Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 11, Issue 928, 7 March 1855, Page 3

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the N f.w-Zf.alwdf.r. f ir Fair contributor” to this day’s Southern Cross appears determined to nail you for not giving us the state of the poll at Coromandel in your paper of the 24th February. Now, sir, it has occurred to me that you, like me, might have i laboured under an impression that there were not forty electors in the district of Coromandel. 1 I may be wrong, but that is my opinion ; and I 1 think, if the electoral roll were re-erred to, that | forty persons entitled to vote could not be made j out. I am sure when I noticed the return in the Southern Crow, two days after the election, I thought it must be a mistake in (he printing of a 4 for 1 : others, not disposed to make such allowances, I’ve heard to exclaim “ Pooh, never mh d, it’s only the Crow.” It was a current re- , port in town that at Coromandel there were 12 that had polled for Mr. Brown and 8 for .Mr. i Whitaker; now if you were not informed of the 1 exact state of the poll, I think it was far better 1 for you to wait till you were. This you did—so that I take it for granted that your arrangements t we c either it ss perfect than those of the Southern Cros ,, or that you and your proprietor had less at stake in the’result than the editor-proprietor of your contemporary, 1 have heard of strange stories of past midnight couriers, and certain presents to them to enjoy the good new*. Yours, &e, JUSTITIA. [Our remarks on the loiter alluded t) by our correspondent will be found in another column. The charge of suppression made by the correspondent of the Son hern Crow is simply untr le. If the can lidate-editoi of the Southern Cross received intimation of the state of the poll at Coromandel on Thursday, ice did not, or on Friday cither , nor until we caused application to b? made for the late-t returns on the evo of our going to press with oursuhsequent numb t. We could have no object in abridging the officially-declared number of votes on either side; what we have complained of was the means which have been so unscrupulously employed to obtain Mr. Brown’s majority. —Ed. N.Z.] To the Editor of the Nkw-Zealaxder. How ick, March 1, 1855. Sin, —ln a letter in the Southern Cross of the 27th Fe’ ruary. sign-d “ Hugh Carleton,” he states t >at he walked down to 'dr. Brown’s committee room on account of something that had been said in the presence of the Returning Officer, with regard to spirits that had been supplied to Mr. Brown’s supporters, and was there assured that noth ng had been supplied to the voters. I happened to be in the R-turuing ijfficer s room, when lie (Mr. C.) returned ; he said that Mr James White (who by the bye, is Resident Magistrate’s Clerk, and who, upon a protest being made by mys If aud four oil er electors, against bis being employed to assist the Returning Officer in any official capacity, had been discarded from the polling booth by the Returning Officer on the morning of election for having made himself so conspicuous a partisan as to alio v his name to be affixed to a very large placard which was posted over the Settlement, requesting the e Vc ors to “Volt for Brown”) (had assured him (Mr. Carleton) that there was not anything being supplied to the electors. Mr. Carleton also pledged his honour (on Mr. White's word ! !) that such was the case. Perhaps the following FACT will be interesting to Mr. Carleton ; Mr. James McCarthy went on business during the polhngto Mr. White’s bouse (Mr. Brown’s Committee Room) aud was then and there accused by Mr. Lachlan Mclnnes (another of Mr. Brown’s agents) of being “a spy” for Air. Whitaker’s party ; Mr. White then said that such was not the case, ibnt be wnsthe'e on private busin-as. Mr. Lachlan Melon's then said “ Wcel, if so, the bottle must come out”; accordingly out came the bottle, when Mr. McCarthy and others were treated to as good brandy as ever left the Stores ot either Messrs. Brown & Campbell, or Gibson 4' Mitchell. 1 am Sir, Your most obedient servant, A. Aiti.VTYRE. To the Editor of the Nkw-Zea dander. Sir, Recent events having so nearly drawn to a cto'«, you will permit me through the column-; of your paper to oft’ r the lew following remarks on Cliqueism which every one must feel a curse, a weight, and u (lift'’- to every cause. None so great, none with principles so high, with doctrines so noble, can withstand its with ring effects. Against all cliques and all clii/nism I lake hold and uncompromising issue. Their hostility we should do our best to battle, and their influence to break down and shatter. Here iu Auckland there is a clique as unprincipled as it is ambitious and grasping. It seeks not alone to direct the affairs of those who rally around our Constitution, but it audaciously a-somes to dictate who si.all speak and act, and what say and do. It is this clique which profeasina all the decency all the wisdom, the cli.ruc ttr. ihe weight, the influence, the tone ot the party, attempts to muzzle aud control us members. dins it cannot do. . . , , .... There arc many men, with a spirit that will neither on 'he one aide be the victims of a base and slavi-h dictation or on the other be led like cowards which ever may suit the whim ot the clique. Still it has been attempted. A few men whom accident, not ab.lily, circumstances, not merit, chance, not manliness or patriotism, have raised to a position the be gbt of which has only magnified their unfitness to occupy it. These men taking to themselves that which no man has a right to exercise over another. Democratic in lip, but tyrant in heart, —lhe>e men essiy to tell you virtually, that your mind, your principles, your conduct in political life, is to be i s they mav be pleased to oermit. The semi-colouized clique ol New Z-a-laud is famous for its grasping and monopolising character. They ilulch. or attempt ho to do, the li mour aud the emoluments, the offices and ben. fits, of whatever they

may be attached too generally making for what they may lack in principle, by appropriating the principle ** Power anil Glory’’ of whatever i* to be had. I seriously regret that this clique is now in a fair way to bring alarming peril at every step upon our ■ adopted land, and the sooner the working masses rush to the rescue, and join a party to shufflejthem out, the b- fter for themselves ami their children. Hut time will shew, that a tew petty tvrants at the Iti-ad of a contemptible clique are tot* the men to direc, but to drive and wheedle the people out of tlndr ri.his, and though fora short time they may obtain the confidence of a few, it will eventually turn into deep disgust. Working Men 1 Discharged Soldiers and Pensioners I Sellers and Cittoisl Beware 1 Keep all eyes on their movements. Watch them constantly for this clique is the fatal adler which is stinging and poisoning our beautiful but struggling country. O.MIGA. Wakefield-street, Feb. 98, 183 £

Ihe Realities op War. — l have always imagine,* that split skulls and cloven beads were figures ofspeec 1 until to-day (23th) when I have indeed been convinced of the reality of such horrors. Someoftb** dead to-day bad their beads as completely cloven a* if the operation was performed by n surgeon with a saw. Nearly all the Russians were so killed. Our fellow* bad been principally shim with lance thrusts. I saw one body with thirteen such wounds through the chest and stomach. Another man had six, all of which worn mere flesh wounds, and not dangerous. The same man (in the 17th Lancers), extraordinary and incredible as it n.ay appear, bad two horses killed under him, one or two sabre and bullet wounds in his cap. hi# sword bent double in its sbeath by a Mini** bullet, live bullets in his Middle, one in his lance staff, -1101 swonl cuts innumerable. The lasi advices from America mention that 1110 Legists ure of Canada bad voted £''ii.ol)o towards the Crimea Fund ; £’lo,ooo to go to the English army,and 10 0 0 lo the French army ; the representatives of the lolonv remembering that tbey owe their origin both to Fiance and England. Officers who have arrived from Constantinople speak in tiie highest terms of Miss Nightingale and her nurses. The day before they sailed from Scutari, about 600 of the British troops, who had been wounded at Inkerra.mn, arrived at the hospital. Their wounds and bodies were wash' d by these ladies, clean linen supplied to them, and every thing which the most tender care could suggest was at hand in abundance. One stalwart guardsman, who had received three severe wounds, appeared deeply affected when lie found bunself the obji-ct of so much solicitude. “Ah,” add he, “now I see there are people in England who care for us poor soldiers.” A Lille journal reports that an old man, who was one of the hapless French soldiers in the Moscow campaign, has just returned to that city after an absence of forty years in Russia. He was taken prisoner, sent to Siberia, and subsequently attached to a mi itary corps. He was at the bailie of Alan, snd fled to Lis countrymen. Colonial Bishops. —The consecration o' the RevDr. Barker, Bishop designate of Sydney and Metropolitan, and of the Rev. Dr. Ryan, Bishop designate of Mauritius, took place on the 60th November, at the church of St, M<ry, Lambeth. Gallantry of Captain Peel.—The blue jackets are delighted with Captain Peel, who animates the men by the exhibition of the beat qualities of an orticer, though his courage is sometimes marked by an excess that borders on rashness. When the Union Jack in the sailor’s battery was shot away be seixed the broken staff, and Raping up on the earthworks, waved the old bit of bunting again and again in a storm of slot, which fortunately left him untouched. NAVAL AND MILITARY NEWS. The Admiralty yesterday gave notice that more sere 4' steamers were required to convey store* to the army i r Turkey. The ptef-rence is given to screws of about five bundled 'ons burden. Admiral Hamelin has ret irned to France, and has relinquished the command in chief of the French fleet in the Black Sea. A small detachment of French sapper* and miners traversed the streets of London yesterday in b -avy marching order, on their way to Gloucester, to lake charge of a number of wooden huts constructed th re for the French army in the Crimea. Major-General the Duke of Cleveland has declared that lie will accompany the r gim-nt of the South Durham Mil tia, of which he is the colonel, wherever it is ordered to proceed, whether to any part of thi United Kingdom, Gthraller, or even tbeCrim a. PRINCE MENSCHIKOFF’S force. The following is a general summarv of the troops at the disposal of Piince M-nscbikoff for defensive un I offensive operations Infantry 74,000 Cavalry 15,000 (fanners and drivers, &c. 6,000 Sappers and train 4,ti00 General total, with 264 field-pieces 99,000 FIFTH OF NOVEMBER, 1854. (SUNDAY.) IN ENGLAND AND IN THE CRIMEA. (From the " Guardian,’’) The Sun was bright, and hearts were light. On mat November day, And to Britain’s myriad churches Peaceful people came to pray. And at dawn* in many a chance) Little bands in silence met ; And the mystic prayer was offered. And the Sacred Feast was set. At that hour when many a bosom Was heaving deep in prayer. For some dear warrior far away,—• What was their Sunday there V No rest for weary captains, For men fatigued and worn ; No thought or prayer for minds perpleat. Came with that Sabbath morn. But with the early sunshine Came the Russians’ fierce attack, And seven long Sunday hours were past. Ere the British drove them back : And the dearest blood of England Was poured upon that plain. While loving hearts in church at home Prayed—it may be in vain. At noon.t by a thousand altars Through England far and wide, Ten thousand anxious worshippers Are kneeling, side by side. And who shall say no ray of light From that blest scene was shed On many a fearful sinking soul. Stretched on a gory bed; As 'mid the dreadful battle. His fancy wandered, dim. Where dear ones, meekly kneeling. Were praying, all for him. And as many a stricken soldier Death's darkening valley trod, >• In faith and fear"of 1 hrist, he felt Thousands were “ blessing God.’ For him— strange thought, yet sadly sweet.— Their end they sure must reach ; Thus offered at Christ’s very feet. Fond prayer, and blessing, each. And then, when gloomy evening fell On that November day. Round Britain's myriad firesides They grouped, the young and grey : And cheerfully conversed, a id read And prayed,—and when the night Crew older, each, upon his tied. Sought rest and slumber lightBut 011 that lonely hill-side, By Black Tchernaya’si flood. Lay English soldiers thickly slain. Each in his bed of blood. And soon in English homesteads The shadow darkly fell : And the sound of a solemn funeral dirge Hang in each Sabbath beil. j And thousands, who had hoped and prayed, \ T ow came to pray and weep For those who still are fighting th-re. And for those who are asleep. j Ven(nor, Nov. 10,10-M

* Early Communion. ♦ First .Sunday in Month. ;On the Tchernaya. called “the Black Riser, the battle wa* fought.