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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 9, 29 August 1861, Page 3

To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Times. Sib, —Nap:c-r seems at last to he severely suffering from the combined effects of misgovernment, the late war, and the discovery of the Otago gold fields. I believe the former of these causes not

to be the least, and that the rule of our former superintendent has greatly contributed to the present depression, it is the greatest misfortune that can be inflicted on a people to be governed by incompetent rulers, and whether the case applies to countries or provinces the result is distress. Referring to our own province wo have happily the power of selecting our own council, and through its members our superintendent. By what combination of unfortunate circumstances we owe the infliction of our late superintendent’s rule, I need not now enquire into, but will satisfy myself by referring to an instance of incompetency from which we are now suffering. There are some people who think money has no end, or rather have but a vague idea of its limited value.—A few thousand pounds seem so completely out of the sphere of flnity that the most expensive undertakings are recklessly commenced, without any reflection as to when, and how, they are to he consummated. Our late provincial rider seems to be one of this unfortunate class ot people; his schemes have been commenced without any due consideration, and his knowledge of the value of money appears to have been very confined. H e may be very clever in some respects, —lie may explain unpleasant matters away in a very successful maimer, and retire very gracefully from a dilemma—ho would ha the very man to convince a simple countryman that black was white, and vice versa; but he is not the man to govern a province,—he has been tided and found wanting. It is now about three years since the White Swan brought from Auckland a considerable number of passengers for this place, the greater portion of whose fares were paid from the provincial treasury. These persons were told in Auckland that there would be employment found them for a period of three years, ‘it was upon this promise that many were induced to leave Auckland. There appears to have been no discretion exercised in the selection of these men—young, and old, weak, and strong, were indiscriminately assisted with passages. A few months after their arrival they were exceedingly surprised, to find that their labour was no longer required, and about left at one time for Auckland; as might be expected the more industrious and steady were included in this number, and the more improvident and weak were thrown upon the province as paupers during a portion of the winter months. The work at which these men were employed is still incomplete, and has not been of the slightest service since it was commenced, and the province has thus been at the unnecessary expense of paying passages,—of making hitherto a useless road,—of maintaining for some time unemployed men, which the most ordinary of foresight might obviated, and have left sufficient work for the steady employment of our working population to the present day. I am, Sir, Yours truly, URTTCA. Napier, August 17th IRGI.