LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 997, 17 November 1868, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

The Editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents. Sib, — We have no prophets in these days, or I should certainly say Mr. M'Lean was one; for if any one will take th& trouble to think over what was said in the Assembly this year on the defence and native affairs motions by that gentleman, and the thorough failure of everything the Ministry, have ■ undertaken, and the fulfilment of all that he predicted, onewould Ji'inost be led to believe that he had supernatural vision. But I think if we consider the length of time he has studied the subject, and the success that has. always attended whatever he has undertaken, and the fact that; he has the true interest of the country at heart, and not merely the paltry desire for place that characterises many New Zealand politicians, all can be accounted for. On the other hand, we have heard in this place, when our members were both striving at the seat of government for the general good against the gross mismanagement by the Government, and openly declaring the result of such conduct (and all which they predicted has unfortunately turned out but too true), persons, the most prominent of whom is one of our members for the Provincial Council, pooh-poohed all danger, and used the telegraph pretty freely to counteract the efforts of Messrs. M'Lean and Ormond. Then we have a gallant Colonel, who, in every way that lay in his power, injured this district. Then we have a certain " Lord" who goes with that clique. On the heads of such men, next to that of the Ministry, lies the blood that has been spilt at Poverty Bay. Nor must I forget a gallant Major who started intending to annihilate the enemy, and when hearrived within a few miles of them with a force of five or six hundred men, returned. Had he proceeded, it is not unlikely he might have to some extent prevented the frightful catastrophe that has now happened at Poverty Bay. The same kind of, mismanagement is going on on the West Coast. Sir, if we would free ourselves from the accumulation of troubles that surround us on every side, we must use every faculty we are endowed with for the common, good, and, dropping all minor matters and differences, must put our shoulders to the wheel for the sole object of putting an end to this fearful and ruinous state of things. We must search out those ' men for office who are capable of grasping the question. I trust that everyone will now see the necessity of compelling, if possible, an appeal to the country, and by that means give an opportunity for sifting the question and selecting such men as could pilot us through these difficulties. — I am, &c, An Observer,

Sir,— For some time past I have regretted to notice your almost continual attacks on Mr. Stafford (a man to whom, to say the least, Hawke's Bay, as a province, is greatly indebted), and which, I think, culminated in your issue of Saturday last, wherein you state (conspicuously, and directly after your article) that "Mr. Stafford is said to have received on Wednesday evening intelligence of the Poverty Bay massacre, and, next morning, to have left Wellington for the Wanganui racecourse !" Now this may be quite as truthful as the statement of your contemporary in his paper of the sth, in which he gives a detailed account of Ms having observed the transit of Mercury over the sun on the evening of the 4th — exactly twentyfour hours before that event happened ! ! But, be that as it may, the taste, or the political animus, which caused it is certainly most objectionable ; and therefore it is that I, as one of your old subscribers, protest against it. To me there is just as much real connection between Mr. Stafford and the sad doings of the Hauhaus here on the East Coast, as between Tenterden steeple and Goodwin Sands. Surely, Sir, just now events are serious and sad enough to be truthfully dealt with as realities. Allow me, as an old settler, and as being deeply interested in the welfare of the province, to beg of you not to mix up politics or expediences with momentous passing events of life and death, of weal or woe to Hawke's Bay. And to ask of you (now a settler of some 1 years* standing) to stand up for truthful reports, and to expose all shams. — To wit : where on earth is the need of a night patrol of militia in this little isolated and all but impregnable town of Napier ? (of Tanner's " Cavalry," too ! !) Where is the enemy to come from? By balloon into the midst of Napier ? Is not the fact of such nonsensical shams being done (allowed or ordered) a strong and valid reason for alarming all the outsettlers ? — I am, yours, &c, War. Colenso. Napier, Nov. 16, 1868. P.S. — If there is real danger to the town, why not call a public meeting?

[We insert this letter, but we confess to some amazement as to its tone and tenor. So far as we ourselves are concerned, we hare said nothing regarding Mr. Stafford that we do not believe to be true.—Ed.]