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OPEN COLUMN.

To Dr. Featherston, one of the Candidates for the Superintendency of the Province of Wellington. Sir, — I perceive, from the published report of your speech from the hustings on the 28th ult., that, "From what (land) had already been sold up to this, the 9th month of the year, he, (that is, yourself) felt himself justified in believing that it would reach to £30,000, before its close. You are also reported to have said, on the same occasion. — "None could deny that great works had been undertaken during the last four years, in every part of the Province." Not having the opportunity of meeting you on the hustings, will you permit me to ask you a few questions through the medium of the Press. Of the £30,000, referred to by you as the probable proceeds of the land sales, what proportion has been contributed by the District of Ahuriri ? Does the word "every," in the last quotation I have made, include the District of Ahuriri ; and if so, what great public works if any, have been undertaken in that Dis-

trict? An answer to the above would oblige many, as well as an Ahuririan Elector.

To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Herald. Sir, — Owing to the excitement caused "by the receipt of news from Wellington — of the polling for Superintendent that is to take place on the 19th inst., the consideration of all other subjects must for the time give way to that of, — What we should do under the present circumstances ? It is said that Dr. Welch, the other candidate besides Dr. Featherston for the Superintendency. is likely to get many votes at Wellington, and that if the election of the present Superintendent is desired, it should be secured by the voters coming to the poll in sufficient numbers on the appointed day. Now, had Dr. Featherston been opposed by any other person than a man who, like Dr. Welch upholds views on the great questions concerning the pastoral interests, that are so inimical to the prosperity of the Hawke's Bay Districts, I think there are but few settlers here who would not consider that our most dignified way of acting would be to abstain from voting at all, or interfering in any way with the affairs of Wellington, from which we hope soon to be entirely separated ; but as we have no reason to believe that Dr. Welch does not entertain the same erroneous idea — that we are to remain permanently part and parcel of the Province of Wellington — and that he would have a right to absorb the greatest part of our revenue, and in addition burthen us with heavy loans for the benefit of the "Empire City," as the present Superintendent does — whilst we are sure he is desirous, besides this perhaps, of enacting some severe measures against the licensed occupiers of Crown Lands, that would seriously affect us all, directly or indirectly, — then let those who think it necessary vote for Dr. Featherston, and secure his return as the least of two evils, one of which we must accept. But let our object in so doing be not misunderstood — let not the recording of votes for him be deemed any sign of approbation of his conduct towards us. We may admire in his character a considerable amount of talent and energy but so long as they are expended in unfairly promoting the interest of that part of the Province where the greatest number of voters reside, at the expense of another part, we can only look upon it as a vicious energy. Nor should we cease to insist on having the same full powers of self improvement and self government that other settlements bave, and of course thereby secure for the future the expenditure of the whole of our land revenue on legitimate objects, viz. : — on immigration, making roads and bridges, and harbour improvements — works that would serve to increase the value of the lands from which the revenue would be derived, in place of allowing it to be coolly appropriated and spent at Wellington by any Superintendent of Wellington, no matter who or what he may be. I remain, etc., A Member of xhe Association. Napier, Oct. 12, 1857.

To those Gentlemen who attended the Land Sale at Napier, June 12, 1857. Gentlemen, — Mr. E. Jerningham Wakefield has publicly stated in Wellington that Mr. McLean, Mr. Cooper, and myself "monopolised unfairly the best portions of the land unsold." Will any of you endeavour to enlighten me in -what the unfairness consisted ? If, as I believe you will, you acquit us of such a gross imputation, then must Mr. Wakefield's observations be taken for what they are worth ; but if his charges are true, it behoves you to call on his Honor the Superintendent for my dismissal from office, as, if unfair monopoly was practised, it could only be through my instrumentality. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, H. S. TIFFEN.

lo the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Herald. Sir, — I had much pleasure in perusing a letter in your paper from Mr. Cooper, relative to an article which appeared in your first issue upon " Our Position with regard to the Native Population" and I believe the greater portion of the settlers most fully concur with the sentiments expressed in that letter. I am confident that all who have the least pretence to a knowledge of native matters, must be well aware that there is not the most distant prospect of a collision between the two races. They have too much property at stake, and are too well aware that their interests are identical with ours, to risk an outbreak with us by giving us any very serious annoyance. Here and there, an individual (excited perhaps by intoxicating drinks), may be guilty of some rash and lawless act, as in the case of Te Moana Nui. It is most true that he is an insolent and daring fellow, but insolence and audacity were always his characteristics, and he is no worse now than usual. The other chiefs of his party have expostulated with him in severe terms upon his behaviour to the whites, and the result has been that he has fully remunerated the "European trader at Waipureka," for all the damage he has occasioned him, and received from the trader in return a bag of flour by way of binding the bargain. I do not object to the generally expressed desire of the settlers that soldiers should be located here. I believe every one will allow that a court of justice cannot be effective without a sufficient power to enforce its decrees ; particularly where it has to adjudicate ; as in our own case, between two distinct races. An adequate number of soldiers, therefore, would be beneficial here, no doubt, but an inadequate number would probably defeat the very purpose for which they were intended. Thoughtless Europeans, under a false ide^ of security from the presence of the military, would be likely, on the slightest provocation, to treat the natives with an overbearing and insulting arrogance which would, most certainly, be resented by them, and the consequences might be serious. If we take a fair view of the manner in which the natives have conducted themselves since the commencement of this settlement, we must, I think, allow that they are not inclined to disrespect the law. They have had the example of white men violating the laws with impunity ; they have seen the dignity of our courts of justice treated with utter disregard and even contempt by Europeans ; — and by some who ought to have known better — they have witnessed one of their principal chiefs most grossly insulted in one of those courts, in the presence of the magistrate then silting ; their fences have been broken down by the cattle of the settlers, and their crops destroyed in consequence ; their pigs stolen ; their dogs shot and poisoned, in many instances without just cause ; the sacred precincts of the graves of their dead violated ; and themselves, in many instances, treated with contempt, indignity and inhospitality ; yet, as a body they have ever been peacefully disposed and friendly towards the Europeans. When we consider this, and remember that they are but just emerging from a state of ignorance'and barbarism, we cannot be surprised at a few acts of retaliation on their part — indeed the only wonder is that they are not much worse than they really are. Few really serious offences have been committed by them, and in such cases public opinion has always j been strong against the offenders. In Mr. Fitz Gerald's case, when his store was broken into at Waipureka, and money taken by the natives, the portion of the money discovered was returned, and the delinquents secured by the natives themselves and delivered over to justice, and they are now undergoing the. punishment of their crime at Wellington. The horse which was taken from Mr. Canning by the Hapuka's son, Wakatomo, was retained by the natives because they fully believed it was their own property ; and it was remarked by a clerical gentleman in this District that there was so great a similarity between the horse in question and the missing native horse that it was almost impossible to distinguish between them. Since the Wakatomo has been detected stealing horses from some of their own body, their opinions in this matter have been undergoing a change, and it is now highly probable that Te Hapuka ■will present Mr. Canning with a better horse than the one stolen from him — at all events they are discussing the question amongst themselves. Te Moaha Nui, against ■whom there has "been such an outcry of late, has taken up the case of Mr. Gray, who was robbed of

his gun a short time ago by Rangihiroa, and he declares that if the gun was unjustly obtained it shall be returned. Now, I think all these facts show that the natives do not wish to break up the friendly relation which has hitherto existed between us, and the present outbreak among them, so far from endangering us, is rather an additional security to us, as both parties are anxious to conciliate the whites. It appears from all this that our position is not one of "absolute danger," as stated in the article which called forth Mr. Cooper's letter. In conlusion, I will just relate an incident which occurred the other day at Tanenuirangi — a fortified Pa on the banks of Ngaruroro — showing that although the natives sometimes give us cause for offence, at others they set us an example well worthy of imitation. A poor man (a European) came to the bank of the river, opposite the pa, and wanted a passage over. One of the natives paddled a canoe over, and refused to ferry him over unless he would give him a shilling, keeping the canoe at the same time a little distance off the shore. The natives at the pa, seeing how matters stood, called out to him to bring the man across, and when he arrived it was perceived that he was shoeless and in rags ; they asked him in and boiled some pork and potatoes for him. They then began commenting upon the heartlessness and want of charity amongst white men towards each other, sympathising the while with his forlorn and desolate condition. Another European, who was in the house at the time, took off a blue shirt which he had on and gave it to him ; his example was followed immediately by the natives. One brought a new pair of boots which he had been saving for panicular occasions ; another brought him another pair, and before he left, he was supplied with new trowsers, shirt, jacket, stockings, and tobacco. This requires no comment. I am, etc., James Grindell. Napier, Oct. 6, 1857. To the Editor of the Hawhe's Bay Herald. Sir, — I see by the "Wellington Independent," of the 30th September, that Mr. E. J. Wakefield, in proposing a Mr. Welch for election as superintendent (!) of this Province, has allowed himself to make use of the following expression " He (Air. W.) had heard that after the recent sale at Clive, Mr McLean, Mr. Cooper, and Mr. Tiffen, had monopolised unfairly the best portions of the lands not sold, while a gentleman who had been sent from Wellington to purchase, was thereby prevented from so doing." It is not usual, nor would it be expedient, for public officers to notice attacks made upon them in their public capacity,either by scribblers in the Colonial newspapers, or by aspirants after Provincial honours or their supporters, in speaking from the hustings. But this is- a case so gross in its nature, and affecting so directly the private characters of myself and the other gentlemen named, that I conceive it to be due to ourselves, by one at Jeast of us, to take some public notice of it. The attack in question — suppressing the terms in which I can scarcely refrain from characterising it — was, it will be observed, made at a time and place at which neither of the individuals attacked could have an opportunity of reply, so that the statement should go forth to the world and obtain circulation for a long time, before any refutation of it could be in the hands of the public. And the charge against myself is the more gross and uncalled for, from the circumstance of Mr. Wakefield and myself having been on terms of acquaintanceship (not to say of intimacy) for a period that I should have thought long enough to let Mr. Wakefield know that the meanness of which he accuses me is one which it is beneath me to stoop to. And now, Sir, allow me to explain in as brief terms as possible, the real truth, as regards the purchases made by myself and the other officers named on the occasion in question — an explanation which I consider necessary to clear myself from Mr. Wakefield's slanderous charge, not in the minds of the settlers at Ahuriri, where I am known, but in other places whither the "Independent" may reach and where I may be only known by name. The "gentleman" who had been sent from Wellington, and and who according to Mr. Wakefield, was "prevented" from purchasing, by myself and the other official snarks having "unfairly monopolised the best portions of the lands not sold," is Mr. W. Al-

len, the auctioneer, who was present during the whole of the sale, and might have purchased the whole, or any part, of the land which was afterwards openly taken up at the upset price — in strictly fair and , legal conformity with clause 22 of the land regulations — by Messrs. McLean and Tiffen on the day of sale, and by myself on the following morning. Mr. Allen, who was present all the time, had just as fair an opportunity of taking up all or any part of these lands as any of the Government officers, and he might with equal justice charge the other numerous purchasers who took up sections "while he was looking at them, with unfair dealing, as he has done us. As I have said, my purchase (not made for myself, but for a friend whose scrip reached me after 4 o'clock on the day of sale,) was made the following morning, and it so happened that whilst I was filling up the book, Mr. Allen was taking down numbers of the sections from the map. I thus had the advantage of monopolising the enormous estate of 223 acres, of about 2 minutes over the auctioneer, the expression of whose face, upon my telling him of my purchase, convinced me that those 2 minutes had made Mr. Allen 3n enemy of mine for life — a misfortune which did not greatly concern me then ; and, which, even now, I hope, by dint of a good constitution ultimately to survive. Hinc, Mr. Editor, Illce lachrymce ; and for these unlucky 2 minutes' advantage over his friend and political supporter, it hath seemed good in the eyes of Mr. E. Jerningham Wakefield, to make a gratuitous, unmanly, and untrue attack upon three unoffending Government officers, who simply availed themselves of a regulation which I am yet to learn applies to auctioneers to the exclusion of Government servants. I leave Mr. Tiffen and Mr. McLean to answer, if they think proper, Mr. Wakefield's charge against them, and, apologising for the length in which, in spite of myself, the communication has run. I remain, &c, G. S. Cooper..

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBH18571017.2.7.6

Bibliographic details

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume I, Issue 4, 17 October 1857, Page 5

Word Count
2,774

OPEN COLUMN. Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume I, Issue 4, 17 October 1857, Page 5

OPEN COLUMN. Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume I, Issue 4, 17 October 1857, Page 5

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