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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 2, Issue 79, 26 March 1859, Page 2

From time to time we have chronicled the efforts of the Wairau settlers to obtain separation from the province of Nelson. Of those efforts the settlers of Hawke's Bay — to whom have so recently been granted the privileges for -which the Wairau District is now putting forth her claim — cannot fail to read but with feelings of interest. No apology, therefore, can be needed on our part for transferring to our columns the following letter, which appears in the ''Nelson Examiner" of the sth inst., in which the views of the gentlemen moving in this matter are fully set forth : — Sir — As a party interested, and a member of the committee for bringing about the separation of the Wairau from Nelson, I have to request the insertion of the following remarks, rendered necessary by the strictures on the subject contained in your leading article of February sth. Had you, as in duty bound, despatched your special reporter to the scene of action you would, from his professional report, have been spared the labour and Bpaee devoted to the said article, at any rate for the present. You would have found that, although the meeting was fully advertised in the favoured capital, it was, unfortunately, not so in the Wairau, owing to the neglect of the party or parties whose duty it was to have forwarded the papers contain:ing the advertisement, which papers did not come to hand till after the date of holding the meeting, forming another reason, amongst the many, in. favour of separation, viz., the necessity of the introduction of the printing press, and the establishnietit'of alocal paper. 1 ■> In consequence of the aforesaid neglect, it was thought best to limit the proI ceedings to the passing of a few resolutions, affirming the necessity of the measure, and the appointment of a committee to prepare the necessary documents, to be laid before a general meeting property advertised, if such an unusual favour can be secured by the unfortunate Wairau ; at which meeting we hope to be prepared with such an et-

ray of facts and figures, that even you, sir, will °o spared the necessity of advocating a cause to which you appear to lend an unwilling pen. Although we shall, without doubt, be able to show by figures the amount of injustice we have suffered, as well as the amount of hard cash we shall at once realize by the movement ; yet that is far from being the only or principal reason calling for the measure ; and lest we should, by reason of the strength of our case, on the points adverted to in your article, be robbing you of a theme wherewith to stock your preserve, I will, in return for the maguanimous offer of your active and experienced Provincial Government, make you a present of the following grounds on which separation from Nelson is desirable, that you may conscientiously assist in forwarding our interest consistently with justice to others. Ist. The impetus it will give to the increase of the population, and consequently the wealth, of the district. 2nd. The saving of time and expense, by rendering it unnecessary to travel upwards of one hundred miles every time we have business to transact, however trivial the affair may be. 3rd. The inducement it will hold out to absentees to take up their permanent residence in the district, and spend then* incomes here instead of in Nelson. 4th. The right of choosing our own officials, instead of being saddled with the services of any discarded or discontented one 3 from the Nelson staff. sth. That we may escape the lion's share of the repayment of future liabilities, in the way of Nelson debenture bills, whilst having to renj&in satisfied with the lamb's share of the proceeds of such bills. 6th. Our belief that the increase of population, necessarily leading to an increase of business, will induce merchants, in the literal sense of the word, to open establishments here, which, besides causing a great saving in the rates of supply of the necessaries of life, will furnish a sure market for the produce of the district. 7th. And although last, not least, as a step towards compelling the present Provincial G-overn-inents'to remodel their establishments, and conduct their business with a moiety of the high-liown, humbug at present in use. Before concluding, I would address a few observations to the residents in the district, some of whom are led away, by the only ground of opposition to the measure yet advanced, namely, that the expense of conducting our own separate government will swallow up the whole of the revenue ; and even granting (for the sake of argument) that such should be the case for a time,. : would it not be an improvement on the present system, under which the money finds its way intothe pockets of Nelson officials, wlio never visit the Wairau, and consequently return us nothing ; at ' any rate, the cash would be drawn by residents,, and by far the larger portion expended here, so that we could honestly exclaim, it is not all lost> as is now unfortunately the case. But really the mere question of present ways [ and means has a very insignificant bearing on the subject ; we must recollect that it will benefit us in many other ways, the principal of. which I havepointeci out in the foregoing seven reasons, for rendering the measure desirable, besides it will, by giving us the power to do what we will with, our own, secure to us the Briton's greatest boast — freedom and indepe7idence. As you, sir, justly remark, the subject wants discussion ; and the advocates of the measure will be as glad to see it receive a full and searching one as any other party can be : and that such may ba the case, I now challenge our opponents to attend the next and final meeting on the subject, which will be held at the Court House, at the town of Beaver, on Tuesday, the 29fch of March next ; and I if not convinced by facts and argument of the justice and expediency of the step, at any rate, become honestly justified in opposing the measure, instead of, as at prosent, having their opposition ascribed to purely selfish motives, not able to bear the brunt of a fair field and no favour. Tours, &c., Johx Godfrey.