THE WAIRARAPA RAILWAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5018, 24 April 1877, Page 2

THE WAIRARAPA RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sie, —AVill you permit me to say a few words in reply to the attack recently made on Greytown in your columns by " Scribendum." The statements of your correspondent are false and exaggerated, and I beg leave to supply your readers with his motive for making them. " Scribendum " is supposed to be an individual who has invested heavily in land adjacent to the llochfort line, and whose future is dependent on that line being adopted. Let scurrilous " Scribendum" deny this if he can, not anonymously (he would deny anything in that form), but openly. He dare not ! He is one of those who "Do ' ill' by ' stealth,' and blush to find it fame." I feel certain that he would, if challenged, disown his recent communication to your.columns. I will briefly, without comment, give a few facts which may tend to remove the false impression made on the minds of many of your readers by " Scribendum " : 1. Five business firms in Wellington, Masterton, and Featherston have quite recenty opened permanent branches in Greytown; several others are about to follow suit. 2. There is not a habitable house to let at the present moment in Greytown. A settler who is completing a dwelling informs me that he has a dozen applications for it. . - 3. I had occasion yesterday to inquire the price of a piece of land (on a back line) within 250 yards of the Waiohine. Its price was ,£240 per acre. Within 150 yards of the same awful stream W. Hammnrich is just about to erect a private residence. With fair play Greytown can hold its own ; without it, during the past three years, the township has made marked progress, and it can be proved on unimpeachable testimony that there is not a more healthy business centre in the Wairarapa. I will not say more, lest I follow the contemptible example of " Scribendum " and exalt my own township at the expense of my neighbors.—l am, &c, - J. Pattok. Greytown, April 22.