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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 2, Issue 64, 11 December 1858, Page 6

Per the Editor oj tie Hawhe's Bay Herald

To My Fellow Settlers, — Ever since New Zealand has been colonized, and more especially since the formation of this embryo province, have I wielded my pen in the cause of its future prosperity ; and 1 find now is the time to again call to your minds the qualities of this your province. And to ask you, for yourselves, to think over who is the individual to whom the reins of the new government should be entrusted.

Having weighed over all the contents of your correspondent's letters in my mind I say with the bard of yore, — "See ourselves as others see us," "It would frae many a blunder free us." I thought who is " the unco quid and rightly righteous man" Veritas, and who is this luxurious individual that vaunts of his punch drinking abilities and fumigating qualities. If these are the only grounds for his aspiring to the government I hope he will not obtain that sunimijrof his ambition.-. - ..„•)■.> --.i.-^-. *-.?.-r ,

But, however, to the point. ; We limst bejia with Alpha ! Ah, Alpha^yon had better not ruffle your temper, but keep quiet with your old friend Morpheus. Truth is great and will prevail ! , What is your fear of inviting such f.n individual as Mr. Domett to. be at the head of government—^a man in whom there is combined all the abilities of a. statesman, and, what is more, that which makes the real man-

uprightness ef character in every respect. During his sojourn in this district there was proof enough to every right-thinking man of his integrity, and of his ability to keep every thing and every one in perfect unison, as far as the public interests were concerned. What "Publicola" says is perfectly correct ; what man have you like him ? You cannot put yourself nor any of your compeers on a footing with him, although you copy Latin phrases to shew your learning. If you are successful enough to get Mr. Domett in your council, you will have a man that party feeling will not sway, and also a man who I think would be as economical, in managing the machinery ,of government as any of your would-like-to-be rulers.

Besides who among you has had the same experience ? Even your, would-be leader Capt. Newman, is not only without the colonial experience, but would be a dunce in government affairs — while Mr. Domett's mind has been entirely given to such. It is as though you were starting the stage coach, now that it has been got ready, by a party that wishes to*, take the ribbons merely beause they see that the coach is ready for starting. Whysnot start with an experienced driver, and go and sit on the box and take a lesson to learn to crack the whip and hold the ribbons before setting yourself up for a- driver ere you know how. You might just as well expect an apprentice boy when first aloft to furl the royal as to expect 'that any of your selfieeking politicians that have had it all your own'way with your closed door meetings, chalking out the course you think you are^ about to pursue, to make good legislators without an experienced hand to give you a lesson. I say to Capt. Newman, to content himself with the hope of being the second Superintendent, for^by that time he will have gained legislative experience to better fit him for his duties. "For it is truth a green hand never makes a good helmsman." And if it is true that according to " Alpha" the Superintendent will have no power, what man of common sense would be content to sit in council merely. to be the vehicle of communication between the council's collective wisdom and the Governor of New Zealand. I am^&c, Betta.