CORRESPONDENCE. THE PEA-RIFLE DANGER. OPENING UP THE BACK COUNTRY. "SPUMOUS" CASH TRADING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8044, 5 February 1906, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE PEA-RIFLE DANGER.

OPENING UP THE BACK COUNTRY.

"SPUMOUS" CASH TRADING.

TO THE KDITIMI. Sir, —Tho number of deaths llmt have from time to time taken place in this colony from the use of tin- pcaritlc is appalling. It is a murderous weapon, and it is now imperative iu the interests of public safety that its use should 1)0 put down with a high hand by the legislature next session. Kverv good colonist must stroimlv sympathise with the rider added by the Coroner's jury to theirjverdict in the Tc Awawutu tragedy. of which the telegraphed particulars liave appeared in your paper. Thriightlcss, careless, stupid youths, witji absolutely no sense of their responsibilities, should no longer be allowed to roam at large with these destructive weapons, the past use of which has resulted in their recklessly committing homicide.—l am, etc.,

A SunscitiiiKii. New Plymouth. Feb. 2

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— lour correspondent, "One of the Dackblocks," under the above heading, very pointedly asks what New Plymouth and the Coast are doing to establish quick and comfortable communication from the back country to our ports. He points out that settlers on the Moki Hoad have to face a road 70 miles long to reach Stratford, while the construction of the Moki Hoad would make the distance to markets very much shorter, and put these settlers immediately in touch with our ports. Your correspondent points out. 100, that several county roads join the Moki-road, tapping large areas, not only of settled land, but also of a great portion of land soon to be opejied for settlement. It was pointed out in the local press, some six years ago, by the writer, that the Moki-road leads from the back country of the Upper Waitnra to the (owns of Waitara and New Ply. moiilh, and for settlement purposes ought to have been pushed forward and metalled throughout. This road will, Sir, when constructed and metalled, give access to 80,000 acres of rich, fertile lauds. Already, as your correspondent points out, the settlers in the back eouutry feel how pressing is the necessity for the construction of this road, as they have now large mobs of stock ready l'or the market. The interests of both the town and country alike demand its speedy construction. All the natural lines of road that radiate to New Plymouth as a centre must now be pushed on and opened up with unabated energy. Settlers must have good access to their farms if Taranaki is to march forward and not mark lime. The Moki, Okau, Ohura, Okoki roads, and what should be the main couch road to Auckland by way of Awakino, all require immediate attention. One thing, however, is certain, that if my fellow townsmen do not bestir themselves more than they have done in recent years, they must not hope for anything better than the pres. cut general stagnation of business. Now that the Government has succeeded in raising another million loan, the timo is opportune to urge our claims. We, as a district, should procure our full share of all moneys available for road construction ami metalling, and endeavour to strengthen the hands of our public men by every possible means, and to this end we should call a public meeting to pass resolutions expressive of the will of (he people. In an important district like Taranaki, of which one of the industries ajone—that of dairying—is already worth annually £(100,000—to say nothing of tho enormous number of stock annually raised in the district, we have just cause to agitate to make the means of access to the Coast as easy, comfortable, and expeditious as possible, and that can only be achieved by good metalled roads. — I am, etc.,

William Kkbii. Xew Plymouth, February 3rd, 11)06.

TO THE EDITOR, Sin, —It is evident from the report of the meeting of the New Plymouth Tradesmen's Association, that " What is good for the goose, is not good for the gander." It will be remembered about twelve months ago a meeting representing nearly the whole of the business people of New Plymouth was held, at which Mr Hal Goodnere presided as chairman, and were loud in their erics about the monstrous, unrighteous, and exorbitant rates charged by the Fire Underwriters, and strongly advocated the placing of all risks in an ollice, the capital of which was supplied by the taxpayers, thus trying to create a monopoly. Sir, I am one who has resided a long lime in New Plymouth and have suffered through the prices charged for the common necessaries of life. I ain pleased to know steps are being taken to start State (H) butchers, bakers and candlestick makers' shops iu our midst. I am, etc., P.ITEII.