AN ALL-ROUNDER.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 230, 23 June 1877, Page 2

AN ALL-ROUNDER.

(To the Editor of the Patka Mail.)

?,!h Editor, —I run rather surprised at die settlers generally, at tiic little interest taken by them in the affairs of the Harbor Board. Tho money that is to bo raised, ami tbe cash already in hand, is, I suppose, simply looked upon as a gift. I have seen somewhere that you should not look a gift horse in the mouth. Now, in my opinion, it’s nothing of the sort. The cash now in hand is common property, and Mr Editor although your paper some time ago thought that we had got more than our share of the public monies spent (if yoil like, perhaps squandered would be nearer the truth). However, in your issue of the 13tb instant you quietly admit that a large sum of money, amounting to many thousand pounds, has really been spent and passed over that was .voted and that tbe Taranaki province was fairly entitled to ; and further you consider a Premier a costly luxury, something like a a costly suit on Iris back and a judgVSf-uT summons in bis creditor’s pocket, a thing not at all uncommon in Palea. The construction of the Harbour Board is in my opinion an insult to tbe country as far as election or free selection goes—a thing that some of our politicians a la mode or a la dinner generally dwell on when they button-hole any ignoramus that is entrusted with a vote. From Waitotara to the extreme northern boundary the people have really no voice in the matter,excepting tbe chairman, be being ex officio a member. As it stands at present it is the nominees of the government are there and the nominees of the Town Board.

Now,’ Mr Editor, do you really think that the city ! of Patea, with all its rich, clever, and honorable men, is really entitled to such an overwhelming voice in what affects the welfare of • the whole district, and where large sums of money will have to be spent and contracts entered into—to use the language of “ Nemesis,” a thing that makes mo feci like a dog with the mange. I say, No. I trust this letter will cause some thought over the question of what our Harbour Board is about. — I am, &c. NOT AFKAID. [Note. —“ Not Afraid ” must be-a careless reader, or he would not attribute to the paper what was said only by Mr Callaghan, lie is equally wide of the mark as to statements by the paper in reference to public money already spent. It does not follow that because, in some •matters, Major Atkinson has done well for" his constituents, he should be altogether freed from blame in clear cases of error or neglect, such as was shown in regard torailwav votes. —Ed. Mail.]