OUTSIDE PATRONS.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 277, 8 December 1877, Page 2

OUTSIDE PATRONS.

( r fo the Editor of the Patea Mail.) Sift—ln my former letter I endeavoured to show that this district should wake up and attend to its own interests, and not be

influenced by outside opinion, and that by a due attention to its own resources the people would best serve itself* The Wanganui Chronicle, in a characteristically' weak and washy way, has, in a leading article, attempted to prove that there is no desire to centralize in Wanganui, and that the residents of that city (?) do not desire to monopolise. The Patea people arc gently chided for not apprehending that their interests are bound up with those of Wanganui, &c. The general tone of the article is of a patronizing-deprcciatory style, as if it were intended for the edification of a lot of children, who were incapable of attending to their own affairs. We are told that “in endeavouring to attract to ourselves [Wanganui] the trade of a considerable extent of country, it will not be by the disparagement of the harbor prospects of smaller ports.” So says the Chronicle of December: and tin's is what was said by the same paper last July—“ Had we attended to our own interests in this direction, as wc ought to have done, the trade of Manawatu, Rangitikei, and Patea, would have had its centre in Wanganui. But it is not so, and if we allow, aye, and encourage these ports to become estranged, commercially speaking, from their natural depot, arc wc to blame them for forming connexions with other and more remote

ports. . . . Even Patea is awkening, and putting its best leg foremost to compete, on favorable terms, with Wanganui, in the way of maritime communication — but such a proposal may be set down as a pardonable ambition, though, in reality vox et preetera nihil." Or, to adopt a free translation of the bit of Latin, for the benelit of those who have not (like the Chronicle) a “ Newspaper Reader’s Companion” at hand—“ All your attempts at improving your river is so much gas.” In the face of this, how dares the Chronicle say it does not disparage the prospects of ‘‘smaller ports.” 0 But the Chronicle's object was not, as it pretended, to display its motherly feeling towards these smaller ports.” The article was made a cover for an attack upon the .Member for Rangitikci, who, notwithstanding what the Chronicle may say, has done far more for Wanganui than ever it has done, or ever will be able to do. That Patea has boon a loser by the Member for Rangitikei’s action, ought, if the Chronicle was true to itself, to have evoked from it the highest praise and commendation. But the desire to inflict an ungenerous wound has ever been of paramount importance with the Chronicle , so long as it could be done with impunity. The interests of the “ smaller ports,” or indeed of anything else, is of very secondary consideration. The Chronicle's advocacy of the affairs of this district, or its condemnation of them, will not affect them in the maimer intended. The settlers of the Patea County can, and will be their own champions ; and, being such, can afford lo ignore the utterly false pretenses of the Chronicle, or of any other outsiders. In conclusion, sir, I would once more say to" the Patea settlers —Look to yourselves,” let Unity and Perseverance be the watchword. Act up to that and you need not fear the action of those, who, whilst pretending to be your friends, would be your worst enemies.—l am, &c. ONWARD. ''ltalics are my own.