The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, FEB. 9, 1876.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 135, 9 February 1877, Page 4

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, FEB. 9, 1876.

We believe in no journal in the Colony are to be found so few complaints published regarding the public service or the Government officers, as in the Clutha Leader. Numerous such complaints reach us, but as a rule we make enquiry into their origin hefore laying them before the public, and generally find they arise from some misunderstanding or unintentional mistake, and that the officer complained of is as anxious as any one to avoid offence and jto prevent public inconvenience. We are now, however, obliged to refer to what is here regarded as gross negligence on the part of the postal authorites, which has led to the very great annoyance and inconvenience of the inhabitants of Balclutha and districts to the south. Everyone must have become aware before now of the breakdown, of the railway between Dunedin and the Clutha through the heavy rain in the beginning of tbe week, and perhaps few will be surprised at that result. But it will scarcely , be credited that the postal authorities appear, to have coolly arrived at the conclusion that the stoppage of the trains on the Clutha line was quite sufficient excuse for stopping Her Majesty's mails. Yet so it was. The postal service south . of Dunedin ! was suspended on Tuesday and Wednesday because the Clutha line of railway had got damaged by rain ! The length of the line is only 50 miles, and the ordinary road was open for traffic (it was formed under the Provincial Government), but the postal authorities seem never of themselves to have thought of using it, or of making any exertion whatever to forward the mails. Thus not only were the inhabitants of Balclutha deprived of their letters for two days, but also those of all other

districts to the south. Had tile service ' been in the hands of private contractors the mails would liave been forwarded, as they have been before, under much worse circumstances, by boat or bugi y or any available. But in the pre sent ease the Government are the carriers, and their servants seem to hove the. idea that the requirements of the public are not to be considered in connection with tbe arrangements of the service. We regard the postal service as about the most delicate and important one undertaken by the Government, and we scarcely think a case of so gross negligence can be pointed out in connection with the service in this or any other country. It is one that calls for a strict investigation on the part of the Government, and until this is made and fully explained, little faith will be place! in this quarter in the postal department of the Government service. Now that winter approaches, we may expect frequent showers, and as frequent breaksdown of tbe railway, and therefore it is necessary that arrangements should be made for conveying- the mails by the ordinary road, or by means other 'than the railways on such occasions. Unless this be done there willbe constant delays, and constant annoyance and damage to the public. Just to give a single instance of the negligence manifested on this occasion, we understand the mails from Dunedin arrived at Tokomairiro about the usual time on Tuesday morning, but the train could not cross the river to proceed to the Clutha. In consequence of this slight hitch, the mails were actually detained in Tokomairiro till Wednesday night, although the ordinary road was perfectly clear from Clarksville on to the Clutha—indeed to Invercargill. We question if the postal authorities would ever have thought of forwarding the mails till such time es the railway line shall have been repaired and the trains running, had not Mr Mason, mayor, telegraphed to the Chief Postmaster on Wednpsdav forenoon. It was only then apparently the ordinary road was thought of, and after a few hours' consideration a coach was procured and despatched with the mails, which arrived safely in Balclutha at a late hour same evening*. It is evident the officers ol the postal department are unequal to coping with such an emergency as a flood. It requires men ofthe M'lntosh stamp to do this, and we are bound to snv we believe, had he had the matter in hand on this occasion, he would, independently of any railway, have had the mails delivered a very few hours within the usual time. In the meantime, therefore, notwithstanding the serious nature of the flood, the public can see no reason for the suspension of the mail service to the Clutha, and they would like to know the reason why it was so suspended. They would also like to know whether such instructions are to be issued as will prevpnt a recurrence of such unpardonable negligence.

Mr Murray had a very pleasant and even flattering reception at Tokomairiro on Friday night, and the result must be felt as highly gratifying both to himself and his constituents. Considering the active and decided part he took in the important legislation of the past session of Assembly, he must feel pleased to be assured that his conduct was closely watched by his constituency, and that it had their unanimous and hearty approval. The audience was no passive or indifferent one; it was interested and active, and the applause with which Mr Murray's remarks were so frequently greeted was evidently as genuine as it was expressive and enthusiastic. This is the more gratifying, seeing that in consequence of an influence which need not now be even mentioned, there was no meeting held in Milton as there was in other parts of the electoral district during the session of Assembly. . This afforded an opportunity for those who wished to do so to misrepresent public sentiment in that quarter upon tlie Abolition policy ofthe Government, and led to a considerable amount of annoyance and . mischief. The matter has now been thoroughly cleared up. It has now been proved that the sentiments expressed by Mr Murray in the Assembly were the sentiments of his constituents, and that in the policy pursued by him he had their hearty unanimous support. We might say, verymuch in the words used by Mr Cunninghams, 'that the electors of Milton never listened to Mr Murray with greater pleasure than tbey did on Friday night ; that the more they saw of him the more they liked him, the more they valued his sterling- honesty, the more they appreciated his indefatigable exertions on their behalf, and on the behalf of the country at large. We commend Mr Murray's remarks to the careful consideration of our readers. His speech was evidently no crude, undigested one, but was the result of mature thought and careful preparation. Such speeches from such men in the present important crisis of public affairs, deserve the fullest consideration and must be productive of beneficial results. We are sure the whole constituency fully concur in the hearty vote of thanks accorded to Mr Murray at Milton, for his able address.