THE LATE ELECTION AT SANDON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4821, 4 September 1876, Page 2

THE LATE ELECTION AT SANDON.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir,— May I ask a little space to reply to a letter which recently appeared in your paper, signed H. Kockell. I presume he writes through your columns that his views may be seen by the members of the House of Parliament now sitting. He was our late warden, and lost his re-election because he advocated a course of action that was not in accordance with the views of the majority of his constituents. The question was Government aid upon the main line of road to Toxton, or (as advocated* by Mr. Rockell), to be spent in making a district road to mouth of Eangitikei river. He defends himself, concludes with a prayer, or something very like it, that we, who think differently,may have patience to wait. We believe, sir, that Heaven helps those that help themselves. The main line settlers have waited, and what is more, waded, slushed, and jaded through mud, sand, and bogs for four years along our so-called main line ; aud mind a fact, tbe traffic along that line of the travelling public is so great that it cannot be otherwise unless something is done. I may say it would be used still more as a short cut if it were not for the abominable state it Is in.

cWe who voted" against Mr. Rockell claim help from Government to put the main line of road in a passable state. -The difficulty of the road is want of metal, and we think the want is best met by a railway or a tramway with light iron rails. On nomination day it was elicited from and admitted by Mr. Rockell, that he had written Mr. 1 Johnston (our member) upon the subject of a grant■ in aid 'of another road, and also that he had used his influence as a warden in - the same direction, and that he had not done anything to help on the main line to 'Foxton. The result was that despite all the efforts of his friends he was beaten by twelve votes, which majority earned with it the good wishes and interest of Sandon and Eoxton. , ... We admit, sir, that the road would be wood and do good to a few, but advocate that if only one thousand pounds could be had the money should be expended for the benefit of the majority of the settlers and the whole of the travelling public on the main line. Allow me to draw aside a veil. This road may be called a family one, for jotted thickly along it may be found Mr. Rockeff’s relatives; they play the game, heads I win, tails you lose. There is no doubt it is their interest to have aid for it; here is where very nearly all the rates raised in a large portion of the district for the last four years have been spent; here is where the money has gone that was needed and rightly belonged to settlers miles away, and who up to this day have no road at all, and here is where the aid was to go. We admit Mr. Rockell’s zeal for the port of Kangitikei for his friends and for himself; he has written you before upon this subject, and he may write again; but if he does not he has' champions to back him—brave men, rash men, family men, young men, good riders that ride every man the family hobby. And believe me,, though opposed to their views, I admire their daring horsemanship and the way they stick to the traditional pigskin.—l am, &c., John W. Goweh. - Carnarvon, August 29.