"NEW ZEALANDER'S" LIES AND FALSIFICATIONS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XII, Issue 826, 29 May 1855, Page 3

"NEW ZEALANDER'S" LIES AND FALSIFICATIONS.

To the Editor of the Southern Cross. Sir, — Under the above heading I propose to notice a few of the current lies and misrepresentations as they appear. A new election is evidently near at hand, and the • New Zealander' i» already on the alert to sow the early seeds of poison among the constituency. I have had some experience in electioneering elsewhere ; but Auckland is the only place that I am aware of, where bare-faced lies are openly and tmblushingly put forward, in order to assail and destroy the character of political opponents. I am not justified, perhaps, in saying that this argues a demoralized state of the community at large, but it is certainly matter of deep concern to find a public journal — the mouth-piece of a religious body — devoting itself to such iniquity. It is the opinion of many that such false statements ought not to be noticed, as silence would best ensure their own defeat. This I believe to be quite true in the long run, but in the meantime, the lies if not contradicted, produce their effect. The first I shall notice are the remarks contained in last number concerni«g the local steamer. The • New Zealander' is now firmly persuaded that fthe Provincial Council would readily have voted a subsidy for the local steamer. " All that was required, was to have placed a sum upon the original estimates for such a purpose." To include the item " amidst a mass of experimental projects involving a mortgaging of the Provincial revenues to the tune of some £80,000, was to seem to have a desire to assist the Company, but to propose that assistance in a manner certain to be rejected." Now I would ask, can any thing be more bass than these insinuations. Is it not notorious to every one wha reads the proceedings in Council, or who acquaints himself in the least with the public business, that the Opening Address delivered by the Superintendent contained the strongest recommendation to afford the steamer a subsidy, and pointed out the grounds most satisfactorily and clearly for that recommendation ; and further, that the required sum was placed in its proper position in the Supplementary Estimates. But this villifier would now try to make people believe that it was only a seaming interest which, was taken, and that the item itself was proposed " in a manner certain to be rejected." Is it not monstrous, I would ask, for a journal, the rspresentative of a religious body — the proprietor himself a Wesleyan Sunday -School Teacher — is it not shameful that such palpable misrepresentation should be palmed upon the community. Electors in town of course are well aware of these falsehoods, and estimate them accordingly ; but^ many persons in the out-settlements, not acquainted with the facts, may believe that the "Wesleyan Sunday School Teacher's exposure is not merely deserved ; it is di~ manded. No wonder that party strife, and the most malignant feelings of enmity should prevail* so widely in the community, when such sj'Stematit misrepresentation is publicly practised. I hold that it is a crime against society, and ought to be taken up as Buch by the public prosecutor. This is not the liberty, but the licentiousness of the press— it is a moral terrorism over all who have a character to lose, or lack the courage to maintain it.

I_ shall have to address you again after Wcdnet clay, as I will be furnished with fa rther mateiiel on that day, calling for exposure ; and remain, meanwhile, Youis, ice, Auckland, May 28, 1855. Q-