Original Corrspondence.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 13, 13 June 1863, Page 3

Original Corrspondence.

To the Editor of the Lake Wakatip Mail.

Sir—ln reference to a paragraph in your paper of the 10th June, we feel it our duty as the oldest established bakers in Queenstown, to offei' a few remarks. First you will remember, that it is only within the last few days that flour has been so low as £rto per ton, prior to that it has averaged more nearly £BO to £9O, and when you take into consideration the high price of labor, and other charges, incidental to the manufacture and sale of bread, the enormous profit you speak of will dwindle to a very small amount.

As to the recent reduction, we can assert that fully six weeks' ago we tried to reduce the price, but were met with such a storm of indignation from the bakers resident here, that we were for.ed to relinquish our object; however, on Saturday, the 6th instant, we finally determined to reduce our bread to 2s. the 4 lb. loaf, and start on the following Monday at that price. As of course we made no secret of our intention, and did not give the price, that that will explain the haste shown by one firm to be first in the field.

Now as to the alleged atmospheric and other causes, causing the bread to be light, all we can say is that all bread sold at our establishment is weighed out to the purchaser. In conclusion, we wish to remark that our present price is one at which we mean to continue the sale, irrespective of any fluctuations in price that may exist elsewhere. And we beg to remain, &c., White & Mobbiss. Queenstown, June 11.

[The above firm forget that our remarks are not in any case personal, but general; bat even allowing flour at £9O per ton, that would leave a margin of £5 per bag to pay for expenses and profit—a better one we should think than now reducing it to 25., and thereby leaving only ,£1 to pay for the same, the price of labor being only imperceptibly reduced in the interim. Tne odd sixpence is just the difference between a lair

profit and underselling. As to the il storm of l.idignation/'hurely MissrslWhite & Morrissliad no reason to fear while the public were hacking them, any more than Messrs. Bond at the present, time.—Ed. JF.J/.]

To the Editor of the Lake Wakatip Mail. Sir—l unfortunately happened to have 1 business at the Frankton Court House on | Friday last, and along with about twenty 1 others got nothing but labor for my pains, as no Magistrate put in an appearance to attend to the business before the Court, and what I was worse no explanation was sent by him of the cause of his absence; the Clerk, therefore, in absence of instructions had no alternative but adjourn the Court between the j hours of 4 and 5 p.in until 10 a.m. next day. The disappointed parties present had a meeting on the ground, and left a protest on the Court House table against such apparently thoughtless conduct on the part of those whose duty it was to regulate such matters. The several suitors separated with loud ex pressions of dissatisfaction at the treatment they had been subjected to. j On Saturday morning at the appointed i hour we again surrounded the Court House door, but with a like result, no Magistrate having appeared, and no explanation having yet been sent of the cause of his absence; one of the miners, however, whose patience was quite exhausted, started off for the Arrow to get his business settled there, if possible, and took occasion to ask Mr. Beetham, the j Warden there (who was expected in Mr. | Wood's absence to officiate at Frankton), if it | would not be advisable for him to send some ; message back to Frankton explanatory of his absence, to satisfy the expectant crowd, who were anxiously waiting for his appearance. After about an hour and a-half's delay, Mr. B. handed liiin a note for the Clerk of Court, j at Frankton, which came to hand a little be- | fore 4 o'clock p.m., and con'a ned the satisj factory information that we would all require ; to return as we had come, and come back on j Monday. Again did we separate with anything but pleasant feelings or expressions, and with little admiration of the system of Government under which such unwarrantable neglect of the requirements of this important district of the Province could occur. | On Monday morning again might be seen those who had been disappointed on Friday and Saturday, wending their way the weary road along the shore of the Lake to Frankton, only to meet, on their arrival there, with a like disappointment to that of the two previous days. Neither Warden nor Clerk of Court were there, nor any explanatory ni( s -age from them. We again drew up a document to the Warden, which was signed by those present, in which we expressed our determination not to appear I again in our several causes un il special notification had been sent to each party when the Court would positively sit. Now, Mr. Editor, I can easily understand that as Mr. Wood was called away, perhaps suddenly, to Dunedin, the business consequently left in the hands of Mr. Beetham, was too much for him to get through, and that he might have been unexpectedly detained in his own Court at the Arrow; but I do think there ought at least to have been as much consideration shown for the interests of those who had business at Frankton, as to have sent some explanation of the delay in the expected appearance of the Warden. The Clerk did what he could, and would have sent to the Arrow, but there was no official to go, and on Saturday, when the bailiff would have started, the trooper's horse (the only one about the camp) could not be found. Now, I do not, Mr. Editor, write with the intention of blaming so much the conduct of our Wardens. I am well aware they have tar too much to do ; my object is, in bringing this case before the public, to show the great necessity for another Warden bping appointed to assist in this important district; and also to show the great necessity there i* for the Camp and Court being returned to Queenstown. A great many of the parties who were disappointed by the non-attendance of the Warden, had come long distances, some from Wilson's Beach, several from Arthur's Point, one a distance of 20 miles, as also several from Queenstown; and they all with one accord agreed that they would not have felt the inconvenience nearly so much had they only had to corne the length of Queenstown. It is surely such treatment as I have now brought before you that will rouse up the miners and others of this district no longer to suffer in silence, but make themselves heard on points of such vital interest to all of us. Should the cry of u Southland to the rescue " be forced from us by the apathy of the Government to our and their own interests, they will perhaps have to regret their inattention to the just and reasonable demands of those who really know the requirements of the district in which they are located. I might enlarge on this grievance, but do not wish further to trespass on your valuable

space; and having, at the desire of those who have cause to grumble, acquitted myself of a duty in bringing these facts before the public, I sign myself, A Sufferer. Queenstown, June 8, 1863.