OLD PETER PIPER.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 37, 24 October 1868, Page 3

OLD PETER PIPER.

(To the Editor bf the Tuapeka Times.) Sib, — There are several matters which claim Old Peter's attention at this present time, and first in importance is the bread question — being light ib comes uppermost, and at all times it is an interesting subject at the breakfast table. When we pay dearly for an article we have a perfect •right* to' be' fastidious. While we blame the bakers we should not omit to give them all the praise they are entitled to. To give them their due, the bread generally vended here has been, until lately, first-class. We should make every allowance for the severity of the climate, making it a difficult-matter to, get the barm to rise sufficiently. Nevertheless, people are deeply indebted to " Stajnina " for bein<* on tha look out for the public — and himself also in this respect, and for having had the- true manly courage to beard^the lion,in his lair. Ho must be a craven-hearted sneak who, seeing a wrong perpetrated on the community keeps his »mputh shut for fear of 'his bread and^chees'e. Are truth and rectitude to be ignored by. the commercial world ? and shail we, who are the consumers, not have the right of raising our voice because of arousing the enmity of those who* are the makers of the ".s,ilver , shrines?," There-is no' possible excuse, however, •for the loaf being short of four pounds. Are we to be told in this progressive ' and intelligent age of the world that a pound of tea,-T3ugar, bacon, cheese, &c. means fifteen ounces'?" • If that is" to be the case, I expect one and all will rise up against such an imposition. And why, in the name' of common honesty should we allow the exemption in the article .'of bread? ,The baker cannot alw.ays be certain of receiving good flour ; but they ought to give weight, or show a sufficient cause why they cannot do so. But, as one of your correspondents remarks, it is a police affair; if it' is not lowering, the dignity of those gentlemen to interfere in the matter. With regard "to the j commercial part of -it, I .have heard] that the bakers intend to reduce the -prioe'of the -loaf^o' lOd. — I- hope they will say 9d. at once, and I believe they will settle the matter.; ..and -it can-be. done at thisuprice, safety. . .

It is very gratifying to all concerned to see that our respected and; indefatigable Town Council have taken • to mending their ways. Old Peter .had the honour to congratulate them! on their assumption bf office, and} of course it affords the old gentleman much pleasure to bear testimony to their business, tactL 4 Had Old Peter been consulted concerning the bridge on'the G-abriel's-road, he 'would Have a^Viised the Council to take a road past* the lower end of Mr. Griffin's property, in a line with Peel-street ; one bridge would then have sufficed. This plan, , and. with a little 'deviation of the Grabriels-road, would have been both an' ornament and a convenience ; but of course the Council was unaware that such talent was at hand. I may say that' I am conversant with all sorts of bridges, from a three-inch batten upwards. The subject of bridges being on the fapY/Ibeg to congratulate "the Province, and the Clutha' district in particular, on the opening of the Clutha bridge — one, I hope, of a scries which has yet to be (and may be soon) placed on that mighty river. There is nothing which: tells so soon on the prosperity, or tends so much to advance every interest as good roads and bridges. The Super, at the- opening of the Clutha bridge, just said what he ought to have said, not committing himself to a particular line of policy. I am convinced, however, that his Honour' has the interest of every district and every class at heart, without prejudice to any particular interest. Whatever others may say to the contrary, Old Peter .believes him to be the right man in the right place, without any toadyism ; and further, that the Province has not another so well qualified to fill the important office which he occupies. We should have had to petition the Greneral Grovernment a very long time before they would have done so much by way of improvements in roads and bridges as we have received -at the hands of the Provincial Government. I did not intend to say anything in this letter about the double Grovt. of this colony. I will reserve my remarks tliereon till a more fitting occasion. But it is not respectable in a great Government employing itinerant miscliiovious peddlars to go about the colony doing damage to our very best men, and to the institution of Provincialism. There must be something rotten in a state, or statesmen, when sudi measures are resorted to. Lastly, a word with your Tuapeka Mouth correspondent. Let me assure him that I am neither Dr. Copland {Mr Copland, as your correspondent ••uncourteously cfalls him) nor Mr. Martin, nor am I one of the " black cloth " gentry. I may, however, get a " call " some day, as several gentlemen of note at present are being called. My time of course will come when my church takes a leaf out of the Wesleyan book, and employ* "curates." Tour correspondent says the people fire generally Presbyterians at Tuapeka Mouth ; that may be so, and lam sure it must be with very great regret if the Presbyterian minister who has charge of this " parish " throws such an interesting people overboard. At the same time, I hope they will give their unqualified support to that sect of the Christian' Church who have brought to them the gospel, and be thankful for their privilege. — I am, &c, Old Peteb Pipes. Wetherstones Braes, Oct. 20, 1888.