CORRESPONDENCE

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 63, 16 August 1884, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

Under no circumstances is the Editor re"* ponsible for the matter contained in correspondence.

(to the bmtor.) Sir, — Before leaving Auckland Inst week I had an interview with thi* Bishop with reference to the Church of England services in this neighbourhood. His Lordship informed mo that as soon a.s he met with a suitable clergyman he would appoint him to make Te Aroha his head quarters, and taking in Waiorongomai, Shaftesbnry, and surrounding districts, also that another clergy nan would be appointed for Paeroa and Katikati. As Lhe Bishop wished me to make this known, I shall be obliged by your inserting this letter. — I am, &c, Edward Y. Cox.

(to the editor.) vSir, — At the usual monthly meeting of the Piako County Council on the 30th ultimo, Councillor Firth indulged in a string of random statements that will not bear tbe most cursory investigation. First in order, is the statement that the widening of the lower track by two feet, for that is the average widening that is required, will endanger the safety of the tramway. Now, any unprejudiced person can tell Mr Firth that there is as much, or as little, likelihood of its endangering the tramway as there is of its endangering the stability of the Te Aroha "trig" station. The second statement is that the tramway yielded during the month a surplus of £50, but Mr Firth omitted to state that in the previous month, or very recently before|^ that, there were two trucks .smashed*, . valued at £20 each, which would make his real surplus very small indeed. Thirdly, Mr Firth states that they were led to expect that there would be a deal more claims at work on the Hill than is actually the case. Will Mr Firth explain who it was that misled in i this respect, or is it not a fact that he is himself the owner or director, or both, of the Alphabet Olaims, some half-tlozeii at least which are actually locked up. Mr Firth also atates that were the tramwaylet to contractors it would be a wreck in six months' time, but surely no contractor, worthy of the name, would ever think of fastening two trucks with strings to the hooks of the wire rope, as was done at the first under the present management, whereby the trucks were irretrievably smashed. Mr Firth is not complimentary to the engineers, and evidently he, is opposed to their services being engaged in auy shape. Will Mr Firth explain to the' ratepayers what claim tho present manager has to the name of engineer, or eveu to that of tradesman ? Was it his superior qualifications in either respect that entitled him to a gratuity of £100 of the ratepayers' money ? In conclusion, I have no hesitation in savins? tnat instead of a liberal go-a-head policy, a cold-water freezing-out policy has been the rule from the start on the Waiorongomai goldfield. — I am, &c., James Munko, , Waiorongomai.