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Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 101, 11 December 1852, Page 10

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sir, —It is impossible to pass by your remarks in last Saturday's Times, relative to the non-political character of the Lyttelton Colonists* Society, without making a few comments thereon.

First, then, in reference to Mr. Alport's remark?, I would observe that I understood that gentleman to say, that the basis of the Society teas political, and that his object in proposing a Public Meeting was with the view of placing before the Inhabitants those most fitted to become our representatives, and who from feelings of delicacy abstain from coming forward. Now I have always been led to suppose that the object contemplated in dissolving the Society of Land Purchasers, was to obtain a more general representation of the sentiments of the people at large, instead of that of a particular class; as also to form a Society qualified to call Public Meetings, when deemed'requisite, for

the discussion of matters of social and political interest (vide Lyttelton Times, 24th April, 1552,Advertisement and Leading Article). Had such a Society existed at the period of Sir George Grey's last visit, his proposal to expend £500 a month on the main Road of the Settlement, extending over a period of nearly three years, would have been unanimously adopted, and we should not have now to lament the loss of labour we have since sustained, and the present want of employment for the able-bodied Labourers still left in the Settlement; bear in mind also, that this labour has been brought from England under the most extravagant arrangements that any Association would possibly invent, and the loss is, therefore, so much the more serious to us. If our Society is to be considered as non-po-litical, I hope the Electors will exact the following pledges from each and all of the candidates for the representation of our Settlement. Ist. To devote their earliest attention to the completion of the Main Road between the Port and the Plains, and to use every effort to obtain the necessary funds for that purpose, either by Loan or otherwise. 2nd. To demand a thorough investigation of the monetary affairs of the Canterbury Association^ and, if not deemed fully satisfactory, to refuse in toto to accept the transfer of the functions and powers of that Body. I remain, yonr's obediently, Jacob Faithful