MR. CARLETON AND HIS BAT OF ISLANDS PETITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1298, 13 January 1868, Page 4

MR. CARLETON AND HIS BAT OF ISLANDS PETITION.

To tho Editor of tho Heuaid. Sin,—lt would appear that IS6B is likely to hring with it a new order of things, if not throughout the Province, at all events throughout this thinly-eettleil district. Tho natives look forward with considerable interest to tho reception of the Duko of Edinburgh, and there is little doubt but hia proaonce in Auckland will very much tend toward bringing ahonfc a much better feeling among the native people, and may be the meaue of bringing both races to terms more in accordance with what existed in tho early days of tho colony. Within tho last fr,w days Mr. Carleton has been mingling much among the peoj.lo, and has perauarted many among them to eign ft memorial, eonnuliiiig to tho 6H.1D0 effect with the resolutions which he placed on the Provincial Council paper lately. He wishes to do awav with our provincial institutions, and states openly that lib was the means of keeping tho Stafford Ministry in office, and of enabling them to refuse tho acceptance of tho terms offered by Williamson for this province—by tho stand ho and Farmer took in the Assembly !a?!~ session.

He (Mr. Carleton) objected to tho Bny of Islands Ppechl iSetUi-mtnia Block hoir.g handed over to the province during tlio last sittings, and fce had done before. It would appiar that he, Mr. Carleton, has great influence with the Stafford Ministry, or at loast he wishfis to makes tho people here beliavo so, fjr ho has staU'd when canvassing for signatures for his present memorial, " that he hid nuvio it all right -with Stafford to mate a number of appointments here instead of thoso now held under tho Prouncial Government,'"— which ho ie about to smash up as a part of the great work which he has to accomplish during bis great mission, &c, &2. Ho has gained a number of signatures at Russell and throughout the country settlement?. Any ono going about with a memorial, no matter of what nature his memoritl might be, could get signatures in any part of tho province. Mr. Carletoa has got a number of names through courtesy from mon who neither take the trouble to enquire into the politics of tho day, nor the nature of the memorial. Others again are ready to sign anything so long as a feasible sto y is told to them, &e., &c. But there are few persons hero who tolte an interest in politics, and although Mr. Carleton has avoided most of them, while ho made flattering promisee to others, yet a large p:irty have asked such questions aq tlio following, when requested to sign, if we aro to lose our constitutional liberty, and to be ruled from Wellington, where tho patronage and rovonue of the entiro colony is to bo hold with an iron grasp. What chance is there of the country districts being settled, —of having roads and bridges made, &c, &e. f AYhen did ever tho General G-overnment make roads and bridges ? or wht'n or where did it plant down sottllemenfa, or encourage locil improvements ? Or if tho General G-overnmenr will give double tho amount we may choose to lux ourselves for improvements ? Where does the General Government get that double portion

from ? They nlso ask Mr. Oarleton how it is that he has been receiving four or five hundred a year for being Chairman of Committees for a few weeks in the yerr; if, iudeeri, that larjc Mini is paid by us in the lorm. of duty on tea, coffej, tobacco, sugar, and other dutiable articles. And how it is that he has been receiving so large a eilary from the provincial departments whichhe filled—heretofore, seeing thatourinstitutions are now coming ti sirief owing to provincial extravagance. They say — does he really wish to sni He the generous hand (hat has helped him, and by tcliich he lircd and fattened ?

How is it that ilr. Carleton took part in the borrowing the half-million, on tho security of our lands and revenue—that ho hits taken an active part'in spending that half-million—and now that he and other.e have firmly fixed the yoke upon our necks ho 13 the first to turn about and to propose selling our liberty to Wellington, to send our provincial insiitutions away with, the seit of the General Government? How is it that tho Bay of Island?, and Hokignga, are tho only districts that hare neither got any portion of iho half millioD loan, nor a share of the revenue, wherewith to mnko improvemonts ? Is this bo becnuse we have no better representatives than Mr Cnrleton ? How is it that Eftipara, Albertland Papaknra, lliifiikoho, Wairoa, Wuipu, Wangaroi, Wailekerei, and a number of other places are now flourishing settlements, having roads, exports, improved farms, many of them well stocked with cattle, while the constituents of Wiingarei, Kaiparu, and even Mongonui, which is to tho north of :hU have reason to think well of their representatives P And why not, have they not dono something for their respoctive districts, while Mr. Oarleton'a coastituente have been loft to- languish like the inhabitants of a stationary Oriental village.

Mr. John Williamson bus boen tho promoter of immigration to this country, ido has Buttled most of the Rorth without borrowing. Ho was alvrnys opposed by Mr. Ourleton, who would not allow liirn to settle down or people cortain blocks in tho Buy. At the la6t sitting of the Assembly, had Mr. Caileton not prevented Mr. Williamson from getting over to the Province certain blocks of land, thero would be at thi3 moment, arrangements on foot for bringing one thousand families to settle in the Bay. Had'not Carleton and Farmer deserted the Superintendent in Wellington conditions would have boon got from tho Stafford Ministry thc.t would hare left, Auckland froe from General Government encumbrance, and left ua a large sum for education and public works. But now this Province ;nucli resembles Ireland, shortly before the Irish parliament was romoved from Dublin. While Mr. Curleton may justly bo compared not with Ireland's patriots, but with another class of politicians who have passed away, but not from the memory of the oppressed.

A number of tho sottlern, together with the people of Ruasell, are now becoming alivo to tho tricks which has been played on a few in this district by Mr. Carleton, and no doubt but you will soon hear of a publio meeting being hold here for the purpose of denouncing his conduct. Re has already Leon denouncod as well as hi 3 resolutions in many other places, but it is the pqoplo of this district that have the most reason for denouncing the man of great tentions. —I am, yoiira, &c., Ak Oid Bbttxbb. Bay of Island, Jan. R, 1868.