ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 10, 14 December 1844, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Jo the Editor of the New Zealand Spetator and Cook's Straits Guardian. Sia, — It has hitherto been the policy of the Wellington newspapers to disregard the plaintive cry of the poor, under the mercenary apprehension, that it would reflect unfavorably on the prosperity of the colony. But 'tis nojonger, if indeed it ever was, of any service to continue this system of dissimulation. It is known to every newspaper reader in every British colony

that the expenditure of the New Zealand Company has suddenly ceased, — it is known that the New Zealand GoTernment is insolvent and embarrassed, and that the epidemic of mercantile difficulties has not been altogether averted from our shores ; — under such a combination of unfavourable influences, could it be expected that the labouring classes would not suffer ? The truth it, and let us not hesitate to own it, there is not a colony in which want, in proportion to the number of inhabitants, is so great without any immediate or prospective means of amendment, as in this, —although to the credit of our unhappy sufferers be it said, it is comparatively seldom that we are importuned by applications for relief. The increase of acts of pure desperation during the last four weeks, has, I believe, induced the Police to make a few passing inquiries into the state of the poor, but here ends their power of interference ; they have no fund from whence they can adminster assistance, nor any asylum into which they can give them admittance. He who will visit the huts and hovels in the vicinity of our town, will be readily made aware, that the misery I speak of is in, no wise imaginary. I draw no exaggerated picture, when I say that he yrsl occasionally ifijtness '"parents and MJhildro^ i mingling their tears in the distressing cry for food : that he may see the helpless infant vainly seeking its accustomed nonrishment from the breast of which want has dried the fountain, whilst the mother's palid cheek but too truly corroborates her pitious tale of a long unbroken fast; — he will behold sick bed scenes; but here let compassion be silent. Large sums are being spent in the erection of churches, and the greatest yearning 'evinced for religious parades, yet not a hand is stretched forward in aid of these poor people; religious parade may be good, but religion in practice I hold to be better. In the mother country the poor found always the most ready assistance in the ladies. Do these accomplished ornaments of our society feel no desire to emulate their sisters at home in such humane offices ? Has the charitable hand of the Englishman also waxed bo cold as to withhold that lioerality which he has a' ways hitherto been distinguished for? These questions I now leave to themselves to answer. In the meantime, were a committee of gentlemen formed to inquire into the state of things to which I would hereby call attention, and that, under their humane auspices, subscription lists were opened, I trust and hope that their is neither man nor woman who would not at once consent to place a trifling tax upon their luxuries or pleasures, in order to produce in behalf of their less favoured fellow-colonists a mitigation of their distress ; — and although 1 do not myself wish to occupy any prominent position in these arrangements, yet if my suggestion is thought worthy of being followed, my name shall again occupy a place in your lists of subscriptions. Respectfully Your's, Uenevolentia.

To the Editor ofjhe Ifeu^Zealand Spectator and Cook's Straits Guardian. Mr. Editor, — Under the head of " Gardeners' Calendar," in to-day's Spectator, I find the following directions :—: — "Field, — Harvest wheat crop and dig early potatoes." Would it be advisable to cut my wheat green and before it comes into ear, or had I better wait two months and allow it to ripen ? and in regard to the early potatoes I find mine are about the size of small marbles, would you advise me to dig them now, or allow them to remain in the ground until they become somewhat larger? An answer in your next paper will oblige Your constant reader, Ignoramus. Wellington, December 7, 1844.