THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1741, 12 November 1862, Page 3

THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

To the Editor of the Neav Zealander. \uu know me as one who before now lias opposed the return of Mr. Williamson as Superintendent of this Province, and it is because this change in my views is being constantly thrown up to me, and their change, 1 believe to others, that I now, through your columns, am constrained to vindicate my own anil the actions of those who, thinking like me, dare to change their opinions with the altered circumstances of the case.

The advocacy of a system of immigration which reserved for the people’s own use and enjoyment the waste lands of this Province always appeared to me an extenuating feature in a political career with which I could not altogether agree; aud, did this policy form a inaiq feature in the programme of any other mentally qualified candidate, I should not, probably, be inditing this present letter. But the time has now, I perceive, arrived in this Province, when the middle class must make a stand, and a decisive one, against those whose ambition and opportunity lead them to attempt the formation of a landed aristocracy in the country similar to, in all its baneful effects and without the extenuating advantages of that which we have left behind in the mother country. For I cannot conceive, whatever Mr. Robert Graham can say to the contrary, that connected politically and socially as he is with a certain section of our moneyed and ambitious citizens, he could do otherwise than play their game, which is also his own. He cannot serve two masters, and the endeavours ot himself and his supporters, without whom he is nothing, to avail themselves of the hue alteration of the law in favour of direct purchase for the aggrandisement ot themselves, can never he consistent with the professions they make of wishing to promote immigration, which is necessarily the life-blood of a new country such as this. We will not, wc cannot as a people, return to that state of political degradation, if I may so call it, which has in very many instances induced ns to break up homes in the old country, to settle where we were led to believe such a state of society did not exist. Who has not witnessed the political degradation which the pressure of a powerful landed aristocracy is daily exercising on the people at home? and who that has felt this degradation would tamely suffer the yoke to he fastened on his nCck? I need not tell you, sir, that I am not what is called a “ forty-acre man;” —that 1 have been of many more years standing in the Colony than that not altogether perfect but still excellent system of disposing of the waste lands; nor need I tell you that I am no novice in the electioneering tactics of Auckland, and can plainly see the turn on which this election will hinge. It will be the battle of the middle class against the attempted claims of a spurious and mushroom aristocracy. It will be the battle of the far-seeing capitalist, who knows that only as the country in which his property maybe situated is densely and prosperously settled, can it be of value, against the one whose greed leads him to add block to block and sheep run to sheep run, lor the mere gratification of ruling in a comparative waste. It will be the battle of the sturdy labourer, whose present hope is to raise himself into the ranks above him, and obtain for himself and his children after him some portion of the land on which he sweats, against those whose present boasted influence amongst the natives and whose power of working for their own use the still greater Bank influence which they possess, aim at becoming the monopolisers of what is truly the common estate of the people, not alone of New Zealand, but ot Britain.

The “ Native Lands Bill,” it may be said, cannot now he revoked, (yet it would be difficult to say what the present outspoken opinion of this Province might not even now effect.) but it is possible with a man at the head of Provincial affairs whose motive and whose honest and consistent aim has been the populating of this Province by the host of all classes—the midddc and working classes of Britain, interspersed with capitalists of the upper and educated ranks, it is possible, I say, with such a man, that much may yet be done to avert the worst features of the evil which has been brought about; and I cannot refrain from calling ou my brother electors who may think otherwise, to pause ere they place in power a party which has long been waiting for this present opportunity, and whose almost avowed aim is to divide the population into two distinct classes —the powerfully wealthy and the dependent poor —against the latter ol whom when the land is divided into cattle and sheep runs, Maori labor will be brought into active competition. For reasons such as these, and for that common ground on which I can cordially meet oui lute Supei intendent —“the determination to keep this Province as much as possible free from aristocratic tyranny on the one hand, as from mob rule on the other lam prepared to sink all minor differences, and yield up my own private feelings for the liilino prosperity and welfare of our adopted country. 1 am, Sir, An Elector. Auckland, Bth November. To the Editor of the New-Zealander. Sii{ —On Wednesday last I went to see the nomination. and being a new comer I felt rather anxious to see how an affair of this sort would be conducted m this the Britain of the South. Well, I found it much about the same sort of tiling as in the old country, with this difference, that a few of the noisiest people seemed to he rather of a better class than those who conduct themselves so at home. Standing ncai tic hustings, I saw a decent looking sort of man ) effing very like an hyena. Was it liquor ? No. He appeared sober. I asked a person standing by mo who he was. He said he was a member ol the City Board of Works. 1 thought it very strange that a man in this position should make use of the horrifying and brutal language that he was using towards the unfortunate wight that was nominating Mr. \V illiarason. I wonder if that is the usual style of oratory at the City Board. Yours, &e., - A New Comer. Nov. 5, 1862. To the Editor of the New Zealander. Sir, — Knowing you have always a vacant cornel in your valuable journal for the public weal, I am tempted to bring before your notice an idea that might benefit the public. I have noticed that every time the mail from England is being made up there is an unusual rush at the Post-office; and that owing to this cause it is very difficult to get letters weighed. I would suggest that in order to obviate this great inconvenience the same plan should be adopted as is in every day use both at Die Melbourne and Dunedin Eost-officcs—there should he placed outside the Post-office two or three pairs of letter scales, so that every one can satisfy themselves as to the weight of their letters without troubling the officials inside. I am sure that if this plan were adopted, it would he a saving both of time and trouble, not only to the officials hqt (list) tq the public at r largo.