The Lyttelton Times. February 26, 1853.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 112, 26 February 1853, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times. February 26, 1853.

February 26, The following letter, addressed by Mr. Sewell to Mr. Brittan, has been forwarded to us for publication. The late hour at which we received the letter forbids our making any comments upon it. We may, however, briefly remark that it cannot fail to remove a great deal of misapprehension ; but there are still one or two points left untouched by Mr. Sewell, which are referred to at considerable length by a Correspondent, who writes under the cognomen of Zeno. Mr. Sewell indirectly promises to "touch upon other topics" on his return from Wellington; till then, it is useless going into questions which': in ay be explained away by a word. It is strong proof of the healthy state of public opinion, that the question of the " reserved lands" is so anxiously engaging the attention of the community.

Lyttelton, Feb. 24, 1853

My Dear Sik,—ln the last number of the. Lyttelton Times there appears a letter from Mr. Wakefield to Mr. Mathias, specially alluding to me. Such use of my name was without my sanction and contrary to my wishes. I have been only a short time in the colony, and am necessarily very imperfectly acquainted with local circumstances. The difficulties of my position(as entrusted with the winding up of the Association's, affairs) have been increased by Mr. Godley's departure for England; for though I have received all possible assistance from Captain Simeon, Mr. Godley's successor, yet he is himself new in office.

On these accounts I was anxious not to be drawn prematurely into discussions for which I could not be prepared.

I am, however, obliged to go to Wellington without delay,, and must avail myself of the opportunity offered by the " Minerva," 'which sails on Saturday next. I hope that my detention there will be very short. In the meantime I am anxious to leave behind me a few words of explanation- which, though hasty and brief, may have the effect of removing some prevalent misapprehensions.

Finding no lawful or recognized organ of the Colonists at large, I address myself to you as Chairman of the Society: of Landpurchasers (the only local body known to the Committee of Management in England), as a medium of communication, which though informal and very imperfect, may suffice for the present purpose. On my return from Wellington, I shall have ample opportunity for that further and unreserved communication which I anxiously desire.

But there are two points, on which I think it important to remove wrong impressions without delay. On my arrival, I found with deep regret and surprise, a current belief—

Ist. That the * Association had wholly failed to provide means for answering its engagements with Clergy and Schoolmasters.

2ndly. That it had purposely suppressed its accounts —from which circumstance, taken in connection with the supposed failure of the Church and Educational fund, an inference has arisen that its funds have been improperly wasted or mis-applied.

As regards the first point, I received from several of the Clergy, particularly from Mr. Paul and Mr. Mathias, the Bishop's Commissaries, a complaint that intimation had^been given to all the, Clergy and Schoolmasters in the Settlement, of the intention forthwith to discontinue payment of their stipends. I find this to be in accordance with Mr. Godley's financial arrangements left with his successor, Captain Simeon.

I am happy to say that after a full examination with Capt. Simeon, we assured ourselves that the Church and Educational fund properly applicable to the payment of stipends is sufficient to meet the Association's engagements. We calculate the available income for the present year, at not less than £1,150, of which about £750 arises from permanent investments which are of increasing value, and about £400 the due share of pasturage licenses. The fixed engagements of the Association for stipends, &c, do not exceed £800 per annum. I So not at present trouble you with details. We have explained the exact circumstances to Mr. Paul and Mr. Mathias, as Bishop's Commissaries.

. But I must add that this due application of the Church and Educational fund to its proper objects involves a derangement of Mr. Godley's financial plans for the current year, according to which such funds were to be applied, with other funds, in the first place towards the maintenance of ordinary establishments. Without undervaluing the importance of these establishments, we agree that we can only follow one rule, viz.,;to apply the funds at our disposal strictly according to their proper and legal destination. . But further, it is obvious that Land sales having; been stopped in England, and no land tyeing in course of sale in the Colony, the fund available for miscellaneous expenses, such as Surveys, &c, must be inadequate. We are fully alive to the importance of •maintaining, if possible, the Land office land Survey establishment, until the management of the waste lands passes into new hands. On the other hand we cannot

cast the burthen of their maintenance on private individuals in England, who have already made large pecuniary sacrifices.

It is likely that the Management of the Waste Lands will fall to the general Government. Looking- to the possibility of that event, we propose to have a personal conference with the Governor, in order to make the best arrangement practicable for the public service.

In the meantime there is no reason to apprehend a failure of provision for the necessary staff of Clergy and Schoolmasters. So far, as to the first point. As to the 2nd, on which I have said that misapprehension exists, it arises out of a difference of opinion between JMr. Godley and the Association, on certain fundamental principles of policy, in the conduct of the Association's affairs.

The view taken by the Committee of Management in England of their true and right policy was, that every effort should be made to obtain for the colony at the earliest possible moment the means of selfgovernment by representative institutions, and that the powers of the Association should be transferred to a legally organised Provincial Government, when established, if willing to undertake them. But till the establishment of such lawful authority on the spot they held themselves responsible for administering their affairs according to the provisions of their charter and agreeably with the practice of other bodies of a like public nature.

When therefore they received from Mr. Godley an intimation to the effect (as they understoood) that he proposed to submit all questions relating to the general management of the Association's affairs, including supervision of accounts to the Society of Land Purchasers in the colony—it was felt that such a mode of transacting business, at all events as regarded home affairs, would be impracticable, and that the attempt would lead to great difficulty and embarrassment. Accordingly they dissented from Mr. Godley's suggestion, of publishing their accounts, or laying them before your Society for audit and controul.

If the Committee of Management were wrong, their error has been one of judgment not of wrong intention, though I have never heard any sufficient grounds for doubting the correctness of their principle.

Your Society had no legal organization, was self-created and irresponsible, and could not be regarded as representing rightfully the colony at large. I find it on my arrival in a state of practical dissolution.

Besides, distance alone would have prevented it from exercising with any good effect the functions of auditors of home accounts ; whilst without vouchers, or any sufficient means of explanation, the opening of complicated accounts to such a distant body, could never have given satisfaction, but must either have sunk into an empty form or presented a field for mischievous and interminable controversy.

It was with, deep regret that the Association found itself at issue with Mr. Godley upon these and other points of a cognate kind. But in the meantime the Association's accounts have been duly examined and found correct, by a Government auditor appointed by the Board of Trade, and their general results have been published in accordance with the charter.

I should have brought with me a perfect copy of them but that it was impossible to close them up to the 30th of September, before the " Minerva" sailed. I expect them in a complete form by the "Tasmania." It will be my duty to present them to the Provincial Council when formed. The vouchers of course remain in England, but I shall feel myself bound to express my readiness to afford to'the Council such explanations as may be in my power to vender them intelligible. As to publishing them

in extenso, the notion would be absurd, as they occupy a great part of four folio ledgers.

I avoid touching upon other topics for the present, and beg you to believe that I remain, my dear Sir, very truly yours, Henry Sewemd.

W. G. Brittan, Esq., Christchurch.