Correspondence.

Colonist, Issue 71, 25 June 1858, Page 3

Correspondence.

:> TG'thtPEditor of the Colonist. V

Sik, —Would you, through the medium of your paper, insert the following 'for the benefit of all whom it may concern.

Are the Government so poor that they want to borrow money ? If it is the case pray inform them the diggers Avill do their best in getting what they can to oblige in the shape of a subscription, fov enlarging the wages of the few poor men working on the roads in the far-famed Massacre Bay. Really, Sir, the Government finances must be in a very reduced state, by giving so high a wage for so long a time, to so many yery industrious workmen as they have employed lately in making roads for the gold diggers. The enormous outlay they have hitherto made, has, I assure you, excited a deep interest amorg the digging population in this part of our adopted land. The necessary expenses incurred by being compelled, to employ so much talent in "doing so very little that is done by so many clever men (gentlemen I mean, I beg pardon) in the so very extensive offices of Nelson, must, I am sure, be a serious affair, and must necessarily be a serious drawback to oilier matters in other parfs of the province. But, Sir, although I ask you all this, what can you tell me about such things ?, I ought to go to, head quarters for information of this kind. But really I am very delicate in addressing one so very much above my station, that I fain would apply to you for your opinion on the matter. ; Would you believe, Sir, that the grand Quartz Ranges-road, which was to open up so many thousands of acres of splendid country, is quite at a stand still? You will naturally ask what for. The reason is this: the wages being so large, and the weather lately so remarkably fine, the very few good workmen have got so stout on tlieir very large wages, that they are compelled to have a little holiday to recruit their health, and undergo a course of Holloway's pills, the infallible remedy for all complaints. I think we ought to have a hospital for people subject to corpulency and apoplexy; it would be very desirable.

I wish ray parents had been able to afford a better education on me in my younger days; I am sure I should then have been able to have taken a conspicuous part in tlie colonies. My good old mother used to say I was naturally quick, so if that was the case I am sure I might have stood for Superintendent; but it ia better to be born lucky than rich. I,.unfortunately, was born under no auspicious planet, consequently I must have been formed to fill a very low place in this world,..and-be always-subject to the annoyance of hearing our very industrious Government called very improper names. It does, I asssure you, grieve me, knowing well how' undeserved they are; for are they riot always on the look out to promote the commerce and welfare of our great city by having a proper person over here to make roads and open up the country ? It was but the other dny a storekeeper told me he had toj)ay the small sum of twenty pounds out of his own pocket for a short line of road to the Upper Forks of the Slate River; but that was nothing out of a private individual's pocket-1-he ought to make that soon by cheating the diggers, knowing well how able they are to be cheated.

Before concluding allow me to make two short remarks : the first is—the diggers will go farther back for some miles; are the storekeepers to be at all the expense of opening up the country, or will the Government help them ? Secondly, is the so much famed Slate River to continue without any mode of crossing, endangering daily the lives of our fellow-men ? A very magnanimous offer of some £20 was promised by a private gentleman from the Government (which, by-the-by, was "never paid), for the erection of a bridge. It was commenced by a very unskilful man. After a deal of unnecessary trouble a kind of foot bridge was made. The first flood that came carried away the noble structure out to sea, consequently the noble river was left as impassible as ever; and now a private gentleman has to get his own private boat for the accommodation of public passengers. This really reflects great credit on our great men who have anything to do with our great Government. I think if a few pounds had been put to proper purposes, instead of many given for very unnecessary ones, the diggings would have gone on much better, and the colony in general looked in a much more healthy state. I am, Sir, B. Slate River, Massacre Bay, June 10.