WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1869.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 286, 14 April 1869, Page 2

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1869.

f*"~ ■*> { J_w a second letter to the Press, consisting chiefly of personal matters, Mr •^gaopefo-VViliJon professes to have replied to an article which appeared in : ibis journal on Monday. We have no personal quarrel with Mr Wilson, *«rhose own estimate of himself and ot sua relative positiou to the rest of mankind, including ourselves, wo are gaite willing to* accept for what it is worth. We may, possihly, differ from i&, but the question is so very immaterial, compared with the subject out

of which the discussion arose, that we cannot hope, and do not care to claim, the attention of the public for its consideration. We may be permitted to say, however, that if it suits Mr W9~son to write a letter to a public journal calling an act of his own " graceful," and proclaiming it, and if, at the same time, he cau go out of his way to make it known that he was so generous and patriotic as not to take a certain honorarium from the Colonial Treasury, to which he was entitled, he must not be at all surprised if the public give him credit for a vulgar vanity which,_truth to say, he is at no pains to con_ceal7 As Mr Wilsou has thought fit to~Be so confidential about his conductin the Pokaikai Commission, we gladly give him the benefit which our circulation implies in making it widely known that he did not draw the honorarium to which he was entitled. We always think it a high privilege to give the public such information as may lead them to correct what, on good grounds, they might consider a natural inference from previous knowledge and a prevailing opinion. It is almost unnecessary to point out that Mr Wilson has altogether ignored the chief point in the article which he professes to discuss. He indeed repeats that we attempted to hold certain men up to public execration, and he now specifically charges us with having attacked Mr Cox in his absence. Well, we leave the public to say whether we did or not — they are perfectly competent to judge, and we are quite willing to abide by their verdict. When Mr Wilson says that we are attempting to prevent the re-election of certain men as members of the General Assembly he, perhaps unwittingly, gives us credit for a sincere belief in the principles we advocate and for an earnest desire to do our duty. If,as wehave said, theoverwhelming presence of a certain intereat iv the Assemblyis prejudicial to tbegeneralwelfare.it follows that we should be neglecting our duty to the public if we failed to point this out, or to do our utmost in reducing the evil as far as possible. On this ground, therefore, it may become necessary that we should endeavour to perform our share in guiding the public, as to their choice of representatives, in such a way as we believe to be in accordance with the best interests of the great body of colonists. Iv speaking of the Native Lands Act 1862, Mr Wilson has, we think, given another clear oroof how dangerous it is to the public interests that men who know very little of what they are legislating upon should be intrusted with the power of assisting to involve the colony in great and endless trouble with the Native race. The public are gradually awakening to a full appreciation of the fact that the legislation of the colony has been mainly influenced by those whose interests are diametrically opposed to the advance of colonization. It follows that, in due time, they will do all they can to remedy this crying evil, and that they will choose for their representatives those whose interests are identical with their own — with the general progress of the country, and the extension of those industries from the gradual establishment aud spread of whioh they may reasonably hope for a prosperous future. Mr Wilsou is apparently an admirer of the Poet Laureate. This being the case, he will, perhaps, thank us for reminding him that Teunyson, in describing his own ideal man, calls i him A selfless man and stainless gentleman. Mr Wilson will have no difficulty in perceiving that to be the latter it is indispensable to be the former first.