THE SWITZERS COACH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 273, 24 April 1873, Page 5

THE SWITZERS COACH.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, — Your Switzers correspondent in your issue of the 17th inst., seems to think it necessary to draw the- attention of the public to the very "unsatisfactory way in which the mail service is carried on from this place. Both carriage and horses in his opinion are perfectly inadequate to the demands of the daily increasing traffic. Now I beg leave to state that the Switzers coach so far from every time arriving loaded with passengers — on an average carries no more than two or three per trip. Furthermore, I beg to state that in the course of this summer, (with the exception of twice, when accidents prevented him from doing so) the mailman delivered his mails at either station oftener before the time they were due. Perchance it might do the literary gentleman good to travel over the beautiful roads on our coach somewhere about the month of May or July, to shake up his poetical reminiscences and quotations from authors, inducing him to use them where they are really applicable, instead of misapplying stanzas of English poet 3. — I have the honor to remain, Sir, your obedient servant, A Switzers Correspondent.

The " Few Zealand Herald " is responsible for the following :— " The Public Works Office is said to be working most unsatisfactorily at Wellington. Heads of departments are described as being utterly incompetent, but dare not be dismissed for fear of the loss of polititical influence. Subordinates are mutinous, and are fighting among themselves as to what each other's duties should consist of. All is confusion. An investigation into the state of the department is demanded, but none is held. The public suffer, but no one in power appears to care one jot. Such is the news coming from the Empire city," In the Oamaru district doiible-furrow ploughs have almost displaced the single plough, and three and four furrow plonghs are not uncommon. J?o says the " North Otago Times," which then adds : — " But it seems we arc not to stop here, for on Tuesday last we saw a six-f nrrow at work on the farm of Messrs Gifford and Clowes, Oolnmella. It was drawn by twelve bullocks, attended only by one man, keeping itself straight by its great grip of the ground and the guide wheels. It was working in very hard ground, compacted almost to the solidity of a road, having been heavily tramped by cattle for years, and was notwithstanding making excellent, work, qui'e as go^d as cou'd he clone with a double-furrow. It break* up four acres a day for th« cost of one man's wages— the bullocks bainor content with the natural pasture and a little oaten hay, while horses for like work require to be kept in condition by a liberal supply of oats Then, again, there is a birje saving in wear and tear of harness and co3t of shoeing ; indeed it would seem that the plan adopted by Messrs Gifforl f-"^ Clowes is about th-3 cheapest th-i* cv.ii.l be de-used for pieparing tho lan.* i< r sowing."