THE HOROWHENUA RIDING.

Manawatu Herald, 26 August 1881, Page 2

THE HOROWHENUA RIDING.

TO THE KDITOP OF THE MANAWATU HERALD. Sir, — It is much to be wished that your correspondent signing himself " X " should vary his interest in the riding that delighteth him to write about, so that instead of endeavouring to ridicule the present representative of it, and thus exposing the indifference and incapacity of the majority of the inhabitants, he would wake up before these errors of judgment he points out are too far committed, instead of being so clever after. " X's " letter, interpreted, means, that in his opinion the settlers in the Horowhenua riding are not anxious to improve their district ; that any rate, no matter how small, will do for "a Maori riding,"— an expression signifying the most hopeless of cases } that it la* next to impossible to get men accustomed to work, and that when obtained the change in their ; daily habits is so marked that instead of going at it in an ordinary fashion, they emit some unexpected sparks of genius over it that necessitates the work to be done over again. The expression that "the riding is evidently rising in importance " is a well-meaat sneer at the country and people at large, and written with the earnest hope that the riding shall not rise in importance until the re-leases of Maori runs after a lapse of another 20 years have been obtained, and thit it is sufficiently annoying to the noble army of squatters that the adjoining districts should be makiug such strides as to occasion a proportioaate outlay on their part for pure County expenses. "X" seems to ignore the fact that the ratepayers have twice had 1 an opportunity of choosing a Councillor, and they have both been complained of, and I believe by " X " himself, yet they do not seem to be able to get any one better to come forward, — another proof of the disheartening effect of liviug in a " Maori riding." These statements being true, will "X" explain how any member can do any thing for the Riding ? It is just possible that the settlers do not want anything done, but would rather the Councillor had the Counties Act amended so as to obtain power to withdraw the revenue arising from the Horowhenua riding, and devote it as the Otaki Highway Board does theirs, by placing it in the Bank on deposit ! Happy Councillor ! He might then satisfy " X " that the Council was not a useless expense, and that they would have from time to time a constantly-increasing credit bilauce. It is perhaps "too monstrous " to suggest to "X" aud hia friends that by a fair expenditure of Highway and County funds roads might bu opened up through the riding, affording convenience to the settlers, by cheapening the cost of carriage on their produce, by affjrding a safer means for their children to attend the public schook, and though last not least, affording the means of more frequent intercourse with one another, which might prevent the growth of the belief in their own superior wisdom, and tond (by the experience of their own mistakes) to prevent them judging too harshly of those of another. I am, &c, Foxtox. Foxton, Auqruit 23. 1881.