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New Zealander, Volume 10, Issue 882, 27 September 1854, Page 3

To the Editor of the New Zealander. Sir, —Will you permit me through your columns to make a few observations on the Tarnaki, Panmure, ami Ilowick roads. From the Provincial Engineer there is a call for Tenders for metalling the Taraaki road, to commence near Menzie’s ; if it is Jamieson’s hill that is intended, the line of road as at present laid out up the hill is nut the best that might be ; by bearing lower down the slope towards the lake a rise of several feet might be prevented, instead of crossing the two highest points, as in the present road ; theie is a considerable fall in the ground over which the natural line of road would come winding round, would join the presentroad on the Auckland side of the hill; by this line the road would be lowered, shortened, and very much improved in appearance, the extra expense of cutting would be small, the land on each side is in a state of nature, there could be no dnliculty about it. The traOlc on this road is very considerable, it being the only road to Panmure and Ilowick, there can •he no doubl -it always will be the principal road to those places."* What could have induced the Provincial Council to neglect the present line of road from Panmure to Auckland, which has cost so much in forming, and is the best line that could be devised, because bypassing through the agricultural district of the Tarnaki it gives the greatest accommodation. What could have induced the Provincial Council to vote a large sum for opening a new lino of road from Panmure to Auckland through the scoria, a line with nothing to recommend it, and. if opened, would be of as little practical utility to the Province as the Thames tunnel is to the citizens of London. If the sum required to open tins useless road was expended on the road from Panmure to Ilowick, or in building a bridge over the Tarnaki river, it would be a general benefit to the Province and to

lie Pensioners. Practical men from Panmure assort, to make

the road passable for carts through the scoria will require a very large expenditure. What is there to justify that expenditure ? It would bo a misappropriation of the Provincial revenue, because the present roads, when metalled, are sufficient Tor every purpose.—l am, &c. William Atkins. Tamaki, 23rd September, 185-1. To the Editor of the New Ze vlander. Sir, — The General Assembly is dissolved, and the “ Commons of New Zealand” have winged their several homeward ways. Despite the talk of the first session, and the Railway Legislation of the last, I think you will agree that the General Assembly has done some good—if it were no more than the passing of the Marriage Act, the two Waste Lands Acts, and the Secondary Punishments’ Act. For these the Assembly deserves credit; but I regret that the good work should have been sullied by the insatiate itch of the majority in the House of Representatives to obtain a large sum of money tor their expenses, —these expenses, in reality', being upon a scale sufficient to be regarded as Hire tor their time. I am told that the Northern members who stuck to the Southern majority have also shared in the Southern expenses; so that the House of Representatives may be said to consist of twentynine paid, and only seven unpaid members! Pray, sir, may I enquire whether the paid members of the Auckland Province such as Messrs, Taylor, Porter, Gray, and Bacot, have conferred such signal benefit on this Province, that they should have their pockets lined at the public expense 2 When that most important question, the conferring upon Auckland the fair proportion of Representative members, in conformity with the Electoral Rolls came under debate, where, I would ask, were those four paid members, not one of whom was present to support the Provincial interests 2 The Bill, in consequence of their desertion, was thrown out, and although one of the honourable gentlemen (Mr. Porter) subsequently “explained,” was that explanation, let me ask, at all satisfactory to account for his voluntary absence from the House at the most critical stage of the bill 2 Sir, I was in the House when those just and useful clauses, framed with a desire to benefit the Working Settlers, were debated, and I know that at least three of the paid Representatives voted against them. Upon another occasion I was also present, when one of our City members, after a great £(leal of discussion, succeeded in obtaining a vote of £3oh for better Post Office accommodation in Auckland. Two of the people’s paid Representatives were absent when this important matter was in debate, and another (Dr. Bacot) voted against it. I have neither time nor inclination to dwell on this subject; but I cannot but think that the most casual observer of the proceedings ol the • l House” Could not fail to be struck at the absence of those paid gentry when their votes were necessary to benefit their constituents. But these were the men who wore ever ready to muster, and, on a hint from the Southern majority, in pass a vote of want of confidence in a new Ministry who maintained the honest policy, that if (ho Scat of Government were removed, of the Gbugj'gl Assembly convened at any othe A-

place than An •kland < that thou Auckland should have its own Li ut.-Governor a-.id its own Legis--1: ture. Three of these vety members are nilinned to have uniteil with a number of Auckland members in subscribing a document pledging themselves to support any Ministry advocating such a policy! But where were they when required? Echo answers— Where? It it were an echo like Baddy B ake’s, it might hiue replied, —at Bellamy’s! Electors would do well to bear in mind that Five members of the Province get paid for their faithful services; whilst the remaining seven may possibly not even receive thanks lor loui mouths* of toil, trouble, and anxiety ! Is this an equitable state of Parliamentary affairs? I think not. On the contrary, I consider that it, would he well of the various Constituencies were they to cal! upon their Representatives to give an account, of their Stewardship. An assurance of approbation to the deserving Representative would be a far greater spur to honourable action for flic future, than the sorry wages for which some would seem to have so strenuously contended. You ”3, &C., A Sururran Elector