THE OTAGO ROWING CLUB.

Evening Star, Issue 3481, 20 April 1874, Page 3

THE OTAGO ROWING CLUB.

To the Editor. . Slß,—That letter in your last night’s issue, signed “Bow,” amuses me. There is such a rare spicing of good Colonial cheek and delicate evasion of the truth about it. 1 can t for the life of me see now wbat right the above club has to call itself the Ota*o Rowing Club. Surely if such a name means anything, it means a club which to a certain extent represents Otago. I should like to know how a club, limited to thirty members, can do this. One of the rules of the club is that it shall consist of not more than thirty members. Is this what “ Bow ” calls a club open to the public? Verily I fear “Bow’s” logic is somewhat out. It is a rule in boatmg matters that the weakest man goes to the “ bow ” I suppose that the O. R.C. have thought it only right to carry their rule into practice, and hence “Bow’s” letter. Ido hope though, for the honor of the 0.R.C., —if they have got any, that is to say—that ‘ Bow is no reprrsentative of the club ; for though wind is a most es'ential thing in pulling, “gas” is most certainly not.— I am, &0., Neptune. Dunedin, April 18.

To the Editor. Sir, —It has often been said that there is no surer way of making an enemy of a man than to confer a favor upon him. It seems that what is true of individuals is also true of communities, and that a benefit conferred upon the public is frequently followed by a similar result. No better illustration of this could be found than the present state of public feeling in reference to the Waterworks Company.. At a time when a water supply for Dunedin had become an urgent necessity, and the Government of the day were altogether unable to supply that necessity, a few gentlemen united to do what the constituted authorities were unable to do, and at their own expense provided the greatest boon that has ever been conferred upon our city. With very little prospect of anything like an adequate return for the capital invested, and in the face of much discouragement and not a little opposition, they went heartily into the work, and every man, woman, and child in the City has reaped the benefit of their well-timed liberality. For many years after the money was advanced no return was obtained, though all the while the citizens were deriving the benefit of a plentiful supply of that article, so essential tp general health and comfo'rt, No complaint

was then made of the privileges of the company, or the evils of what is now termed monopoly. The monopoly, then, was on the part of the eitizens, the burden of upholding it was borne by the company. But o sooner was this state of things reversed, and the speculation began to yield some return, than a cry was at once raised against those who had conferred this great benefit on the City. This has continued ever since, until now they appear to be considered fair game for every aspirant to public favor to have a fling at, Ao mention now of the wretched condition we should have been in had this water-supply not been provided No reference to the years of unremunerative

outlay the promoters underwent to confer this inestimable benefit on the community The citizens have obtained a blessing possessed by few cities of the same age and standing; and yet, heedless alike of the miseries from which they have been delivered, and the sacrifices at which this deliverance was procured for them, they revile as the very worst of oppressors those who, at se great a cost, provided for them this unspeakable benefit. The company now wish to extend their usefulness, and provide for those beyond the City boundary the benefits enjoyed by those within it, and to

enable them to do so, seek to raise the necessary funds; and how are they met ? Not, certainly, in a kind or amicable spirit. And why? Surely there Is no body in existence, or that could be constituted for the purpose, be it municipality or joint stock company, that could by any possibility do the work on such easy terms as the existing company could do. They have already obtained the land necessary far the extension of their works so as to meet to the fullest extent the requirements of all concerned, and all they ask is a little additional capital to ony out the extension. They ask for no additional funds whatever, but simply money to enable them to extend the benefits of a water supply to those who Uel g-eatly the want of it, and who are anxiously pressing the company to supply them with it. And far more seemly were it for those who are raising such determined opposition to this measure rather to aid and assist in carrying it out, by taking up the additional shares proposed to be issued for that purpose But should the opposition be successful, then those who will be thereby deprived of the intended supply of water, will have to blame, not the company, but those who without any good reason have so bitterly opposed them.—Yours truly, _ Fair Play. Dunedin, April 18.