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Wellington Independent, Volume V, Issue 435, 12 December 1849, Page 2

Mister Robert Stokes has attempted to the which- have-appeared in the Independent relating to the reckless manner in which the Local Executive contrive to squander away on salaries the revenue of Port Nicholson. His defence of the system would be considered singular, but the lucubrations of our quondam friend are of such a character as to render nothing singular that emanates from his pen. His first notice of the articles in question, his first essay in the field to defend his employers, amounts to this—an attack on Messrs. Fox and Featherston. His resume consists of a further assault upon those gentlemen. He cannot deny.the truth of our remarks -he cannot question our sincerity as colonists in putting them forth—but he mustdo something, and so following his invariable rule he bespatters with dirt those whom, his sensitively-malicious yet weak mind points out as two staunch friends of. improvement as well as warm ' advocates of the interests of the; settlers: Mr. Stokes understands how to hate, which be does in the most. Christian spirit of charity and brotherly love V like all:who! bask in;the sunshine o£ ,royal .favor/ he- ;ds&es'such ■4s ,tfae;ttra^uiss:aa(J;;o^o«rl)to

speak their sentiments and attempt to put an end to jobbery and misrule. Fellow-colonists l; you know full #ell that your money is thrown away on useless objects; you feel that some substantial good might be effected did youbut possess that control, which as men you have a right to, over the expenditure of that revenue which you supply. Knowing this, you may feel surprised at the conduct of any one settler endeavoring to palliate and uphold the present system of fraud and injustice. But consider for one moment, and you will then no longer feel surprised that such a man exists amongst you. You may have read of certain men, confined in Lunatic Asylums, who have been mad upon one point. One has believed himself to be the Emperor Alexander, another the King of Prussia, whilst some have imagined themselves fowls or what not.

Now Mr. Robert Stokes is mad on one particular point, (Query?) You remember the Chaldean Manuscript The Ancient Mariner, •in noticing the entry of Robert the Chronicler into the presence of.the Ruler- of the Isles, relates—that the Chronicler came forth from the presence smiling, (grinning,) and whilst hopping down the pathway staff in hand, a sound, as of the chinking of gold, was heard within his garments. Now our friend has read this passage frequently—we can certify to that fact. Often when hurrying along the beach has he reflected upon the Ancient Mariner's saying until at last he has fully determined in his own mind that, upon the day and date there set forth, he Mr. Stokes did enter into a certain arrangement —for the sake of a consideration —the terms of the agreement being to assist the ruler of the Isles to prevent the introduction of Free institutions, and to malign and traduce with hie hireling pen those who had manfully resisted the designs of the great enemy of local Self-Government. Being so touched—so he has acted. Some months back he was working away with Fitzherbetian mania, then M'Donald, now Fox, and Featherston—and though last not least our own precious selves the Independent. . With mind continually brooding on the subject who can wonder at the result ? Often when with breathless haste, open mouth, and staff uplifted, he hastens to his friend* in the late Barrett's now Government Public House, to get rid of to, or to borrow from, oue of the Scribes an idea against the faction—he starts back with affright at the sight of some object—his fevered imagination conjuring up Fox, Featherston:—and many a: sleepless: night and restless -dayj has he spent at the .sight of our journal increased and increasing, and at lucid intervals has cogitated to himself whether it would not be better after all to act honestly and for the good of. the But unfortunately his monomania is incurable; he has sunk too deep in the mire,.he is too much the slave of the Government to retreat. The officials know full well that he has lost the respect and esteem of every colonist—and knowing, this they pull the reins tighter, and compel their, overworked hack to work still deeper in the filth and mire, secure that since the brand is so conspicuously affixed .to him he can neither recant from his doctrines or refuse to comply with their mandate.

We need not say we pity his condition, but we feel more on account of his relatives. They ought to endeavour to break the spell—compel him to quit the pen— and as he has a mania for flowers, convert him into.a gardener. When, instead of his wits going a wool-gathering, his heart would, in the striking language of Sambo, might be running to seed.