TO THE EDITOR.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 510, 21 April 1880, Page 3

TO THE EDITOR.

[Correspondents arc invited to discuss matters of public interest, with fairness and brevity ; the Mail being an impartial medium of discussion aud advocacy for a!l affairs relating to the County of I’atea.} THE PATEA STEAMSHIP. Sir, —I would like to call the attention of the directors of the P.S S. Company to the fact that the Patea came into harbour at 2 p.m. on Saturday, with a full general cargo, and did not commence discharging until this morning (Monday), greatly to the inconvenience of consignees. A vessel carrying such a number of hands as she does, and Laving’- a steam winch also, should have had the whole of her cargo discharged inside working hours on Saturday afternoon, and have been ready for sea on Monday. I will admit she would have had to discharge across the Falcon’s deck, but that was not a sufficient reason why they should not have worked at all on Saturday. It is quite a usual thing to discharge across a vessel’s deck,—l am, sir, PRO BONO PUBLICO, April 19. ~ THE RAILWAY QUESTION. Sir, —You must be getting tired of letters on this subject ; nevertheless to every settler on this coast it is a most important question, and to every resident in this town it is in my opinion of vital importance that the Railway should not only be brought near to, but info, the town. . “ Well-wisher” read the two letters in reply to his with “ amusement.” Does it not seem strange how any resident in this town could extract amusement from such a grave piece of work as that he is engaged in, viz., trying to rob the town of Carlyle of its just patrimony V “ No case,” he says ; not even when he is trying to increase the value of a few miserable acres, owned by perhaps only two or three individuals, to the permanent detriment of hundreds'of peojile now living, and probably of thousands yet unborn! The more “ Well-wisher” writes, the more proof is given that there is “ a case.” Besides being “amused,” he also experienced “ regret” because that after he had “ refrained from imputing nnwortby inotives to those getting up the agitation which has so long delayed our Railway,” their replies should contain no answer to his arguments. He might well refrain

from imputing unworthy motives. Is it unworthy to wish for prosperity, advancement, trade, commerce, and all the attendant advantages which may be expected to flow from a Railway being connected with the town and port ? Then as to the delay caused, if any, I would ask who has been the means of bringing this about ? I say, “ Well-wisher” and his friends. Who first of all propagated the idea of shutting out the Kail way. from the town ? The same parties. Who alone have raised the cry against the practicability of bringing the line down the town aide of the river ? The same parties. And as for the answer to his arguments, they could not bu answered because they did not exist. No logic can overtlnow a nonentity. He complains that calm reasoning is not, our forte. I rather agree with him there —at least when the Swamp Railway absurdity is under discussion. Would “ Well-wisher” expect calm reasoning were he to go to his neighbor and say, “ Friend, I must have half the value of all your real property, to suit a little whim of mine. I am a sincere well-wisher of yours, you know ; and it will be all right. It is best for myself and a few others that yon should make tin's sacriliec. I shall be perfectly satisfied which way you decide, but hope you will cheerfully accede to my most reasonable demands.” I do not refer to bis remarks on 11 Fair Play’s” letter, as that person seems quite capable of answering for himself, should he choose to do so ; but "just allow mo a word about Green Island (sugestive name), referred to in “ Well-wishers” letter. He quite forgot to tell you that it is leased for twenty-ono years, and that the space between it and the river frontage is in the hands of private persons, and shown on maps as building sections, though said sections have nothing whatever to do with the town of Carlyle, but rather remind one of some of those in the imaginary city of Eden parched by Martin Clmzzlcwitt, In regard to the Ferry reserve, I think all who know and remember some of its past history will agree with me in saying of it, “ rcquiescat in peace." “ Well-wisher” declines to be drawn into further controvcsy re this matter. I do not think he was drawn into it at first by anyone. In his eagerness to accomplish his cherished purpose, he was induced to make a “ statement pro and con,”—l am. &c., A Sincere Well-wisher to the Swamp.

POUNDKEEPERS. Sir, —Would .yon be good enough to inform the public if tbc Impounding Act allows a ponndkeeper to depute to his servant the duty of acting as auctioneer at sale of cattle impounded ? Such an occurrence happened here last week. lam not aware whose duty it may ho to rectify such (as I read it) a violation of the law. Are the pounds under the control of tho County Council or the Local Board ?—Yours, &c., OBSERVER. Waverlcy, April 20.