A SOLDIER'S DEFENCE OF SOLDIERS A SETTLERS.

New Zealander, Volume 12, Issue 1029, 27 February 1856, Page 3

A SOLDIER'S DEFENCE OF SOLDIERS A SETTLERS.

To the Editor of the New Zealander. Sih, —It was some eighteen months ago, when in Enghmd, I was first induced to look upon New Zealand as possessing the advantages, and inspiring favorable Copes, o/ a comfortable and happy home. Emm Newspapers and correspondence I became aware of the peculiar inducements otic red 10 Naval and Military Settlers. 1 have now been quartered in this Province for a considerable period ; - came with (lie expectation of ultimately reaping the bencht of those peculiar advantages ; —have invested the savings of 1 2 Jong years (to me a large sum) in its lands ; have personally laboured hard to improve that land, in the simple hope of ultimately earning for myself and family an independent position. In this endeavour, or in my industry, 1 am not an is dated case; I am personally acquainted with several (at p esent serving,) who have been allured by the same glowing promises.

Sir, am I, or shall I become, one of those naval and nilitary settlers, stigmatized as “ the worst of setdors?'’ if so, in what docs my offence consist? I have seen your Pensioner Settlements of Howick, Panmurc, Otaliuhu, and Onehunga, and consider hey would do no d scredit to some ot tire most pleasng villages of die mother country —certainly 1 caniot see anv traces of these “ worst of settlers”--un-

less, indeed, it consists in having good roads, —many good, neat and clean homesteads—handsome and useful gardens. Ur to look in your City —ho* many ot these “ worst of settlers” occupy honorable and independent positions in society ?—indeed, so mixed and interwoven are tlu.se “very worst of settlers’’ throughout yuur provnee, that—take them away and your constitution is nothing but a painted sepul-chre-foul and rotten within—a tit nrachi e for a helmsman who could breathe such a ioul assertion as that “Military Settlers are the worst of settlers. ’

Why, Sir! they are the very heart’s-blood of the Colony and of most other Colonies —in all ages and countries, naval and military settlers have been the promo ,ers, tire strength, and the safeguard of young GoiOIRSSi

I cannot say I belong to this or that clique or party -—neither am I much gifted in Political Philosophy but plain common reasoning lam open t". n libel on a hard-working, worthy, respectable body of men is passed by a leading member of your Executive. Js it just? Is it right? Or is it the ebullition of one in the proud conceit of party power, or is it spleen ? I am, A Vrinr Humble Individual.