NGAKAWAU AGAIN!

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1209, 8 December 1873, Page 2

NGAKAWAU AGAIN!

Wk do not blame the Cross for the leader in Saturday's issue on the Ngukawau coal mines. Our contemporary cannot help it. The multitude of fingers that can there touch the strings must occasionally give forth such music as that uttered on Saturday. It is not difficulttoseethe hand that wasat the strings, and the " managing director" of the Albion Coal Company therein exhibits that irritation Avhich has been naturally caused by our having blown upon the little doings on the "Jloor of the House" in Wellington. This

irritation crops up in the opening words of the leader, and it runs throughout the leader to the end. The writer speaks of "curious and apparently virulent telegrams" which appeared "occasionally from Wellington." " Curious" they were indeed, and we understand they provoked a good deal of curiosity which, as will appear in the sequel, Mr Beetham promised, but failed, to satisfy. These weai'e also told did "more than onoe provoke comment from the leading journals of the city." What does the writer mean? Does he mean our morning contemporaries ? Leading journals ! Why our circulation is far more than that of both of them taken together. Does he mean the Cross? Our circulation is three times as large as . that of that "leading paper," and as to the "leading" effected on the popular mind, where every one that has his own little objects to serve can get behind the scenes and have inserted whatever he likes by bringing pressure to bear through " the directors," it is wholly needless for us to speak a word. But reverting to our " virulent" telegrams. In turning up our tiles of the Star we observe a letter of a valiant kind with reference to them signed " Albert Beetham," in which the writer said " I have a right to demand that your correspondent disclose his authority for such insinuations." In reply to this we published in full the " Eeport of the Select Committee of the House of Represetatives appointed to considor the petition of Albert Beetham." In that report, as published by us, were the following words :—" That the evidence taken by your committee shows that statements made by the petitioner, Albert Beetham, before it, on the 25th of August last, as taken down) by the shorthand reporter, were altered by the said Albert Beetham in several material respects when delivered to him for signature, contrary to the ordei-3 of the House on that behalf. That no action should be taken by the Government hased upon the evidence of Albert Beetham without further independent inquiry being made by the Government." As we presume this "disclosed" sufficient "authority" for the " virulent telegrams," Mr Beetham. did not deign to ask for any further information. This disinclination was probably further increased by the fact that the sender of the "virulent telegrams," who had seen the alterations in Mr Beetham's handwriting, and who had listened to the discussion in the House on the subject had arrived in Auckland, and was prepared to afford any further enlightenment on the subject. With respect to the main question there is no doubt that Westport has a decided leluctance to the formation of a harbour at the mouth of the Ngakawau. But this does not affect the question of the impossibility of fighting against the decrees of Nature, and making an approach by sea to a coal-field that all evidence excepting Mr Beetham's goes to show can only be approached by a railway from Westport. Of course great indignation was felt at our reference to the purchase of the Conierang. There are some people who have got into their heads, Heaven knows whence, that no one should dare to speak of their doings. A a was anticipated by every one, the Comerang ia totally unfit for the work, being too long

and too Ing every for entering a »A leaving the little crebnified by the of tho Kgnk;.iTv.'ai. :<be sticks is kn to every one, and A position on such a coast can be apprec by any ninny t fact we believe she tuck just now'and we would recommen application of fh "driving" system a.templated throng the Timber Floatage By the crag of a dam and nm in the app,oved style, the Comerang 1-laden, might be driven each tiineSea. We offer the 3'nggestion gratuitoiio the "Manager Director." As for Ngakawau coalfield we believe it to be oJthe finest properties in the colony 5 ac prospects of the Albion Coal Compaf it is judiciously guided, are unquestiiy magnificent. But we would recomme lem to go straightforwardly to work ; above all, eschew the habit of getting mpered when their doings are criticisedhey need not think that they can silencticism, and such a leader as that in the 1 of Saturday makes people think that aTe preparing for some move, before eh it woukf be pleasant to have thete gagged.