CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 111, 6 December 1873, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Our columns are open for free discussion ; but we do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents.}

TO THE EDITOB. Sib, —If there is a country under the sun that has a special claim to distinction in the number and variety of its Governments, and in the weight and amount of its taxes, New Zealand is certainly that favored land. For instance, we have Government No. 1. Imperial (Fergusson), Government No. 2. General (Vogel), Government No. 3. Provincial (Williamson), Government No. 4. Local (Read). These several Governments must, of course, be sup|X>rted, and what more easy than to make the working classes all do this ? I dare say those good people pay their wack with much pleasure, but to which taxes the wealthy squatter, and large land jobber pay next to nothing, this condition of things is no douht just as it should be, for wliat saith the poet ? “ Man made the town, And Jove, the country ” swells. But what I am driving at is this : amongst such a multitude of Governments there must be some wisdom somewhere, at least we will hope so ; and it would be a most direct evidence of that wisdom, if, seeing how much the poorer classes pay for that luxury, they should have something else for their money. There is a very fine piece of land at Makaraka, which, if I recollect rightly, is public property, at present, however, it is a mere nursery for briars and thorns, but which, notwithstanding that defect, should be specially reserved for a recreation ground. The situation is excellent ; just a nice walk, or ride by road, and a pleasant row by water from town, and conveniently accessible from all parts of the country. There the town-sick citizen, with family around him, may spend a pleasant day, and there the athletic youths of both sex may exhibit and practice their shill in various sports, and enjoy themselves amazingly. What’ I fear is, that, although the beforementioned Governments are, doubtless, the very thing required, and are pretty nearly perfect, still like all sublunary institutions, they have human weaknesses — slight but occasionally important; amongst which may be noted a largo development of acquisitiveness, or, as some call it, a great propensity for huxtering, and that, influenced by an organic defect, someone or other of those admirable rulers (for it is quite impossible, at the moment, to pitch exactly upon the real Simon Pure) may, in a fit of mistaken economy, dispose of the piece of land I refer to in lots to suit purchasers, or as a small recognition of somebody’s valuable services at some critical moment of political exigence. If, now, the good people of this Bay are desirous of securing,—or, at any rate, of endeavoring to secure, from the all-devouring auction hammer, or the generosity of the false acting Government to its dear friends and political props, the piece of land I refer Co, for the purpose I have mentioned, —no time should be.lost, so that we may enjoy an occasional outing, without being humiliated by an announcement in the local press every time we take our families and our tea in the open air, that, “ through the kindness of So and So Esq. ; P. and J.; L. S. D. &c., &c., the good people of Turanga have been permitted to get a breath of fresh air in the beautiful paddocks of Thistleum.” But it may be asked, “to which of the Governments herein referred to, are the settlers to apply ? I reply briefly—to all of them, so that there can be no mistake.—Yours, &c., Vox Populi. Gisborne, sth December, 1873.