PATEA COUNTY MAIL PUBLISHED Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1880. REFUSED.

Patea Mail, 16 September 1880, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY MAIL PUBLISHED Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1880. REFUSED.

The breakwater contract will be completed about the end of next week. The important work of improving the navigation will then be suspended until farther funds can be obtained. The Chairman of the Harbor Board reports that he applied to the Government for a harbor endowment of 5,000 acres of land within the County; and on this being refused he asked for 2,500, which was also refused. The effect of Major Atkinson’s financing this year is that he takes from this County at least £50,000, possibly as much as £BO,OOO, which would accrue from land sales during 12 months, besides taking away our right to all land revenue in future years. With this money, the County Council could have made a network of County roads for opening up land which is now inaccessible and therefore useless. The district wants its port to be farther improved for admitting intercolonial shipping, and the Harbor Board asks for a portion of land now lying useless, and which is likely to remain useless for many years. What is the answer? The Colonial Treasurer says : “We cannot afford to let you have either land or money. You will have a harbor at Taranaki eight years hence, when half a million of sovereigns have been sunk in the sea to make a sugar-loaf breakwater ; and the trade of Patea district can wait till Taranaki is ready for it. It is better to keep 5,000 acres locked up than to give them to Patea harbor. Besides, my constituents at Taranaki don’t want to sec a harbor made for Patea district, and as they arc my main support at elections, I must consider them first.” These are not the Treasurer’s words, but they are the common-sense interpretation of his refusal, The matter rests with him, and it is with him the reckoning must be made. If he can show that there are not 5,000 acres within the County that the Government can spare ; if he can show that the particular blocks pointed out as available are really wanted for sale and occupation immediately ; if lie can show that the particular blocks will bring a sixpence to the Government for the next three years ; if he can show

that 5,000 acres will be more profitable to lie unused than to be applied to a beneficial and successful public work for present and future settlers in Patea district ; if ho can show any of these things, Major Atkinson’s treatment of our claim will be intelligible. He grabs our land [revenue. Ho allows Taranaki to seize and carry off one-fourth the value of our Plains, He bamboozles us with a sham subsidy from Native and Crown lands, and says “ Behold how careful I am of your interests, my dear constituents ! I will visit you at the next election, and will ask you to bear in grateful remembrance all the good things I have done for you.” they shall not be forgotten. We couldn’t forget them if we would.