"MAGNA EST VERTITAS ET PREVALEBIT."

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 2, Issue 63, 4 December 1858, Page 3

"MAGNA EST VERTITAS ET PREVALEBIT."

To the Editor of the Bawke's Bay Herald.

Sic, — I am a somewhat lazy individual, delighting in a sound 12 hours' slumber, and not very easily aroused even then, but your last paper fairly waked me up. I have in fact a grand charge against you, viz., that after reading the advertisements (which I usually enjoy in a half dreamy slate with a cigar and a glass of toddy) I cams gradually upon the open column, and my eyes, instead of as usual gently closing, and the paper dropping from my hands, became wider and wide? open and I actually waded through the entire pa* pei', tracts an I all, even to the name of James Wood, proprietor &c, of the "Herald." Well, sir, I lighted a fresh cigar and replenished my tumbler, but in vain, sleep fled me ; and I have no hope ofrelief save in scribbling these few lines to soothe my ruiikd temper, and wxie away back my favorite friend old Morpheus. " Looker on" nearly put me to sleep again. . She is a good intentioDed old lady, but troubles herself about her poor head too much. Certainlyone could not enjoy one's dinner without a head, but I don't think it matters much whether his head be thick, or clear, bald, or clever, grey or green, so that the said head possesses a good set ofteeth.

Truth is great and it will prevail — Go on, Oh Reverend Father, and enlighten this benighted land ; thy tracts for the times shall work a mighty work therein ; thou shalt be canonized as the very mirror of truth — the very pattern and perfection of a church of England missionary ; and I would venture humbly to suggest that subject of thy next tract shall be " the wages of sin is death."

" Publicola," that artful schemer, has been trying to steal a march, but the gist of the whole lettor is a bombastic eulogy of Mr. Domett. "Pullicola" should have used the singular pronoun. I, not the plural, We, and then his letter might have remained unnoticed save as the expression of his individual opinion, and of his two other friends, from whom he derives the " we."

As it is, the letter conveys to the public a grave untruth, when it states that We all entertain admiration, respect, confidence and affection for Mr. Domett. " We" the settlei's of N"apier ? No such thing. I repeat it, the admiration &c. &c. is confined to "Publicola" and his two or three'f riends ; and it would manifestly be unjust to Sir. Domett himself, to let such an article as " Publicola" go. past without contradiction. I totally differ from " Publicola" in the necessity of providing such a paragon of a captain, to guide ourpuny little boat of btate ; and 1 think some 10 or 12 for crew, and a good stout coxswain who would be steady and firm in action, and exercise ordinary common sense, without pi*etjnding to great abilities and great pay, would be infinitely preferable and more honourable to the new province, than looking abroad for rulers ; and thus coufessing our inability to manage ourselves.

The New Provinces Act especially provides that the superintendent shall have no power ; he is to be merely the vehicle of communication between the council and the real superintendent, the Governor pf l^iew Zealand ; so nolens volens the su^ perinterident under the New Provinces Act, must be little better than a dummy or an automaton j, he requires in fact only to have good teeth. Truly, Mr. " Publicola," as thou sayest, Mr.. Domett is of New Zealand reputation ; and sorry am Ito say not of the best. Sir George Grey once sent Mr. Domett to Napier as Resident Magis* trate when there were but few people in the place ; and many of us remember how thoroughly unpractical a man he was on the bench.

Poet and essayist Mr. Domett undoubtedly is,, but a good practical, working, superintendent he will never mal.e, he is too clover by far.

The electors of this province, "will, I am convin--ced, think with me, that if we had to send ahroad and bribe with high salaries a whole staff of officials, our lattsr end would be worse than:the first;, for, recollect, should a purely theoretical man be brought over here by the machinations of a few of his friends, as a natural consequence will follow Provincial Secretary, Treasurer, Attorney, Id ge--nv.s omne; for, alas, Domett is of the old regime,, a theoretical, unpractical^ red tapist, and must have a staff of practical men to do his work. AIPHA.