Correspondence.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 407, 17 September 1861, Page 3

Correspondence.

Per favor of the Colonist. To the Editor of the Nelson Examiner.

Sir —I must claim a small space in your columDß to reply to a communication of one William Andrews, of Motueka, which appeared in your issue of the 24th.

The said William Andrews, amongst his multifarious occupations, ia a member of the Motueku Taranaki Aid Committee, which committee since their formation have, without permission, made use of the Institute Building for a meeting room. Some months since, the room was opened as a reading room for the subscribers for three nights in the week, and notice was given to the Motueka Taranaki Aid Committee that they must not make use of the building any longer without applying to the Institute Committee (at that time composed of the Bey. J. C. Bagshaw, Mr. C. Parker, M.P.C., LieutenantPocock, R.N., Mr. J. Wilkie, Mr. M'Kenzie, Mr. G. Greenwood, and myself) for its use.

This notice has been quite disregarded by them; and on the night in question William Andrews and party took possession of the room, fire, and candles, to the exclusion of the sub* scribers who provided these latter.

I informed the party assembled of these arrangements, and that it was not to be supposed that, under any circumstances, the room could be used by them on a reading night; and requested those present who were not subscribers to leave the room.

This request was refused, in by no means courteous terms, by William Andrews, and a worthy confrere of his, T. W. Shute.

I then told them if they persisted in remaining I should send for the constable to exolude them, as they had no more right to take the use of the place than they had to walk into my private room to hold a meeting, making use of my fire and candles. The fear of the oonstable, however, had the effect of causing the departure of these two worthies, and the meeting was adjourned to the school-room, the use of which building, I should imagine, they had as little right to as the other.

It will be unnecessary to notice the statement William Andrews makes of my being under the influence of liquor; his character for veracity is such that I have uo fear that any statement of bis will obtain credence in Motueka-.

Yours, &c, W. F. LITTLE,

To the Editor of the Colonist.

-Si%—ln your paper of the 13th instant there appeared a letter from Mr. Hildreth, giving the public a bit of gratuitous information as to how and where the best bridges were built in New South Wales. Whether he obtained his 'extracts' from any published account, or whether they were 'extracts' communicated to him by anyone

interesteft or particularly rfwinterested as to wbere the bridge over the Wuiroa should be built, he does not say. He informs the public that he should prefer the upper site for the bridge over the Wuiroa, had he not a ' firm conviction that it would be placed, in a position of great danger.' His convictions, in this particular, are not of long standing, for he did not make the least effort (when at the meeting at Spring Grove, referred to in his letter) to prove that the lower site ia the best.

It appears to me that he is soon convinced, and his convictions easily transferred from one site to another. When he pauned that latter he ,forgot the principal part of his mission, that is, 3ta inform the public where it ought, should, and must be built, or if no objections could he made to any other site, according to his inferences. Assuming it to be the lower site, he does not point out any advantage to be gained by the general public, or any disadvantages that exist, in having the bridge there. There are disadvantages. One is, that on the East aide of the river during a flood, the road is between three and four feet under water, and consequently the approaches to the Bridge would be impassable (except to ford). Another disadvantage or objection would be, that the road and approaches would very soon go, and should the bunches of flax now growing en the east side of the river be washed away, it is very probable that the course of the river would alter, and, likely asuot, take the whole of the fabric out to sea.

Mr. Hildreth's sight must have been very keen, when he saw the river (in time of flood) at the upper site three times the width as in ordinary timeß. Perhaps he never saw, or did not wish to say so if be bad seen, the river at the lower site thrice its ordinary width ; let him take particular notice the next flood, and give the public the benefit of his disinterested knowledge. Yours, &c,

WAIROA.