Original Correspondence.

Taranaki Herald, Volume VII, Issue 343, 26 February 1859, Page 3

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the taranaki herald.

Sir, — I shall feel obliged if you can give the enclosed letter a place in your paper. On account of its length I am almost afraid to ask, hut sooner than suffer any curtailment would feel obliged by its omission. I am, Sir, yours, &c, W. K. Hulke. Hun, 21 Feb. 1859. Fellow Settlers, — Having waited some months in the hope that an abler pen than mine would have endeavoured to arouse you fiom the deep lethargy you seem in, and to cause you to arm and prepare yourselves by forming a deputation of your best men, to meet any of our model ministry, or even the Governor, ii he or they should visit us ; as none seem to relish the task (probably thinking it hopeless) I bhall try and do my duty as a colonist, however unthankful such a monster task may be. As Land and Steam form our all engrossing topic I shatl endeavour briefly to draw your attention to them both, and commence with that we are most in want of — Land.

I question if the emigrant, after a long and boisterous passage, at hearing that word, has his hopes more aroused than we have, at hearing that the government have bought a few paltry hundred acres of fern land, or even by healing that there is a prospect of such a purchase. Fellow settlers, let us look unflinchingly at our present position, bad as it is, it might have been worse; the Government having done all they could to render it so. Sunonnded as this settlement is with hundreds of thousands of acres of the most feitile open land in New Zealand, we do not even possess sufficient to feed our increasing flocks. Who has forgotten being obliged tluee years since to lefiain from breeding, or else to kill his increase? I question if even the great Donald McLean has had to do that. No— things ale not so bad with him yet ; there is more land held by government officers as sheep runs than would satisfy the reasonable requirements of this settlement for the next twenty years. If they want land anywhere, excepting at New Plymouth, it is bought, even if it does not pay common interest for money. — Can any settlement say that there is not an uncultivated 50 acie fern section in their province, excepting Taranaki 1 No ! They count their unoccupied open land, not by 50 acres, but by 50,000, or even 100,000 acies. What inducement is there for the growing generation, or for fresh arrivals, to stop here in hopes of obtaining land at all, much less at reasonable rates, when they have this fact staring them in the face? — that the government have only bought from the natives about 3,000 acres of fern land during the last ten years — that that land never came into the market, having been selected under land orders issued nearly 20 years ago — that there are from 3,000 to 5,000 acres remaining yet to reselect (l et a ' one t i e Absentee Compensation Scrip) and that then they will have to compete at auction with scrip holders holding money scrip issued by the Provincial Government as payment for roads, fences, &c, &c, and which scrip, owing to the presentsystem.is continually increasing. To parents, and to all in want of land, I now earnestly appeal. — To parents in particular — Are you satisfied to see your children as they grow up, leave to procure laud in other settlements;

those children for whose welfare you left all that was dear to you in England — those children for whom you have toiled and slaved so many years to start them in life. Your long silence mrfkes me think you are crown callous ! Did I not remember " that hope deferred makofh the heart sick." I should have thought I was surrounded by Kussian serfs cowed by oppression, or Austrian subjects afraid to open their mouths fur fear of the dunpeon. Arouse from this lethargy — whilst there is life there is hope. Report says that Mr Richmond is coming, and that we may expect Governor Browne in the Iris. Be prepared for them! call a public meeting; sink all party spirit— let all unite for the geneial good ; select the best men amongst us for s deputation, men that will not be put off by a half promise however flattering it may come even from the representative of her Majesty or his Minister — men that can and will speak their minds in firm but respectful language, however unpala able it may be to official ears, and who will impress upon the Go . vernor that we have waited years for land, who will remind him that the Government have refnsed to buy land in New Plymouth from natives offer'ng it. Let a Commission be demanded to inquire into the native title, and call on the Government to protect those who are desirous of selling if they prove their ownership. Let the Government be reminded that if it will not give the price demanded or come to terms, there are others that will give it— that the longer the purchase is deferred the greater will be the price demanded. They might once have bought it for a few pence per acre, now it is shillings — take care that it dors not become pounds. I, as an individual, shall not rest satisfied, until I see the native enjoying the same privileges, and subject to the same penalties as Europeans. The present Native policy is worse than a farce. A day will come when concession may be too late. If the Natives are considered sufficiently advanced to be eligible (if legally qualified) to be elected as M.P.C., to the office of Superintendent, and even M.G-.A., surely they can sell a few paltry acres of land, 'Withhold that privilege much longer and they will take it into their own hands — and that too legally, for nothing is more easy — hundreds of Europeans will help them to do so. The war cry will be Register! Register! — put up for M.P.C. and for the General Assembly ; our numbers will return us, and we then can erabe those unjust distinctions which make us children whenever it suits the present Government. What difference is there between buying land at a high price from a Native or an absentee ? I will tell yon. The Native spends his money in the settlement — the other out of it ; so it is preferable to pay a good price to a Native for his land, as ultimately we reap the benefit. Remember the answer to the Memorial of the Provincial Council with regard to buying or leasing land at Waimate. Tell the Governor in firm but respectful language that the settlement is being ruined for the want of more land — that land can be procured, either by purchase or lease ; and that however objectionable leasing may be land must be had. If the Governor should remind you that the Government could afford you no protection on leased ground, you well remember the protection the Bell Block settlers received from it during the last four years on freehold land. The old adage holds good yet— Nothing venture, Nothing win. Show the Governor by his own Blue Book that we have more land fenced and under cultivation, keep more stock to the acre on it, and have a larger cotrespondence through the post, (in proportion to our population) than any other settlement. Ask him if patient perseverance and untiring industry deserve such treatment. Bid him look at the immense quantity of open fern land surrounding this settlement, running more than ISO miles in length, let him count its native occupiers, and their acres in cultivation ; will he do so 1 No. The answer would be too plain. He prefers allowing them to act the Kilkenny cat tragedy than to step in and act as a mediator, offering the protection of the Queen of England to the oppressed. Ask him to call a Mass Meeting of the Natives of our Province ; remind him that Sir G. Grey did so. Mind no shirking this time — no stopping on board ship. The Natives have not forgotten Adam Clarke's treatment during the first and last visit of the Governor three years ago. Above all be iirm, but respectful j remember the fable of the bundle of sticks, and the day must be ours. No doubt many of my fellow settlers, particularly those who think the name of Governor sacred, and are content to worship for the sake of preferment will call me an Agitator, and one desirous of embroiling you all in a Native war. Well, be it so. If wishing well to this our settlement, and endeavouring by every Constitutional means to obtain land, that justice should be rendered equally to all, without distinction of races, makes me an Agitator, I am content to bear that name, and having administered the dose must wait to see its effect. W. K. Hulke.