LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 57, 31 May 1873, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, —No one having deigned to answer my query as to the destination of Militia fines, &c., I may conclude that the fund still stands to Cr. If such be the case it is surely time some good accrued therefrom. If only a ball were given for example it would be gratifying to most of the Militia victims if they can’t shoot away their grievances to at least dance them away, ••ut Mr. Editor it would be perhaps advisable in the event of this ball taking place to dispense with the ultra-patent of respectability, up to which so few of us (Militia men) come, as it does not tend to the sociability of a soiree, hoping that my hint may be taken in the right quarter -is I have a serious notion of investing in swallow tails.—l am, &c., Enquirer.

Sin, - I have always been a staunch supporter of the Auckland Province in this district when “if had no friends,” and its enemies could only say, what did Auckland ever do for us ? forgetting the while that Auckland had not the iidministratiou of affairs here until lately, and tljeref »re luv! no power either for good or evil. Now, Mr. E litor, there is a change. Auckland has the irlministration of our affairs, and 1 must confess to being “sold,” “ beautifully s >ld,” in my estimate of her political rectitude, and material care of this much injured district. We were boiling over with gratitude when they gave us the Highway Boar I, and a miserable pittance by way of a grant in aid of works, not on<-tenth what they promised, with the supreme felicity of being allowed to retax ourselves. Then we wanted to “ teach the young idea ” and they say Ah-well! Yes. We'll give you something, and they clap on the Education tax. And then again the other day we held a meeting, and in pretty strong language said we must have a Sheep Inspector, and he must have £250 a year. This when conceded to us (by telegram to Napier) was the very acme of loving kindness, but 1 can almost fancy the conference by the Executive on this question to be somewhat after this fashion, Super, to Treasurer: —“I say, these Poverty Bay fellahs are getting impertinent!” Treas. s— “Oh! never mind; leave them to me! We must give them this £250 for their Inspector, but—but, I’ve got it. We’ll clap on a tax of sixpence a head on those sheep they are bringing from Napier.” Now, sir, I think we are quite competent to do as much as this ourselves ; and with due deference to the Auckland Executive we would have done it much better. Ist. We would have taxed all sheep brought into the district whether borne by sea or land, and not as at present, on seaborne only, while any number may be driven overland scot free. And 2ndly. Instead of making it 6d a head we would probably have put on 2d.

I can’t see I am sure why (when we’ve got to pay for them) we can’t do all these things by ourselves without the interfererihe of any Provincial officials, and consequently Jess expensive. The fact of the matter is this: We are quite competent to take charge of ourselves. Let the General Government give us our share of the revenue ; hand over to us the administration .of the confiscated land (at cost price) -, knock the Road Board, with all its machinery, on the head; keep up the . Education tax; put the whole lot (tin I mean) in one strong box, elect about six county Council men, as representatives, with a chairman, dedare our independency, from Hick’s Bay to Table Cape hoist our colors over the- county of Stafford ; give three cheers, and set sail on our own account. A very small staff of officiate would manage the whole lot. No more at present from.—Yoqrs, Ac., Consistency.