Correspondence.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4457, 18 April 1883, Page 2

Correspondence.

These columns are open to all correspondence of pubil c interest, but we do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions o£ writore. Correspondence must in al sases be authenticated by the real name and ddres ■>f the writer—not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of (food faith. ,:■

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.)

Sir, — In my youthful days I read old iEsop'a Fables. Among them was one relating to a man who blew hot.and cold in one breath. This was forcibly brought to Hay mind this morning when reading the leading article in your morning contemporary : First he goes in for damning the County Council,—then he justifies their present action in asking for a special rate for the purpose of making the main roads in the district, and blames the parties who are now opposing it. lam not an apologist tor the, County Council, for;against them the handwriting is on the wall. Mene, mene, tekel upharskin: thou wert weighed in the balance and found wanting. But the Act under which they seek to obtain the. consent of the ratepayers for this special rate is an exceeding liberal one, and probably the advantage which will be taken of it by the various local bodies throughout the colony, will cause such a drain on the Colonial Treasury as will necessitate its repeal. In this instance^, the Council is to be commended, and the' ratepayers will dp well to assist, in in this respect. If anyone will raise a distinct issue against the County Council of the Thames, there is plenty of room to do: so^ for there never was a locallgbvern^ ing body which has more abused its powers, or which has more absurdly wasted the large sums of money with ; which it has been intrusted. .Let the editor of the Thames Advertiser go to?the books of the Council, and give us, the, figures to be found there.. Let him tell us what proportion of the money has been spent in travelling expenses, in salaries, and upon favorite constructions; it has ■ been like sifting money through a ladder; what has gone through has gone into the pockets of the officers and its favorites, and what has stayed on the rung of the ladder has been spent on public works. -But let us look this difficulty in the face and fight it out on its own merits. It is high time that a change was made in the personnel of the Council in several directions, but the way to accomplish this is not separation but unity. Let the County ratepayers' vote be united, and then agitate! agitate !! agitate!!!—l am, &c., i Eatepatbe. Thames, April 18th, 1883.