnestly paint him that fearful Cerberus, who •with the scowl of how many dishonored 1.0.U.'s on his brow? trends those lonely iron-bound " beaches, and clutching the imaginary keys of their ! untold and hidden wealth, defies all the several ] powers tint be, to cross their threshold ? ' Verily, if that be a faithful picture of Tavanaki -patriotism, it is not surprising that an expose of " trickery and chicanery " doivn there has become ureqnisite. Tendering this latter consideration as my apology for troubling you again on this ironical and " dummy "-foundered subject, let me conclude - with an expression of hope and confidence that the Advertiser will henceforth be able to discriminate between matters of general or public moment aud those merely of individual concern. I am, sir, &c, A New Zka.la.xder.