ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Wellington Independent, Volume V, Issue 416, 6 October 1849, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

*,*fl r e wish it to be distinctly understood that idthouijh it is our desire that this Journal should fredy express the opinions of our Correspondents we are nut to be ■considered responsible for their opinions. All Letters involviitij facts must be authenticated by tha name and address of the Writer.

To the Editor of the Wellington Independent

Slit, —The very important " Summary of Prisoners tried in Wellington during the live years cmling <^ st December, IS IB," published in the Jndcpi'iuli-nt of the .'>th iustaiit, would have afforded fuller data for conclusions, hud the relative numbers of each class of the population resident iv the Wellington District been given for each year.

In the absence of hucL information, which may not be easily obtained at this period, it might be well again to publish the lieiuru with a note appended, giving the average numbers during the five years of the whole white and Maori population resident in the Wellington District, with th»j average numbers of each class of white inhabitants noted in the Summary, resident there, as nearly as can be made out.

By such a statement, the proportion of crime in the lot) of each class, or the relative proportion of crime of one clxs.i as contrasted witb another class would be ascertained, though not so correctly, us if a census of each class of tho population had been token during each year. A tolerable idea of the relative proportion might however be arrived at. The convictions ought also to be given if procurable. Your attention to this letter will oblige, Sir, Your most obedient .servant, A Reader. Wellington, September Q3,1810, To th- llditnr of ih* Independent. Sin, —Our small community are taking the right way to improve their social condition by forming a mutual benefit Society, and now numbering forty members, the present income Xl n month. Sick members to receive I'-is. werkly, and to the heirs of a deceased member jC't, which, coupled with the attendance of a Medical mnn of amiable temper and manners, (soon expected here), will go fur to allevia'e individual suffering. Tliis was truly exemplified lutely by our townsmen subscribing wn.rly £20 for the widow and children of one of your mechanics who died in a vtrv sudden manner.

This day will likely sec the departure of the last of our resident gentry, the Gurvrnor Qny being freighted io take Captain Cniupbell and family to New Plymouth, and although they intend returning here, in the course of two or three years, yet the temporary absence of this upright nnd fine old gentleman will leave a sal blank in the place.

Since wriung the foregoing, your papers have conif to hand, containing a long, undignified effusion, evidently from the pea of our Jit tie Pundit, who appears to have felt the just ea>tiga!ion inflicted upon him fjr his audacious and miderhand doings, carried on for too long a period, and but for the mendacious epistle the writer would have left him to contemplate the dire effects produced by the luminous explosion of liis pistol and mortar.

The real settlor says, that the inhabitants opposed the introduction of the "Trespass Act"; but tbey did no such thing, they only complained to the proper quarter against the fourth section of the Act, whereby any stray cow found standing in the streets was taken to the pound, and the owners fined threeshillings, and as to the irruption of cattle into " our gardens," this must urise from the microscopic ogles of the writers' vision, mistaking an irruption of pumice stones from Tongariro for his more useful neighbours.

The repudiating definition of a settler is highly amusing, and according to this moonshine's dictum, a real setfUr must neither walk, carry a bundle, nor smoke tobacco, leaving our community solely com posed of pundits, quacks, coblers, ami money hunters, a." waefu " collection to bo sent out under the auspices of the New Zealand Company; but his meaning of what constitutes n " bona fide" settler, with the full " locus standi," is to vegetate upon the animal economy, squeezing high rents from compulsory residents, &c,, the timber and shingles, and bleed pockets more skilfully than pa ients. As for the people here making money it is all "fudge," and calculated to mislead the public; but from the judicious manner you have taken up the flax disclosure of our. patriotic townsman, Mr. Paterson, and the expected visit of Mr. Fox, wo hope to bo able to have something more to ship than ballast, hitherto our staple export.

Although " Observer " never had the honour to belong to the useful fraternity of St. Crispin, yet the allusion is a happy one, as it calls the writer's remembrance to the short period that has elapsed since the Pundit was obliged to slay pigs, smoke the cheeks, and munch the trotters; and should he again venture to resume his dirty work, to the injury of the settlers, he will perhaps find that " Observer's " a "leetle " more skill than either talking polities or hammering leather. Your's, &c, Obsehver. 'Petre, Aug. 14,15 W. '

To the Editor ofthe Independent, Sin,—Will you allow me through the.medium of your journal to notice Mr. Graves' letter that appeared in tho Independent a few numbers back, copied from a Hobnrt Town paper, as this gentleman is one of those who wishes tho world to sympathise with him,' beonuso he professes to have a secret toll in store, thniwould woVk wondors for New Zealand, that is if tho colonifits wojld buy a «' piff in the bug." Jt is

hardly possible to say how many persons there are in and out of the colony who profess to have some "hocus pocus" or legerdemain method by which they euy, that they cim render the New Zealand Flax v profitable export; and it is equally doubtful what value to attach to hucli pretensions, [fit j s eslimu ted upon from.its ell'ecls individually, it ujipoara thiii few of the secret men have benefited themselves by their secret, therefore they can have no benefit in keeping a secret, yet they profess that their object in view really «to " benefit themselves;/ i| iejl t ) ie Buro wuy of accomplishing this is to do a real good to the colony and they will participate in it, but by the rule of die "dog in the manger," they not only deprive themselves of a benefit, but all ojbere, and for what? Are they only pretenders, and proclaim that they have an important secret to court notoriety ? if so they are like to gain a popularity not to be envied. I have long been sceptical on this secret point, and more cogent reasons arise every day to confirm this opinion, especially as there is such a number that know the secret, and whether it is all the same secret or so many different secrels is yet a mystery. Yet any fool appears to have got hold of it but those that can make use of it or tell it to those that will; one of ray friends who is a perfect secret man, affirms " that his secret shall go to the grave with him, before the world (I suppose he means the colony; shall ride on his ruin." This sort of logic quite dumfoundered me, but it enabled rue to put a vulue upon Ms secret, and if any secret men can. put forth better reasons than that just quoted, I shall be happy to hear it, and with respect to Mr. Graves's secret, be seems to be as well known to somecompetent judges here, (whose opinions I availed myself of before writing this letter,; that it enables me :o do justice to such extraordinary merit.

To those who feel an interest in this matter, will do well to carefully peruse Mr G.s letter, as I am bound to admit the more I read it, the more difficult it appears to arrive at its real meaning, it is an effusion thftt could only emanate from a highly fermenting brain, therefore it is needless to anticipate the probable results of such conflicting passions. Mr. G, proclaims to the world that some five or six years ago, his fertile imagination gave birth to a something that he placed in confidence with Dr. Bland, who, paid him a flattering compliment on the occasion. It would be over curious to enquire how this first boru is getting on, especially as Mr. G. informs us thai be finds himself in a very interesting way. and may shortly be expected to be delivered of another some thiugthat will shed ahalo around the upper story of its parent sufficient to illuminate the whole globe, and throw into utter darkness that glory which posterity is shedding over the ashes of "far famed Napoleon," or the more resplendent rags that await to crown the urn of the " Conquering Duke." Hear ye this, spirits of the mighty dead ! for the sun of glory is to set forever when Mr. G."s nest born is ushered into existence ; or is it merely to be eclipsed, is the mik-nium at hand '.' it cannot be far distant if this eventful occurrence shall transpire in the ordinary space of travail. Then shall the " Land of Flax" welcome to healthy shores the parent of this miraculous i:iventien, who may ensure a hearty reception by the addition of a few white mice judiciously arranged on the top of the " Flax Organ," as the revolutions of | these diverting little creatures will surely attract ! the attention of the curious and gracefully embellish the invention, that is to astonish the whole lof New Zealand, and then how important it will be • to have this " halo of glory," safely deposited, in the '. Wellington AsHnaum, which is in a fair way of becoming as celebrated as the " University of Gotten- ; burgh," for stuffing monsters, and dissecting live i puppies.

: Having concluded my remarks upon Mr. G.s ■ srerd system, I trust that you will alii/wine to say a i word upon those who have really endeavoured to bring j this matter upmly to a successful issue, and when I > mention Messrs, Head and Mathison, lam not aware I that I omit others of consequence, and as I have i already extended the limit intended for this letter, I

hope you will allow me on a future occasion to commend the exertions of those who really merit it. I feel justified in opposing the " present system," as no good can possibly result from it, yet I hope and feel convinced that as machines for preparing flax will yet be accomplished, nnd that openly for the benefit of all parties, Mr. Mathison, having now left the colony, allow me to pay a tribute of respect to his enterprising ingenuity, and it is to be hoped that he may be successful in his adventure and return to New Zealand, where he will be surprised to find that the relict of his ingenious flax machine, has during his absence been barbarously tortured into existence, without the slightest acknowledgment from the party so doing. I am, Sir, Your humble servant,

JOHN ASHMOKE,