ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 193, 14 February 1877, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

[We arc at all limes ready to give expression to every shade of opinion, but in no case do we hold ourselves responsible for the sentiments of our correspondents.] (to the editor of the fate a mail). Sin,—Yon will oblige me very much by giving space in your columns for a few remarks in reference to the public meeting held in the Town Hall last Saturday night. Now. Sir, you arc well aware that the object of that meeting was to improve on certain actions taken by the Government in removing the Survey Office, &c., and other business that might tend lo the welfare of this district, 'flic Government, in the first place, have thought fit to withdraw certain gentlemen from this town, whose salaries represent altogether about £SOO a-inonth, which. I maintain, is a direct or indirect loss the community ; so that I think it is our duty to try and keep what various offices we think will benefit the settlers of this district. 1 am sure this is the right place for the Survey Office, which 1 have no doubt the Government will eventually see ; but I am not prepared to discuss the action taken by the Government, so that I will confine myself to the purport of this letter, by stating that a more scandalous affair was never witnessed than Ihc conduct of certain gentlemen at the meeting referred to, I must say that it was a gross insult to the gentleman that occupied the chiar. for support he had none. I must also state that the gentlemen that opposed all. the resolutions, came to the_ meeting for that express purpose, and to give vent to their party feelings, which I consider shows very bad taste. It also appeared lome that they considered Mr Sherwood was not fit to represent our wauls to the Honorable Major

Atkinson, and that wc should have found some other way of representing our cause to the Government. Now, Mr Editor. Ido not know what your opinion on the subject might he, but it strikes me ihat Mr Sherwood (■• niultum in parvo”) is bettor able to represent us (in any case) Ilian any of the gentlemen that opposed him ; and. Sir. I may as well add, that, although In; is a little man. there is a bit of good sniff in him. And if ho had been present at the moo dug. I doubt very much if they could have stood their ground with him. in fact, it was a piece of cowardly work altogether. The meeting was called for the purpose of improving the state of affairs in genera!, but 1 am sorry to say that certain parties made use of it otherwise—for pure antagonism—in place of getting through the business in a friendly way. 1 have a few more wonts to say in the shape of advice to a few of the gentlemen that got lost in a fog. and that is to try tor die future to control their tempers at public meetings, olher.vi.-e. no matter how wealthy a man i-. it will not prevent him from getting horsewhipped for insults. Trusting the next time wc meet that wo shall be a little more unanimous in our feelings, and not wrangle about such petty tiitics. —I tun, Nc., JAMES LETT.

(TO THE EDIToR on Tine PATEA MAIL.) SIR. —'The public meeting held in the 'Town Hall on Saturday hist;, must have appeared !o tiio strangers who wore prcscul mulling more than a party meeting, for anyone with half an eye could see that a certain few of lhu.se who attended, did not go there for the purpoa; of bcneiiuing the public, but. to let: out a little of their spleen against those who had been more fortunate than themselves in lining appointed to oliices in the County Council and Town Board. There is not a shadow of a doubt that the fact of Mr Sherwood having been appointed Chairman of the County Council was the great sore ; if not. why were the few oppositionists so bitter against him ! In my opinion, it looked very much like the dog in the manger; only in this instance, Mr Sherwood had all the st raw, and the others had none. The same parly feeling is again shewn by the few who arc wanting to oust Mr Sherwood from the office of County Chairman. It is well-known that a certain member of that, few wanted to got the oflice of Chairman for himself, and because he did not get it, is trying to put the Council to the trouble and expense of undoing all they did at the last meeting ; oven then be will not get the coveted position, for he must know that the members of the Council who elected Mr Sherwood, are in the majority, and will bo sure to return him again, in spite of the would-be Chairman’s opposition. Have wo lost confidence in Major Atkinson ? was asked by one of tlic.se well-wishers ol: the community. It not, why do you want Mr Slier wood fo represent your wants to the Government. What a question to ask. Everyone knows that one individual in person can do more good in one day than half a dozen can do by writing in a month ; and no one knows this boiler than the person who asked the question, in fact, no one is more ready to lie spokesman for a deputation than the same individual. What a pity Major Atkinson did not come on here from New Blymouth, instead of returning to 'Wellington. Trusting you will afford space for this letter.—l am, Ac., JEALOUSY. Carlyle, Fell. 13th, 1877. [TO THU EDITOR OK THE TATEA MAIL.] Siu, —The " Wanganui Herald,’ - of the 7(h hist., has an article on the subject of last quarter's ilcvenue Hot unis ; and after point ing out that tin: last quarter’s Custom’s Kcvcnuc. a; compared with that received for the corresponding quarter in the previous year, shows a decrease of £13,889, the "Herald" proceeds to show that there is an increase to be set against the above deficiency amounting to ;!:7.118, which is derived from certain sources which are staled. Tills reducers Die decrease, according to the " Herald,” to £0,771, and the "Herald"” adds to this a falling off in incidental receipts, of £3.000. and so arrives at. tiu; conclusion that the decrease reaches over £9.000. Assuming the figures in the comparative statement given in the body of the article referred to, to bo correctly slated, the result on examination shows a decrease for Die quarter of only £3,771, instead of over £9.000. Which result is arrived at as follows :

1875. 3S7G. ;C £ £ Slump Duties 2(1,084, 27.875—1,7!) 1 Postal 19,397 20.928 1,5;) I Telegraphic 15,200 17,171—1,005 Judicial fees ami fines 8,024 10,155 —1,201 Fees oilier than above 2.592 10,192—0,000 Totals 73,203 80,321 1.3,118 These figures show an increase of revenue from the above sources of 4113,118, which set against the decrease in the Customs of £13.88!), leaves a deficiency of £771. If to this is added the falling off of £3,000 on Incidental Receipts, the total decrease for the quarter only amounts to £3,771. —I am, Ac., ALPHA.