THE PARAWAI QUESTIQN.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2546, 5 March 1877, Page 2

THE PARAWAI QUESTIQN.

(To tho Editor of the Evening Star.)

Sik,—The world being governed mostly by fools, time-servers, and billet-hunters, it stands to reason the capabilities 1 of a nation, or the development of a district are often retarded, while millions of laborers are at times verging between serfdom and starvation. Occasionally and at rare intervals a man starts up and lays the foundation of a nation's greatness so lasting and strong that.the assaults of fanatics and fools tend only to show the strength of its walls, and the dwellers from the far-off islands and the inhabitants of vast continents repose under the shadow of its protection. »Sir, if you permit me, I wish to bhow to Mr Miller and Parawai Katepayer that it is not by stopping in one place and cleaning up little puddle holes thut we are going to succeed and leave an inheritance to our children. At the Parawai meeting Mr Miller reading his notes and expound* ing the same old. old story—the politics of little Pedlington mixing with the mudheads of Mudvilie; we will fill;up this little hole, says Mr Miller, and I don't think it would be safe to go ahead ; let us go back, says the sapient Mr Miller. ! It is presumption on my part no doubt to disagree with the learned gentleman,' but I fay onward must be the cry,' and the mud-holes of Parawai left for the children, to make mud pies'.in. Population is pressing upon production, and if we are to continue to live, and,our little ones, we must expand and produce something. A letter containing a.reprint from the Advertiser signed " A Parawai .Ratepayer," and " Another P.R," was sent to my house, and I beg to inform both gentlemen that in my opinion in handling a great subject Mr Miller is a rank duffer. A more pitiful exhibition I have never listened to. Considering the importance of the issue involved in his statements, he never rose above the gutter —never. The refrain of his song : let us clean out the little puddle hole at Mudvilie and its byways. The mind of, the speaker seemed contracted —no broad views; no advancement lor the future. You pay-a penny for rates, and I will sco you get your penny back, and so on,. &c. We are told in ancient history* that" to whom much is given much is expected, and vice versa most depidedjy to whom little is given little is expected. I did not expect much from Mr Miller, and of course J did not get anything worth

speaking about except a laugh. I will now leave Mr Miller, trusting he will become more expansive in his ideas, and not be so jubilant about what Mr Banks may think, because it would be strange to most old stagers if that gentle-* man did think differently—all things con* sidered. Now look at the party of prjgiess led on by Mr Spencer, who say, let the mud holes take care of themselves ; we refuse any longer to be immured in this bastile that for eight years we have been confined in. We want good road communication with Ohinetnuri, with Tauranga, with Waikato. We w«nt«t»»jfMroduco our own food; to employ our laborers, and prevent the emigration of our most valuable settlers, tor erery steamer that leaves for AnstrattTtißMiny is still they go. In short we are not going to allow this district 'to become the JNiobe of JNew Zealand. If lam altd-#ed" to express my ,own opinion we v cottld?M*do better than follow Sir Julius Yog/in policy, and borrow all we can .get hold of for roads,,for a time may come.when.we shall not be able to get money,' owing to wars in Europe or other causes. - Better have the roads finished through at once while there is a chance; we need* not trouble about the payuunt at present. By these means two objects will be, effected : your population—what is left of them—will remain in- the district, and, secondly, small capitalists -?will fettle on the land adjacent t« your roads,..and more, you will block the iittle game of trading from Auckland to"Ohinemuif oA? rect, leaving the Thames oat; in —I am, &c, , „' „. Parawai. G. A. Reddish.