CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 298, 14 December 1872, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

*»* We are desirous of affording 1 every reasonable facility lor the discussion of public subjects; but it must be understood, that we are in no way responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. To the Editor of the Nelson Evehtkg Mail" •' Let the world wag as it will, We'll be free-and-easy still.'? Sir — Recently I have seen extracts from private letters, and communications from correspondents in the papers which fully prove the utter incompetence of our Government to manage the estate placed in its hands by the public, an}' more than the same Government, as private individuals, could manage a simple steam boat or a mining Company. Thus the people of Cobden, when they apply for means to- preserve their town — bearing in mind the old adage of a " stich in time," and having the example of Westport before their eyes — are coolly told that there are "no funds in hand for such purposes." We learn again from similar sources that the Brunner railway is to cost some £40,000 more than is necessary, and not one of our guardians will raise a voice to stop such an iniquitous proceeding. Again the packers to the West Coast are compelled to make their own roads— peculiarly a function of Government, one would think, in a new country. And to show how consistent the Government is in all its actions, I send you an extract Yrom a letter which I have just received from a friend at Westport:—- --" This place is all on the move, but the new township, as laid out by Government, is a complete bungle. The two streets, Wakefield and Bentoul, which have been made to lead to wharves, lead to the shingle bank,, which you may remember just above the island on the town side; and it is found impossible to construct wharves there at all ; even were they in existence, boats could not get there without great risk, and a heavy expenditure id removing snags. ' . ' I am, &c, . , : ,- - ' . Observes. .