ANNEXATION TO OTAGO.

Southland Times, Issue 1194, 16 July 1869, Page 2

ANNEXATION TO OTAGO.

(TO THE EDITOB OF THE SOTTTHIiAND TIMES.) Sib — I have noticed a great deal of discussion in the papers anent re-union, but I have not seen anything which would justify me in concluding that the people of Otago are themselves favorable to such a plan. For instance, I see in the papers that Mr Shand asserted that all the country settlers are in favor of reunion. Now I must beg to differ with him. lam a settler, and I am not in favor of it, and I believe there are a great many others who do not believe in it; because we do not know what it means. The Otago G-ovevnment does not state what it is prepared to do for us, indeed, I don't think the Superintendent of Otago would give us any assistance at all after he got holci of our land fund. What we want is an honest Government, prepared

to economise, and do away with useless officials, and spend the money on roads. We don't want railways, because we are too young a community. Time enough for them when there is more population. If we had all the money that has been sent out of the country for Railway material spent on roads, look, Sir, what benefit it would have conferred on the settlers. When the East Road was being made it done good to the place and kept the money in the country. I don't see how annexation would benefit us, and I am not one of thoae who would be disposed to give up the control of our valuable landed estate, unless I could see my way clear to get an equivalent. — I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, CoFNTBY SETTLEB. July 13, 1869. ■»