SWITZERS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 282, 26 June 1873, Page 6

SWITZERS.

(From our own Correspondent.)

Politics hero ia the order of the day. I had little idea the people would have troubled themselves much who was returned, as 1 can't see it makes the j slightest difference whether we elect a Maoandrewito or a Roidite, a progressive or a retrograde man. They are all inde- ! pendent of any party before they are re-r | turned, and in a weak afterwards you find i them making one in some small or large ; clique or cabal, whose principal business, it would seem by the lato session, is logrolling and sacrificing tha time and money of the country in indulging in some petty quarrel, instead of passing th© estimates, and allowing roads, tracks, and bridges throughout the country to be proceeded with. Most certainly this portion of Her Majesty's dominions is in a most deplorable state. As far aa roads, tracks, and bridges are concerned, i. do not believe there is in Otago a more neglected place than Switzers ; and, as a gentleman facetiously but truly remarked at a public meeting the other evening, the only public money spent in the district daring the past twelve months was the hotel bill of Macandrew and Bastings on their elec- | tioneering tour in February last. The I tracks to Dome, Whitecomb, Waikaia, I and AVaikaka, are just simply from on© I sludge hole to another, and your only chance of getting through is to keep as far away from the track us possible Yet we have asked, prayed, petitioned, and importuned the Government to do eomerhin<+, but in vain ; they will not even send an escort for the gold (though when Southland was a separate province, and a good deal of uur business done at Jnvereargill, we could almost get anything we asked for). Tlie escort left here on Monday last with 19000z., the duty on which alone would be £190, which, if it had been judiciously spent on some of the worst places on the roads some three months ago, would have gone some way in facilitating the transport of goods over creeks and sludge holes which are now im passable. Five candidates are in the field for Mount Benger, via., Messrs. Beighton, Bradshaw, Ireland, Nicholson, and Dean. Mr. Beighton addressed the electors at the Crown Hotel on Tuesday evening. There was a full house. Mr. Dean was called to the chair. The candidate briefly stated his views on most questions of the day. He disagreed with the action taken by the Superintendent in dissolving the Council ; was, and would continue independent of both parties. Mr. Beighton was pretty sharply questioned by a few of the electors, and his replies seemed to be generally satisfactory. A vote of confidence was carried, there being no amendment.

I fancy wlien Mr. Shepherd became a party to the Goldfieids Bill, 1873, ho had little idea lie would have to face his constituents so soon again. No doubt there is an improvement on that of last year, atill there are a great many glaring evils, and an increased taxation, is what miners detest, they being very well provided for in that linß already. It is not my province to further refer to it until it has undergone the editorial scrutiny ; besides, an efficient committee is formed here to go carefully through it, and it in their intention »to request the assistance of Mr. Warden Wood, and sis that gentleman is busily engaged as returning officer, nothing can be done in the matter for a fortnight.