SOUTHBRIDGE LINE AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 125, 24 October 1874, Page 3

SOUTHBRIDGE LINE AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT.

To the Editor of the Globe. Sib, —I have read with great pleasure a letter signed "A Moderate Provincialist," which appeared in your journal of the 21st instant, and I am extremely pleased to think that someone has had the courage to write, and that you have had courage to insert a letter, upon a subject to which the attention of the public should have been drawn long ago—viz, the manner in which the public works department is at present conducted*. I shall first of all call the attention of your readers to a case in point, and then proceed to make a few remarks upon the conduct of the department in a general Way. As most of the public are aware, there is a line of railway, at present in course of construction, to Southbridge. Well, Sir, it seems that some of this land used for railway purposes has not yet been paid for, and that one of the proprietors thereof has been chopping up the sleepers and otherwise obstructing the construction of the line. In fact, he breaks up the line with impunity day by day, and at all hours, and has not disguised the fact that he has bought kerosene to burn the sleepers. He can get no settlement for his land, neither can anyone else. The district in fact is up in arms, and the people are being driven to desperation. Now, Sir, I ask whose fault this is ? I do not think I should be far wrong if I was to answer that the present Secretary for Public Works is to blame for it all. And for this reason. The land has been taken, I presume, in a legal manner, but we all know that payment must bemade to the owner. Why has this not been done ? Why should people be kept out of their money for months and months, simply to please a gentleman who name has become proverbial for red tape ? Is it reasonable to suppose that these men are to wait until the Great Mogul descends from his throne of state, and doles out to the cockatoo, the squatter, and the farmer, the "miserable pittance," for the land required by the Government ? I say, Sir, away with such an abominable farce ! The Secretary of Public Works, although a very great man in his own estimation, must not suppose or attempt to lead other people to suppose that he is "The Government." There is too much mystery surrounding this most fortunate gentleman, and I do not think that there would be so much mystery, so many whisperings and consultations, before one was ushered into the presence of the Right Hon Benjamin Disraeli, as take place before you are brought face to face with the great Secretary of Public Works for the little village of Christchurch. Why, Sir, the whole affair is a farce from beginning to end. I am persuaded that our present Superintendent, and our present Provincial Secretary, are quite able to conduct the affairs of this province if they are allowed a sufficient number of competent clerks. It appears to me that Mr Jollie has got more to do than Mr Maude, yet he does it well, quietly, and without any parade or bluster. You are always at liberty to interview this gentleman, or his Honor the Superintendent, without any formalities, but the " lackeys " surrounding the Secretary for Public Works prevent your seeing him without due and formal notice. Now, Sir, if the Government have a right to this land through which the Southbridge line runs, why do they not prevent all the mischief that the proprietors are doing ? It is their duty to see that the public money is not wasted, and I contend that there has not only been a great and a very serious waste of public money, but loss of time and labor as well. The sooner this matter is looked into the better. I am, and always have been a lover of fairplay, and I do not think the people whose land has been taken up on the Southbridge line, have been treated fairly at all. If the Secretary of Public Works wishes to ride the high horse, and envelope himself in a veil similar to that of the Veiled Prophet of Khoras-an, let him do so by all means, but let it be done at his own exiDense, and not at the expense of the public. He must not forget that although he occupies a very exalted position in our little Pedlington, he is still the servant of the public, and they are his masters—he is in duty bound, therefore, to serve them wisely and well. I trust that he will see cause, as soon as he conveniently can, to alter the present position of affairs in the Southbridge district, and that for the future I shall have no reason to trouble you with any epistle relating to this matter. Yours, &c, WAITING FOR PAYMENT. Lincoln. 23rd October, 1874.