ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume V, Issue 270, 29 January 1850, Page 4

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Southern Croat. Sir. — Allow me, on the advent of another year, to express my humble ei'eem of the manly, disinterested, and unflinching opposition you have offered during the jast one to the acts of an un> blushing, incompetent, and vain-gloiioua Govern went. Sir George Grey— 'hat paragon of governors—is hourly expected here : may his approaching visit (trove leia detrimental than hia first and tecond Alas 1 bow few of his promises then made have been fulfilled ! Of this fact hia Excellency is en dently mindful ; for now, at the eleventh hour, some of those promises arc being realized. Unfa ashing he nay b'^anfeeling he would be. were b» to endanger the lite of hia most amiable lady in unsaawortby boats ; these, therefore, have been re> j>aired within the last fortnight S renuoui cffirta are being alto mad* to arquire 1 md, wbichj if successful, Sir George will know to account for, by at once giving his decision upon the •ward ma c by he Land Compensation Committee, appointed by the Mew , Zealand Company's land purchasers in this district. Why haa his decision feeen »o long delayed?. His ISxcell ncy's visit oi

scientific research to the Sunday Itlanda and the interior, are no doubt of far greater moment than the intereits of the Taranaki icttlert. Her Majesty having lately visited ber Irish dominion!, her Representative, forsooth, must ape royalty by proceeding to the last civilized district of his government. I grant that Governors require a relaxation from their arduous duties — but let them enjoy fc,tt a proper time, and at their own cost. A large body of settlers are daily expected here in the " Pekin." Now, the New Zealand Company* agent has not a single, eligible, available section of land to offer those settlers on their arrival. The block of 1500 acres of splendid land purchased by Mr. Dillon Bell, and subsequently paid for in full by the Government, the sellers of which are most anxious to have it occupied by settlers, and are earnestly urging the Government au> ihoriiies to take possession of it, cannot be banded over to the Company, because it is alleged that its occuj a' ion m ght prevent future purcbsses from be* mg made in the vicinity. With equal reason, a man with a plentiful repast before him should fast, lest his butcher and baker should refuse to supply materials for another. His Excellency has permitted the Waikanae natives to return to Waitara, after having first publicly told their Chief, Win. K'ng, that they shonld not return ; and subsequently informed the settlers that those natives should be restricted to the North bank of the river, and the Southern bank should be forthwith acquired for the settlers. Now mark the result of his Excellency's empty thanks and futile negotiations. Tbe natives passed the military sta» tion of Wanganui with an ample supply of muskets and ammunition ;-have taken full possession of the south bunk of the Waitaoa, and erected thereon two immense pahs, (capable of containing more than a thousand fighting men), commanding the entrance to tbe river. They are, however, for aught I know, the Pensioners, that very next batch, promised by hu Excellency. Sir George well knows that the possession of the River Waitaoa is of vital importance to the future existence ot this settlement, and why, pray, is no endeavour made to purchase it at once ? Because, should this district eventually fall into the hands of the Government, an admirable J site for a township, with thousands of acres of most fertile land adjoining could thus bff acquired ; "and Under the management of the Surveyor-General, made to replenish the Treasurer's empty coffers. Land purchases can be, and are, made to enlarge tbe cattle run of the Resident Magistrate seven miles, at least, outside the boundaries of the set. tiew'nt. The real owners of the south bank of the Waitaoa have long since declared their wish to sell their land ; but few of the returned Waikaorae natitea own any land on this bank, and, therefore, do not attempt to cultivate it. These, Mr. Editor, are stubborn facts. The majority of the land claimants desire land in the direction and vicinity of Waitaoa, not fifteen miles from it. From bis intimate knowiege of the native language and customs, sTeady perseverance, and untiring patience, ai d downright honesty of intention, the present Government land purchaser wou'd, under the diiectiou of a man possessing enlarged ideas, energy firmness, and determination, make uieful and valid I urchases of land. I fearlessly assert, that not a single complete } u rebate has hitherto been effected in this district. New claimants are constantly appearing whose claims are satisfied at the public expense, and even those individuals are either driven off their sections, or compelled to purchase quiet possession from the natives. If this settlement .has progressed during Sir G. Grey's absence, (notwithstanding his delusory promises) its prosperity must be attributed to the moral energy, perseverance, and industry of west of Eng land men. No Governor ever received a more flattering reception tb*n Sir George did upon his first visit here, but few men would have so recklessly betrayed the implicit confidence then reposed in him. What has he done for this cet lement since then ? Has it even cost him a thought beyond providing for the payment of overdue responsibilities, or framing an excuse for deferring the period of his long promised visit ? Sir George may yet re-acquire the confidence of the settlers ; Let him at once issue the Crown Grants, and atone for his past neglect 'by consulting with the settlers, and purchasing land in accordance with their wishes ; let him authorize tbe New Zealand Company's resident agent to negotiate with the natives for the sale of blocks of land ; let him issue peremptoiy orders to tbe Government officials to avoid all petty bickerings and vexatious opposition in their transactions with the Now Zealand Company ; let him proclaim bis decision as to the amount ot compensation due by that Company to i s land purchasers in this district ; let him place ample tunds at the disposal of tbe Government land purchaser, and grant bh»— Hrft power to acquire land, thereby removing all obstacles, and enabling the New Zealand Company to conclude its mou honourable and equitable arrangement with tbe settlers ; let him fulfi. his pecuniary arrangements with the Mongooaka settlers ; provide for tbe more <egul»r liquidation of Government liabilities, and more perttct adm i.hlratiun of justice, and tbe ettlers will ihrn believe him to be in earnest, and worthy ot tlie implicit reliance formerly placid in htm. In this settlement where the b»r ey crop is all but fit tor the sickle, and tbe heart ot the husband man rejoices at the prospect of an abundant harvest, myriads of caterpillars will destroy the crop in a single night; may Sir George's visit prove less oaneful to the future prospects of this settlement. I am, &c, MIRCATOk. New Plymouth, January Ist, 1859.