To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Times

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 5, Issue 282, 23 June 1865, Page 2

To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Times

Sir.—ln reading Donald M'Lean’s proposed scheme of leasing that portion of the Ahuriri Plains now in the hands of the Govermnentfit strikes one forcibly that under a somewhat plausible surface, there lies a deep laid scheme for the benefit of the Squatocracy of the Province. The proposed conditions of a lease, being so encircled with a chain of harsh clauses, as must effectually act in preventing any of the struggling industrious poor for whose benefit the scheme is proffessedly intended, from getting any share of the land. There is no room to doubt that the person filling the office of Government Prosecutor, under the Native Lauds Purchase Ordinance! has had a private meeting with his friends o the Clique, they finding it getting rather warm in their woolly coverings, through the absorption of the best lands of the Province, would have so many stringeut conditions in the proposed scheme of leasing as would effectually prevent any hut capitalists from availing themelves of the Government plan and obtaining a footing on the plains. The big bugs, no doubt, felt very shaky at their meeting, and hence the harsh restriction

proposed by their mouthpiece, Denali M Leaa which should tell in their favor should these resolutions be adopted, when they will have gained another victory over the working man, and instead of small Farms, occupied by a thriving Yeomanry ; we shall see large and rich paddocks, appropriated to the fattening of the Squatter’s wethers, for exportation. But should the People‘s friends in the Council, be a le to defeat the Squatters on jthis point, now that the Government has at its disposal, land suitable for small farms, if only it be placed within the reach of that class so much needed amongst us; we shall soon be rendered independent of the importation oi dour, tor our local consumption : soon we shall see smiling fields of wheat where but lately green the wild flax and the coarse Native grass wheat has already been proved to be a paying crop in this Province, and with two excellent flour mills, now both in active operation, to say nothing of one standing in the town unemployed, to the disgrace of a Government that has permitted a clique to keep the public lauds out of the hands of an agricultural population; ready to afford to the small farmers the means of turning their wheat into flour, of a quality second to none in the Colonies, has as been proved. One of these mills, although on a bad site, has machinery and stones equal to any of it’s size, in the old Country, grinding at the rate of about 200 bushels of wheat per diem, producing 4 tons of the finest flour, as is acknowleged by competent judges. Both these mills are the property of Leal natives, and are under the superintendence of one of the best millers in the Colony, whose only regret is, that there is not wheat enough grown in the neighborhood, to keep the mills and himself fully employed. It is a most grievous state of things, that while we possess the finest wheat growing laud in the Island, we should o O 7 still have to import the flour for our daily use and be placed at the mercy of the merchants of the town, mostly squatters, for a suiqdy of musty Chilian and offensive Auckland flour, almost equally poisonous, being ground from smutty and germinated wheat while our own wheat is not to be excelled, nor our flour to be equalled.—l am Sir, Yours <fcc. Anti-Squatter. Napier, 29th June 1865. Sir—At a time when measures of such importance are brought before the Council, and which so particularly afiect Town interest, it is naturally to be hoped that the Gentlemen selected by the Electors to represent them, would perform their duty. The electors generally have the conviction fast dawning upon them, that one of their Representatives has played them false, aud their indignation may be easily conceived. Mr Kennedy has acted most treacherously, and I can well conceive the humiliating feeling he must experience when sitting at the Council table and know that be is acting the Judas. I need not point outj at present, Mr Kennedy’s par ticular shoi t-comings. The divisions on the several very important matters lately brought before the Council, and which I may one day collect for general inspection, have been noticed, and I hope remembered by the public. May they be particularly remembered at the meeting to be held on Saturday next. To indicate one instance from many Mr K.’s very faithless conduct has occasioned. 1 may conclude with a remark, made by a gentleman to me, only a few days ago, and which is more remarkable for candour than elegance,- —“ What a fool I was to vote for Mr Kennedy.”—Yours, &c.\ An Elector. ‘ Napier. 22ud Jtme, 1865.