CORRESPONDENCE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 40, 17 August 1870, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.] To the, Editor of the, Cromwell Argus. Sir, —In the Dunxlan Times of July 29 (which 301110,0 f your readers may have seen), there is a signed “John Just Wages,” evidently by some insolvent employer, who thinks ISBHpooause he has gone to the wall (very likely Jh’rough his own extravagance), the high price of ■pvblrtrr has everything to do with it. I am not connected with either the mining or the farming interest, but in reference to the squatters—and as I live by them, I may well wish to see them prosper—l hold that they have themselves to blame for most of their troubles. They imagined they would possess themselves of the land, and for their own aggrandisement they signed a covenant. in 1867, which, in 1870, I believe that nine-tenths of them would willingly break through and scatter to the four winds of heaven : the back feels unable to bear its burden. Instead of improving their properties, their only thought seems to be, What expenditure can I next cut down? could I not do without so-and-so? “Stagnation everywhere I" says “Just Wages.” True, I admit it; tlnugh I hold the poor labourer like myself should not get the whole blame of it. I (ym of opinion that this seven-pence per head assessment on cattle has much to do with it. The revenue from this source will, I am innext year amount to £60,000. Suppose IppEonly half the sum was levied, there would p fhen be no less than £OO,OOO that might be spent in improving the face of the country—fencing, erecting suitable buildings, setting up preserved meat establishments, discovering improved methods of getting up wool, and in other profitable and reproductive improvements. £BO,OOO would go a long way towards keeping a groat many men in the province who are now leaving it for other shores, and to prevent the labourer from demanding the high wages he is bound to demand in the busy season, knowing, as lie well does, Ithat his only chance is to got as much as ho can say at home ; but “ Swagger” is more l&ffiatoriate here. the scpiatters, I say, go in for a repeal of the seven-penny assessment. Let them go in for £30,000 amongst them to be spent as I have said, and not squandered by a profligate Government, that says it will start railways and never starts them, and with all its so-called retrenchipput still spends most of its income on the heads and many unproductive works : TSpxoVenimont that does not aid industries to |purish nor trade to prosper, but is now sapping 1 the vitals of what is her chief means of support. —I am, &c., Shepherd. To the, M tit or of the (Jkomwell Argus. Sir, The letter o c j4.ho/i in your last issue requires a word or two, and as it is the first of a series, witli your permission I will look after it, and the whole family of A nous that are to come. Anon asks, “ Why don’t our public men wake up ?” Ho means, I suppose, our new Mayor and Council. But he should know that they have not had time to go to sleep yet. Th':y hayw never fairly slept since their election. Theiß I of the shout that went up when the hattljwa i won has not had time to die aivay amonmiS |? distant hills yot. They have hardly coili|S I feel the full meaning of the fact that they alp| “ public men” yet. It is like asking just sown why it has not fruited ! or asking the captain why ho has not landed his passengers before the voyage has commenced ! Anon wants to know “why they don’t get into harness?” We have but a five-horse power, and two of the team have hardly touched collar yet But A >ion will see nothing done till the five cattle are running a line of ’buses through a sub-way uncW the Kawarau to a prepared Vauxhall beyond Cornish Town, where fire-works will bfiufibchlbited nightly for the benefit of the nattffiljlSj the way ; or, hotter perhaps, draw a glaws|||s over the town ; or, bettor than all, couple thimV selves on to the Hawoa Flat, and wheel it down to the Cemetery, for our cows to feed upon Ind our farmers to cultivate. But look at Jcmetcry ! Well, what of the bear looking at: well fenced, well 1 'irfMlllfl situation is good, the soil is dry. WhfßuHK&i our beloved ones, we could lie down omHlilfl with a pair of blankets. Our dear depafted friends arc sown in “ God’s acre,” in it is true, b*t they are not floated

water as in seine places in the province. A quick fence was planted, and what was done then? asks Anon. Why, it was left there, to bo sure, to the sunshine, air, and earth to make it grow. If it lias not grown, “ our public men” are no more responsible for the non-growth of the quicks there, than for not raising the dead there. Some of the quicks have perished, but neither the Cemetery Committee nor “ our public men” are accountable. Many persons are drawn there by the deepest, the tenderost of all reminiscences. When they leave, the gate is nhut, but not fastened. The first wind blows it open, and the cattle get in. And this is the only thing needing a remedy. But would A non lock the gate against those “ who go to weep there ?” This is the only cure, but who would apply this ? If Anon holds our “ public men” responsible, they might as well be held responsible for the late flood or the hard frosts. As a sign of our prosperity, Anon tells us to look at the schoolhouse. We must, he says, got that enlarged ; “ and a new one built. ” Does he go in for both ? His letter means that. Anon must.be joking. Where is there a small town that can show such school-buildings—so substantial, so well-fenced, so snug-looking ? If this is our disgrace, God help us : where are we to look for our dignity ? Compare our school-premises with the two horseboxes lower down, which, by a figure of speech, we call our Court-house and Post-office. It would be like comparing a gin-case to a chest of drawers. Compare the school-premises with any of the best buildings in] the town, and it will bo found that we have nothing to show like them. If the spare space in the school-house could be added to the educational establishment lower down, Mr Pyke would feel a sensible relief every Court-day. Let there be no lop-sided-ness : when anything is done, let it bs done on the square. If a guide-book to Cromwell be published, we may look for something like tho following Stranger: Find up the best cottage and public building, the best and most expensively fenced premises, and you have found the Cromwell School. Stranger ; now look for the meanest, the most shabby, the least convenient, and the most neglected-looking shanties in the town, and when you have found them, they are the Post-office and the Court-house.” When our “ public men” have had time to wake up to do anything in the way of public buildings, let them blot for ever from our municipal mass the two mean cabins in which we have jnst cause for reproach and shame, and let alone the only public building in which we have just cause for pride and satisfaction. Anon wishes for a local man to represent us in the Assembly at Wellington. I agree with him ; and when this local man is passed through his facings, I would suggest Anon as drill sergeant; and when ho returns to give an account of himself, let Anon put up tho triangles, and wield the cat. Still, Waiting.