CORRESPONDENCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume V, Issue 16711, 6 February 1873, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE DEFENCE MINISTER. To the Editor of the Evening Herald] Sm, —Much, lias been said about the hon. j Mr McLean, but I would take the liberty of asking if lie is not a public benefactor. Does he not spend the resources of the Colony with a liberal and willing hand ? If any person doubts this he has only to cast his eyes about, and see for himself the number of sycophants, parasites, and toadies, that are following in his train ever since his arrival here. But if not satisfied with this he has only to look a little further and notice the aniouut of immorality, dissipation, and the drunken orgies of the Maoris, since the arrival of this distinguished and pre-eminently great man. That he is a benefactor (judging from these circumstances) I apprehend there are few will have the hardihood to deny, more particularly when it is borne in mind that he dispenses with a lavish hand the finances placed at his disposal all for one purpose, which is the degradation of the Maori race. This has been endorsed for the last few weeks, during which time the hon. gentleman has been profuse with his gifts upon his bosom friends, the tribes of the soil, and spent by them in procuring strong drink, playing Yankee grab, and other much more questionable practices, all having a tendency to elevate the moral standing of the risinggeneration. So much so that it has been dangerous for a respectable female to traverse our streets without witnessing scenes more than sufficient to shock her delicacy, and which would not be tolerated in any place presuming to have the slightest regard for self-respect or civilisation. But what can the inhabitants do ? The man of power is here uncontrolled, and provided with all that helps and assists to brutalise and corrupt. And who now rules the police, rendering them powerless to quell any disturbance.or unseemly conduct in the indigenous race ? This may be the policy of settling the native difficulty, but are we, in tolerating those disreputable scenes, and not raising our voices against them, doing our duty to our children ; and shall we no"

be held responsible to a far higher than any earthly tribunal. I apprehend we.will. bull I fancy I h ea i- some of Mr McLean's pakeha loafers reply, it is better to destroy : , the Maori race by brandy au d disease weljM^ known to many Europeans, than by the usef^ of powder and shot. But I say it would be far more charitable, far more merciful, to get rid of them (that is, if they are to be got rid of, which I very much question) by the aid of the bullet than by the baneful and -demoralising effects of "intemperance. Doubt ess the lion, the Native Minister with the long, vast, -and varied experience gained amongst them, is playinir fa card, to 7m own satisfaction, perfectly regardless at the interests of those from whom he is receiving his salary. : But a day of retribu-tion-will come, when perhaps the lineal descendants of the house of Makarini may { have to feel the hand of retributive iustice which may smite them as he now by his precious efforts is smiting and darkening the career of the Maoris. . lam/&c. ; .: ;,; Citizen. *