THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 130, 4 August 1870, Page 5

THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

(To the Editor of the Tuapeka Times.)

Sib,, — It is not my desire to enter upon tho large scheme proposed by the Colonial Treasurer further than to point out the danger to the interests of the goldfields, which is likely to arise from the suggested modification of it. Already Mr. Stafford has indicated his opposition to tho proposition of constructing a line of railway through the goldfields, which was a prominent feature in Mr. Vogel's proposals, and if the residents on the goldfields are content to sleep over their rights and let the time go past for making their claims known, they will be dealt with by the General Government in the same way as they havo hitherto been by the Provincial Government. They will have their revenuo expended in making roads and railways to every farm in the old settled districts, and have perforce to be content with bullock teams to convey to them the necessaries of life over rugged mountains and unformed miry bush tracks. What are our leading merchants, our Mayors and Councillors, about when they make no sign at a time when matters of so much moment to themselves, and those they represent, are being dealt with? Is £10,000 a year to be continuously drained out of our pocket* without any return beyond the salaries of a few Government officials, &c. ? For ten years past large sums have been annually appropriated, but never expended for making a passable road from Lawrence to Tokomairiro. If the people of the district arouse themselves and insist upon sotting aside, say the rents and returns from the Tuapeka agricultural reserve, as security for a guarantee to a railway company, 'it is not at all unlikely that a railway might be completed before the long promised road is undertaken. It is well known there are no engineering difficulties of any magnitude to stand in the way of its construction, and it would not cost much more than the making and maintenance for a few years, of a really good road. — I am, etc., ' Railway.