CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1305, 5 April 1883, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

’.Vc do not hold ourselves rosponslbic for the opinions expressed hy our correspondent). :o: TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—A< an old subscriber to your valuable paper, I bog permission to draw the attention of the Matawhero School Committee and the householders that, in view' of the appointment of a certificated teacher to the Matawhero school the desirability of co-operation and to endeavor to secure the best teacher that can be had. A good teacher is not only essential to the welfare of the rising generation, but also bears a powerful influence towards increasing the population of outlying districts. A good school in a district offers great attraction to people with young families to settle in that district. There are many parents who would even forego an opportunity of bettering their circumstances rather than remove their children from the neighborhood of a good school. I am willing to guarantee a subscription of two guineas a year towards augmenting the teacher’s salary, and there arc a great many other settlers also willing to subscribe toward® the same object if required.—Yours, etc., Matawhero. [This communication was received by us on Tuesday’ morning last, but should have come to hand a fortnight ago. We regret that the delay should have occurred, but it was no fault of ours.—Ed. P.B.S.] THE LAND COMPANY AND THE “ HERALD” TO THE FRONT AGAIN. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The N.Z.N.L.S. Co. has made one more effort for a life whose days are surely numbered, The ex-Parson and Bullock Driver has played a smart card this time. He sent a goodly number of advertisements and jobbing to that most powerful, upright, and independent exponent of public opinion (?) the “ Herald.” In the fulness of her gratitude she fell down and worshipped tho said company and al! belonging to it, She brought the full strength of her gifted and talented staff (?) to bear upon the question. Cinamon-and-ginger-nutmeg-and-cloves-that gave him that-jolly-red-nosc, came out strong. “ The-fat-boy,” chimed in, anti the young “ Snyder” even gave a stanza. The noble “captain” sat on the capstan encouraging his crew, and it was only when they were getting utterly exhausted, that he cried, “Well done, my toadies ; heave and pawl 1” It is only the other day that the “ Herald” nearly went into mourning on account of the departure of a “commercial” (Jan. 19th), who had won her heart by a few advertisements. No matter what mountebank, no matter what swindle, no matter how paltry, mean, or insignificant the man or thing may be, it or he will ever find a ready tool in the “Herald.”if he but use thotalisman of an advertisement. And yet in the fate of its tnoat notorious pliability and toadyism it has the impudence to assert (March 28th), “If the directors merely sought to purchase Native Lands at cheap rates in order to sell them again at a profit, we should be more doubtful as to the amount of encouragement which should be given by a newspaper necesearUg existing, in and for the public interests Is not this delightful—tho Devil quoting Scripture, to some purpose. I heard some talk awhile ago about “ brass hats” and “drawing a red herring across the scent (an expression for Ices elegant than expressive which slang, I believe, originated in the above-named journal), and after this no one will denv them the “ brass hat” and the ability to draw the (striking) “red herring” across the “ public scent.” This ruse may stand the “ Herald” in good stead with half breeds, cross-brccds, and currs in general, but there are a large number of truebreds who cannot be decoyed from the true scent by any amount of fishy tricks. Again last night appears another “leader,” com mencing “Mr Rees 1” Faugh ! Hand me something to take the stench of that name out of my nostrils ! Another dose I “Mr Rees’s promises and explanations were most consolatory Who to, the tradesmen of Gisborne ? No, to tho Maoris, Oh, have the Maoris still some shirts to lose ? The directors of the Company must be mad to allow this philanthropical gentleman to waste his time and talents in this manner. This Companv diedains to be called “ mere land purchase agents, ” but claims to be the ‘ ‘ medium” between the buyer and seller (i.e, to stand between the two and swallow the oyster, handing a shell to each) What can’!:, what a miserable subterfuge the whole thing is. If there is any necessity for a “medium” then let Government open offices in those districts necessary where Natives can come and register their land for sale, and where the buying settler cou[d co and select ; and the whole thing b 6 conducted by Government officers, who could charge a percentage both ways, and thus add to the much needed revenue. This would save the Maori from being swindled out of his land, and would give entire confidence to the buyer as to the bona fides of the transaction which he can never feel in a company with a falsehood (philanthropy) for its motto.—l am, &c., V ERETE. Gisborne, April 4th, 1883.

to the editor. Sir, —I write these few lines with the object of calling the attention of the Ormond ratepayers to how their money is spent by the Ormond Road Board, and at the same time hope it will meet the eye of the Auditor, who will shortly audit their accounts. The case in question is this. The Board let a contract for clearing and widening on outlet d.ain under plans and specifications of an Engineer. The contractor finished the work according to his idea of the plans by which he was working. He then requested one of the members of the Board to inspect the work

and pass it if he considered it finished. The ’ member in question told him he had no power j to do so, as it had to be passed by the Engi- : neer of the Board. He then went to the Chairman, who not only passed tho work, but signed & cheque in payment for it, giving him a certificate to the effect that tne work was done to his satisfaction and according to specification, so that he might get the other signature to the cheque which was required. As soon as I heard that the work was done and paid for, I went to look at it, and found that it had better to have been left alone as the drain was 18 inches shallower that! it was before, and in no place according to specifications. I then wrote to the Engineer, asking him to come and inspect tho work and see if it was done according to specification® as, if it was, it was a credit to him. I wish you to publish his reply to my letter in full as it will explain how the work was done, much better than I could • To Mr Geo. Davis, Ormond. Sir,—l have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of date as per margin, re “Outlet Drain Contract,” Ormond Valley Road, and to forward following reply -

I inspected tho work referred to (marked on plan Main Outlet B to C) on the 19th inst , and although I had not the specification® with me (the Secretary of the Highway Board informing ma that it had beau lost) I can safely assert that the contract has not been carried out in accordance therewith, and further that it is the most disgraceful piece of slumming that has ever come under my notice. Not having a copy of the snecifiu ations by mo I may not quote word for word the original clause, but it was to the following effect :—“ Main Outlet Drain, B to C.— The drain shall be cut between these point® to its original depth, leaving it 3 feet wide on the bottom throughout; the slope® shall be neatly trimmed off to a batter of j to 1. The earth from the drain shall ba deposited on either side 2ft. Gin. clear of edge of drain.” The present bottom of drain is from 12 to 18in. higher than the original, and in several places not 3ft. wide ; there has not been, as far as I could see, a single shovelful of earth deposited on the sides, but has been allowed to slide into the drain and remain in the bottom, or be washed awuy with the water, hence the cause of present bottom being higher than the original. A considerable amount of damage has been done by the deposit of loose earth and debris from drain being allowed to rush out with the water and deposit in the Muhunga Creek, which is entirely owing to contractor’s carelessness. Y’ou state that payment has been made to the contractor. lam of opinion that there is a clause in the specifications stating that “ final payment will be made upon the certificate of tho Engineer to the Board.” I have given no such certificate.—l am, etc., Geo. J. Winter, C.E.” The nbove letter quite explains how the work has been done, and what I want to know i« who ought to be made to pay for it? If you, Mr Editor, can throw any light upon it, you will greatly oblige— George Davih, Ormond Valley, April 3rd, 1883. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l have to thank Mr Turton very kindly for his advice, conveyed through your columns, in replying to my letter of the 24th ult. There is not the slightest doubt that I have been illused by those I have trusted to, and I am grateful for any advice which may help me to recover any portion of my property, uml 1 have accordingly adopted tho course recommended by Mr Turton.—Yours, etc., Charles Priestly.