Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 8, 26 July 1845, Page 3

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the New Zealander. Sir,-— Some few months back, when the cry was the " Maories are coming," all hand"! were set to work with great haste to erect a fortification on Albert hill. So fierce were the proceedings carried on, that the authorities could not eveu wait the necessary time to enquire whether they were building on their, own ground, or that of private individuals. It so turned out that the ground was private property, and the owner or owners of the particular site of which Government had taken such forcible possession, claimed compensation and insisted justly on being remunerated. It is unnecessary now to say at what price,— circumstances perhapi justified the appropriation of the land for such a purpose, although I am not one of those who will generally admit the power of the Executive to interfere with the vested rights of the owners of land. however, justice was awarded to the proprietors in this instance, and the site for the erection of Fort Ligar has a»ain become the property of the Crown. Aud what then ? Numbers of men were put on the work, and all seemed going on swimmingly. However, " a change came o'er the spirit of the dream," and this same Fort Ligar after being the pet hobby, delight, and amusement of the officials, who had planned j and set it going, is suddenly dropped ; the workmen are withdrawn, the incipient fortifications left to go to ruin, — aud all that the citizens of Auckland and the colonists generally can comfort themselves in, will be, that they have spent a sum of money, to pnrchase land for the erection of works, which they will never see carried out, aud that the annual budget j will be consequently increased, to gratify the vanity of j some parties who chose to begm what they had not energy enough to complete. Truly matters arequecrly managed in New Zealand ! I am, Sir, Yonr's, &c. CMS.

To the Editor of the New Zealander. Sir, — Reading your advertisement of Mr. Hastings Atkins' correspondence, with the Government, I cannot hut be struck with the belief that a great deal of this petty and foolish misunderstanding originates in misconception : the clerks and secretaries, or a$ they are too frequently termed officers, which not only elevates them in their own estimation, but also leads them to imagine that iheir province is to curb the public in the exercise of their privileges, vainly supposing in so doing they are protecting the rights of the Crown, and satisfactorily serving Her Majesty. Nothing can be more absurd !' They should be made to know that they were af pointed to their situations for the express purpose of facilitating public business, that is, in the abstract, affording, with diligence, to every individual, those aids required by custom or law, to transact his business, whatever his station in life, political opinions, courteous, moral or religious character; leaving to the law (which is strong enough), to punish any conduct militating against the well-being of society. Nor can any discourteous conduct in a public servant, receive authority from the supposed unceremonious demands on the part of a private individual. It may be too, should the officer take upon himself by way of inflicting a punishment on the unceremonious person, a neglect of duty, or purposed delays, he may not only be doing an injury to that party, but also to others, probably some of his own friends. If by his ill temper he cannot fulfil the duties of his office equally to all, or if by his want of ability any temporary interruption disables him from continuing the subject matter before him, — then the sooner he retires to make room for efficient persons, the better. In England, all persons appointed to transact the public business are generally termed clerks or servants, the honorary distinction of officers being confined to military set vice, or persons specially appointed to protect the interests of the Crown against abuse 01 encroachment ; in this light, may be considered Attornies and Solicitors, Revenue Officers, &c, —but those appointed to offices for the transaction of business between one party and another are certainly public servants. In small governments, such as this, both characters aie in some instances Jinked togethet, from necessity, and therefore the greater need to have gentlemen of courteous habits, from the frequent confusion and clashing of opposite interests. In the present case, the hubbub was <\ outsome crown grants, which while held by the Crown should use the caution necessar) to guard tuem, but the proper fees being tendered, they would cease fiom the Crown, and revert to the individual, the officer being in fact in trust for the public, and certainly not at liberty to refuse any legal demand for them ; but if the business requires legal proof, let him bring his books into Court, and let him see that no man is above the law uf right, if he thinks he his above that of courtesy. But Mr. Editor, is there not something of educational constitution in this,— -I think so; while the Colony is young, we have Naval Governors, — when we have become of more consequence to the Mother country, then Military Governors, and as your Sfar of Freedom rises, 30U will obtain a Civil Governor, and lastly a Representation. You well know, that it is a standing inli/ainong Naval Governors to support their first Lieutenant, if possible, be he ever j>o wrong, and thus maintain his consequence, from which, all the young clerks do think themselves officers; Mr. Atkins would have been much more successful if he had understood this, and quietly sent some person to whom the officers had not an ill-feeling. Jiy the bye, Mr. Editor, I notice too what your correspondent says about the cottage in Govern - mentdomain,— l think that if the Governor feels any doubt as to the loyalty of the European population, he is quite right to defend himself by native' pi otection. Mr. " Fair -Play " too, is rather hard ; I do not suppose the Hobart Town funds were sent to be distributed among their friends, nor even to those who had lost most, but to those who /.ad lost iheir present means of food and clothing; however little a man may have had, if he had lost all, whether it was property, houses, means of living, or even Government salary, he is as likely to be as hungry and cold as if he had had much to lose. Now, if" Mr. Fairplay" knows of any family suffering unrelieved, let him makej<

Mietn known, (or themselves) by letter to the persons distributing the funds, I can tell him, the Police Magistrate, the Port Officer, and some other gentlemen are conjoined in the business, and no doubt will thankfully receive any intelligence u hich they themselves could not obtain, It cannot be supposed that they know every case, and perhaps in some cases they may know 100 much. If the em but go prevents them from going back to the Bay, from which, we believe some few never left, the result of whose courage is a brisk trade with the natives, — -surely, Sir, the Government ought to maintain the refugees. You will excuse this desultory letter, a*, you may perceive it is merely the production of a ! Look.eu^on»