CORRESPONDENCE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4406, 28 September 1871, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

" A Lover of Justice" writes to us from Parnell in support of the statements made in "A Newmarket Bird's" letter, which appeared in the Cross of the 20th instant, relative to omnibus charges from Newmarket to Auckland. Ho trusts that jail who are able will adopt the practice of walking to and from town in preference to paying what he considers such heavy omnibus fares, and thus save enough for a good dinner, a cup of tea, or a glass of beer. We have received a letter from "North," in reply to Mr. Hull, on the late alleged Maori trespass, Mangawai, in which he says, "My letter was not intended as 'a slap' against J. P. s and Highway Board Trustees. Dignitaries as well as other men command respect so long as they do their duty and play well their part in the position in which they may be placed by Providence. If F. H. Hull had calmly read my letter he would have seen it was intended to be a reply to ' Mangawai Settler,' — its object to show that proper spirit and firmness should be displayed in dealing with the Maori; that, failing in maintaining his rights, ' Mangawai Settler ' should have appealed to Mangawai Justices for redress ; and suspecting the trespass was caused by Maori gumdiggers, which view has since been confirmed by P. H. Hull. ... No man, be he Highway Trustee or settler, could stand by and coolly allow the land of his neighbour to be destroyed by gumdigging : and, as hitherto, I shall ever raise my voice against the dishonest practice of thus rendering valueless the property of those who are hardly in a position to defend themselves. Not only Highway Trustees, but every man in a settlement, is interested in preventing the desolation which ever follows the practice of gumdigging. Were la J.P. or 'armed with a little brief authority,' my first and most earHest endeavour would be to do away with holding Courts of Justice in publichouses : an evil which might easily be remedied by the Government erecting inexpensive buildings for such purposes, in central positions in country districts, " Mangontji Farmers' Meeting. — We have received a long letter from "Scrutator," commenting upon the remarks made by speakers at the recent farmers' meeting at Mangoaui. The writer requests that the letter shall be published in full, but as it would occupy more than a column of our space, and repeats a great deal of what was given in the report of the meeting as published by us, our correspondent must see the necessity for condensing his communication. He says : — "Mr. Fenton's remarks were well digested, and much to tho point, but he was too desponding. American whaleships have certainly nearly deserted the harbour for a time, the supplying of which Mas a maiket of itself for Mangonui settlers. They may again visit the harbour, and trade revive. Mangonui has many advantages ; it abounds in fish, is a good healthy climate, has a large quantity of good land, and produces an excellent sample of flax ; in fact, it has all the materiel necessary for making a prosperous district, if Government would only do it justice by making bridges, forming roads, &c., which, hitherto they have sadly negleoted. Mr. White, J.P., spoke truthfully, and deserves great praise, and must hit the authorities hard, as they deserve. I have no doubt Mangouui will nut be forgotten when interest on the loan in the shape of taxoii is levied. There are various degrees of success. A family may very praiseworthily club their earnings together by hiring their services ; or a family may keep a tlock. of sheep amongBt themselves without paying wages>— no doubt voiy praiseworthy—and keep out of debt. Thai is a success for a poor family. But can one instance iv the distnct be pointed out wheie p. man has portioned out In-, family in the same sphere in life as himself, and put by sufficient for his old a^o ? That is what deserves the name of success. ] fiar Mangonui cannot produce one such case in point ; if it can, let some one name him or it. It is a hard battle where never a man escapes. But many hundreds have left in disgust, some no doubt deservedly. Every man has heard of the celebrated scientific fanner, Mechi. Ho published his accounts annually, or rather did. I have not read of him lately, but it was so before. I left old England. He did it to benefit mankind, and to show his experience in the ait and secrets of farming. His very errors did good, as they acted as a beason or warning to others. Merely spending money on land without getfciug a profit is not only idle but wasteful both of money and time, and injurious to one's family. I have known amateur farmers in England whose butter cost them os. per lb., and potatoes Id. each, &c. I know nothing of Mr. White's farming : if he has found out the secret of success, as his remarks imply, let him give his neighbours the benefit of it, and publish his accounts, for of course lip keeps them. If not, I fear that part of his speech is vox et prajtercanihil." Alluding to the speech of Mr. Ball, At. P.O., he says:— "lf Mr. Ball thought farming would pay, why does he not try it? Why add farm to farm, allowing thousands of acres to remain a wilderness ? It cannot be for want of money, for he is supposed to be rich. It is evident he is sceptical about its paying, but it is a plain indication of his belief in the future of the district and New Zealand. There is much truth about wasting manure ; he might have added wasting timo also, for perhaps in no place is there so much gossip amongst a few ot the settlers minding each others' business, and indulging in personalities, as to be the remaik of strangers ; which I suppose is the effect of defective education. The second great commandment appears to be obsolete with them. Mr. Ball should luve resigned before he went to England ; it was clear he conld not attend to his Provincial Council duties when so far absent. The fettlers of Maiigomii would do well to be a little less apathetic about politics which affect their interests so much."