AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIV, Issue 997, 16 January 1857, Page 3

AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON.

To the Editor of the Southern Cross. Sib,— ln answer to a letter dated Wellington, Dec15th, 1856, signed E. J. Wake Held, published in the •New Zealand and Cook's Straits Guardian,' I feel rather anxious to make a few remarks. In the first place, Mr. Wakefield states that my letter is in reply to the articles recently published in the ' Independent,'— which are generally attributed to Mr. Fo\. This I dony ; the remarks made in my letter, and the cause of my letter being wxitten, w ere from Mr Fox's remarks at that " Great meeting at the Mechanics' Institution, Wellington, which attracted consideiable audience though advertised with a title." Mr. Wakefield (Mr. Fox's private secretary I presume) fancies that either the settlers here, or Mr. Brodie, wishes to engender bitter feelings against Wellington, or some of the Southern Settlements. Sir, such is untrue ; there is no Province in New Zealand, or its settlers I might state, who are more anxious for that unity of feeling, than us in this Province, with our Southern friends, or foes, and a unity of laws regarding our land regulations, if possible ; but Sir, when we are most unwarrantably attacked by Mr. Fox, or the Editor of a Wellington paper or it*, correspondent, I consider it is high time for some settler here to endeavour to defend us from those gross insinuations and untruth* which ha.\e been thrown out against this Province.

Mr Wakefield state*—" Wellington has tirice suffered from severe shocks of earthquakes," (twic« too often I presume) " but it may be doubted whether moro good than harm on the whole has not been done thereby " Would' Mr. Wakefield or the inhabitants o€ Wellington prefer another severe shock of earthquake upon the chapce of its doing " much good in making roads by raising certain land." Mr. Wak^tHd «l*o states that he has not thp Exports of 1855 before him. If ho had would he publish them ? No. Hut, Mr, Editor, I will :—

£3169 17s. 7d in favor of the Five Southern Province* combined over the poor single Province ot Auckland. Omitted — Wangaroa, Province of Wellington £3391 1 1 4 " Russell, Monganui, Hokianga, Kaipara. and Kawhia, Piovince of Auckland £2283 17 6 In favor of Wellington and Southern Provinces £567 11 10 If I mistake not, much wool, &c, exported from the four Southern Provinces (imlud'ng the Ahuriri) ia. u^ain included in the export of £22.706 Us. Id., from Wellington. I consider it very unf tir of Mr Wakefield, in quoting the exports ot" the first quarter of 1856» ngainst the exports of Auckland of the same date as we all know that in that same quarter the chief portion of the pioduce of the 5 Southern Provinces is expi i led. If Mr Wakefield will refer to the ' Illustrated News' of August 30th, 1556, page 22.5. he will there see the true and flourishing state of this Province; and as qi. lied, " The Corinth of the South" ;— remarks which have v:M<uid.teu from our woiihy BUhop (Dr. Solwyn),. and Mr. Wm. Swainson (late Attorney- General). Befoie I leave the Export department allow me to inform Mr Wakefield what our exports for 1856 have been, although 1856 has been a year of very great depression in this Pro>ince ; but perhaps not unlike *hat the Southern Settlements ha\e likewise felt.

As I have stated, it was unfair of Mr. Wakefield to quote the first quarter of this year in his letter, on account ot the five southern Settlements exporting nearly all their produce in that month. I hope Mr. Wakefield will allow me to quote the September return of the same year : —

Therefore cleaily showing that in the September return of 185.5, Auckland's exports were £962 6s. 9d. above all the five Southern Provinces put together. Thess are facts from " Government Statistics" which neither a Fox, or Wakeneld, with truth, can deny Ido not wish the Wellington people, especially Mr Wakeneld, to believe that the enterprising public of this Prnun.ce have purchased the whole interest ot the ' V\ m. Denny steam ship, as they only own two thirds of her ; and L will now inform Mr Wakerield that I care not whether I receive a haction for my shares, as I consider duimg the first fcio months that the ' William Denny sailed between here and Sydney I indirectly received both principal and interest tor my outlay (£lOO in shares). Mr Waketield states that fifteen sixteenths of their exports consist of wool — £7-5,402 ; he allow* for 700,000 sheep. I maintain, from the best nuthoiiiies in the Souch, that they have not more than 600,000 sheep, including lambs, which, at 3 lbs. per sheep, including all lambs, would give 1,800,000 oi wool, at yd per lb. all round (6d. in grease and Is. washed), amounting to only £07,500. He then states, regaiding this Province, that " .is considerably moie than a quarter of the Auckland exports consist of potatoes." Sir, in 1856 we did not export £300 worth of potatoes. Mr. Wakefield makes some strange remarks regarding •' N. lit es shearing each other and clipping the fleeces of white men into the bargain." I understand this allusion. Does Mr. Wakefield recollect how the laws of Great Britain clipped a portion of the Wakefield family some years ago ?ii not I can inform him. As to my remarks regarding the Union Bank of Australia, I will not deviate from them, although Air. Wakefield states that the Union Bank of Australia would hardly have built its largest and most expensive office in Wellington. Sir, it is not the man who lives in the largest house is * richei than one who lives in a smaller one ; and it is not every man who wears a good suit of clothes who is a gentleman. In conclusion, I will again repeat that no pei son in this Province is at all wishful to write against any of the Southern Provinces, however rich we may be, or however poor they may be, or vice versa ; but, when we are attacked, we are, some of us, in duty bound to protect ourselves, which I trust we may have strength of mind to perform so long as New Zealand is in existence. Let there be unity, peace, and concord amongst us ; and should wo have produce hers that our friend- m the South may not have, let us make a fair exclnnge for produce which we may not have with our Southern friends ; by so doing, we have every chance of becoming one of the most flourishing colonies appended to the Crown of Gieat Britain. I am, Sir, Yours obedienth'. Walter Bkodib. Auckland, January 11th, 1557. [The letter by Mr. Wakefild, commented upon a* above, will be found in our fourth page.]

Wellington 4629 14 2 S T elson 2295 3 7 STew Plymouth ... 1640 0 0 )tago 29JJ 6 6 Canterbury 2014 8 11 10,875 13 Difference in favor of Aucklaitfi . . . £962 6 9

£ s. d. Auckland Ilussell Monganui . Kawhia £ s. d 11.391 19 S 289 13 9 64 0 0 92 6 6 £11,837 19 11

£ s. d. Auckland Exports, 1800, ..... ... " Outports £ S ri 47,240 3 2 912 11 1 £48,187 14 3Now Plymouth .. 5,258 10 3 Nelson 9.n21 10 9 Wellington 2 ,706 11 1 Canterbury ,9,405 8 9 Otago 4,375 11 0 £51,357 11 10

larch Quarter une " ieptember " )eceraber '• x> o. u.. . 26,417 7 4 1.">,268 10 0 . 39,346 4 0 , 19,369 1 0 £100,401 2 4