LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1072, 6 August 1869, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

The Editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents.

Sib, — In the Times of the 2nd, an article appeared referring, in rather spiteful terms, to a letter which had been forwarded to the Otago Daily Times. That article, I have good reason to believe, was written by a gentleman who, I am credibly informed, is the mouthpiece of his late employers, the Stafford Ministry, at the Club and elsewhere. I have not the slightest objection to see A my letters abused by that gentleman. I intend,' indeed, to indulge his penchant for that sort of thing, by writing an account of affairs before, during, and after the Mohaka massacre ; and I hope to fulfil my intention, please God, to his entire satisfaction. Meantime, I would observe that the observations with respect to Colonel Herrick's escape, were true to the best of my belief; everyone who had heard of it seemed much impressed with the intelligence, as well they might be — Colonel Herrick being one of our early settlers, and, so far as I have heard, well spoken of by those who have had the pleasure of serving under him. I have conversed much with people about the Lake expedition. At first its failure caused regret, but, when it was admitted, on high authority, that no satisfactory result could be obtained,, and that an attack would ensure a great and useless sacrifice of life,! believe it waa generally felt that the timely withdrawal was a step in the right direction. l '« Of the effigies and bonfires I can only say that if the programme was not properly carried out, it was through no fault of the promoters. , iWith respect to, the Napier fireworks, enquiry will shew that a large quantity of fireworks were in fact consumed about/ the time mentioned, and that that careful officer the Inspector of police, found it necessary to stop the practice ; further, the writer of the very veracious article under notice, may ascertain, if he chooses, by application to the obliging proprietor of a certain' toy shop not far from the Bank of New Zealand, 1 that a canvass was actually in progress i for the purpose of celebrating the downfall of the late Ministry by a liberal pyrotechnic display in Napier, subscriptions 10s. per head. The patriotic scheme only fell though for want of due notice. — I am, &c, • ' •.'"■■ -"Napier Correspondent O.D.T. Sir, ; — In your issue of 13th July I see an article" referring to Imperial aid, which will draw the attention of many of the readers of your valuable paper to the last telegrams from England. Since reading them, the following views have occurred to me, which you will please insert. The opinion I hold is, that every , man in the colony should raise his voice and do what he could to expose England's faults and bring them before the public, to urge one and all to action in defence of ourselves, and at once shew up England's policy towards us, so that the whole civilized world and nations may come to our aid in this our dire distress; also, that the sympathy of our cousins in the Great s ßepublic may be roused in our favor, being' the greatest and nearest nation of kin to ÜBf*:andr-speaking our own language. She could; also, send us help from her Californian ports, at very short notice. If the link that England has severed cannot be welded, where could we better appeal than to America? The cause of her own grievances and war with England was brought. about in much the same way, and her independence will be a precedent for us, now that England, by this last telegram, has unjustly and flatly refused us any aid (although the news of the White Cliff murders got home before she came to this dire and, I fear, fatal conclusion). The Wairarapa Mercury well says:— "Let her take her Governor to his home, and. save £6,000 a year." Then let us appeal at once to America, and, as a citizen of that republic, I am convinced that, if the appeal is made in good faith, it will not be made in vain. But woe to England in the eyes of nations ; it will be the first step towards her full. I also observe that the London Times says, ' "We are too rich and too busy to protect ourselves." Now every thinking man in the colony can refute this statement as false and slanderous. I may say such views;.cquld not be taken by any power of any spirit or feeling towards her offshoots in distant lands, at such a time and in face of such difficulty, and also well kuowing that our staple commodity, wool, has become a drug in the market of England, and emigration of men with capital come to a stop. She is sending us Government emigrants who, in many cases, are little better than paupers, for us to nurse and maintain ; and yet will not allow one single regiment to assist in protecting them. I can see it looming at no great distance that her prestige is falling in the eyes of the world. If we had India's gold and wealth, she— like a Jew — would stretch forth her grasping arm to our assistance, to get share, of the spoil ; but, as we are enterprising colonists, and striving hard to make a home for ourselves and for England's glory, she must needs, as she did with America, rouse the Wood of, our veins to turn from her iri disgust, .although she proudly sent one of her eons to be feted. at our cost. The very presents that he made, although well paid i>y th&Brftish: taxpayer^ are at this moment going to be. repaid by our noble fellow-co-lonists ?n. Australia, to shew England that our hearts are in good keeping. — I am, &c, A Settler.