ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 597, 28 November 1866, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

WE DO NOT IDENTIFY OTJBSELVES IN ANY WAY WITH THE OPINIONS EXPEES9ED BY OTTB COBBESPONDENTS. «. (TO THB EDITOR OF THE SOUTHLAND TIMES). Sic, —l observe in to-day's Times a letter signed by "James EitzJames" in , Syz-zzt of Az G vern-meut officials ; the ; lA'y'zizizy] y tv, Yy-^gs Y >:c-;-,-ar*.l Ye* justify ! la* \".i.\\y *:u\: wreiynV ia the &&■- --■ tviyy yi -*f.«.-.y aiv .-:o b.'ully.paid Xii AA alleges, then why do they stop 4: uobodr \ will prevent them from leaving, mstcVl ; everyone would heartily rejoice that we I had got rid of such a useless cia - ofl persons. It is well known that men or i education and capacity would scorn to j drag out a miserable existence, b;'--rt-!y ' sufficient to clear expenses, for iY,ev ! would turn their talents and abilities to '■ professional and business pursuits, rathe, than hang on to the G-overninent and b placed in the contemptible position ns ly his own showing they are now in. fo nono but men who had lost all TS respect for themselves, as they have Yy lost that of the public, who look on i;y as a set of loafers, would stop where rhe are. As these so-called Governpyy officials have such a craving for bilNvy then let them by all means do some v.-■>•.•' for valuo received, for the way in whicl things are carried on at the present ti mis a perfect farce, as we are so heavii* taxed we cannot afford to keep up a iV less staff of individuals who are nei.h-yi use nor ornament. Amoug the vari on .fi schemes brought forward for improvirifthe roads of the Province, allow mo ro suggest one which I think will meet the approval of all honest men. We have ali seen the wisdom of the Government ■*„ setting the prisoners to repair the street of the town, which is a step in the right direction, then why not set the Government officials to repair the roads ? they are all Government men and ought to lie equally employed in some useful labor my proposal is, to divide them into two road gangs one for the North and the. other for the East Eoad, and take ad-*" vantage of the summer to make the road;' somewhat passable before the winter set* in, the season when they are mos; needed. My argument in which " James* lays great stress, is the money that Iz now drawn in the shape of salaries, if nos. spent here would be absorbed by Uu, ■ General Government; nothing would bo better, it would then go towards extinguishing the heavy debt under which tho.' ■»

*IVI«"<UI»I BUI *\J\J\> I Province ii novr suffering from } tha sooner that it is paid off the better it will be for all those who are interested in the place. " James" seems to be laboring under the idea, that because honest men advocate retrenchment in the present state of things, that they covet the billets they condemn, no such thing, the people are not to be silenced so as to be prevented from giving free expression' to their thoughts on a question so important as the proper expenditure of the public money. At the present time there is a» strong feeling of discontent pervading all classes ; we are all desirous of seeing something done really useful, and not for the sake of show. I should advise " James" not to rush into print again so hastily, as his cause is so bad that if no one better qualified than what he is can be found to undertake its defence why the less said about it the better. — Allow me to remain, yours obediently, A. D. EobebtsOjS*. Invercargill, 24th November, 1868.

(TO XSE EDITOB OF THE SOTTTHIiAM) TIMES.) Sir, — "Will you have the goodness to* allow me space for a few words in reference to the report of the public meeting, at the Theatre Royal, on the sth instant, and the remarks thereon as published in the Southland Times of the 7th, and Weehly Times of the 10th; instant ? In the report it is stated that Mr Wilson " at great length reviewed a long article he had a few weeks since addressed "io the people of Southland upon the construction of roads." The article referred to I ; did not review at all, at eithergreat length or small length ; this is -of no consequence, only when taken" in. con--nection with other mistatements, shows a bias of mind inclined to misrepresent my action at the meeting, where I had ' no purpose to serve but to assert by some means or other in having a most needful work accomplished during the summer' season — the only time when it can be done. Any one reading the Times newspaper, and not knowing the facts, would : unhesitatingly place me in the position of one among others who " spoke against the Execu ti\& because they could not do impossibilities " and who " demand thatthe Government should instantly comply with all their demands/ and " abuse officials." Sofaraslam personally concerned such misrepresentations are harmless, andl would not have taken any notice of them if not connected with a matter of much, importance to the settlers generally.. "Mr Wilson makes it a sine quo noru that the North Eoad should be finished: during the ensuing summer. He forgets - that there is at present neither money nor means in existence for the aecom--plishment, we have no doubt, of a very desirable undertaking." I did not forget the embarrassed circumstances of the - ' Provincial Government. The resolution submitted to the meeting by me presup- • posed that the Provincial Executive had not the means at present, and for .that very reason urged the necossity of assistance from the General Government. And the resolution includes the East Eoad as well as the North Eoad, both of ' which may be regarded in the same light - by the inhabitants generally of town and country, and not by a few, nor anyone in particular. And certainly not in the light the Times pleases to put the subject. And to Bpeak of the " ensuing sammer" when summer is actually upon us, is travelling out of the way andbehind time, and is a poor attempt at retarding the progress of the sun ia his annual circuit. As I am not initiated in the mysteries ; a -Vurnalism, you will excuse me for y •■:;/ TiV± may be at considerable \ \-.;z Y; A-jCft T h your own sentiments, ji.y-.mely- Va misrepresentation — and at the fm • > lime trying to lull the Eseeuf' ' - of inaction and | lalse se-" - liy of some I ■ Yrte-se' "' has had ; ■ o '-^atestr i t ..■»•■ ;'-.■■ .-.'■ y I .'.'■. *