TROGLODYTE CREEK.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 338, 14 March 1874, Page 3

TROGLODYTE CREEK.

Rockhopper House, 16th February, 1874. The action the banks have taken in reducing the price of gold, and the continued dry weather are the all-absorbing topics up here.

It is very annoying to one's feelings to know that one's income is curtailed to the amount of seven shillings and sixpence per annum, by the combined efforts of a lot of bloated moneyed corporations ; but the iniquitous .transaction will ultimately prove a source of evil to the promoters, as the mining delegates intend holding a cau-us at Clyde, and I have no doubt will come to the conclusion that to exchange, their ; crude metal for nothing but sovereigns will be the policy of the miners, while the banks will have to consume their owji notes, so'that what (hey gain in one way, they^will lose in another. For our own parts, we Have^solvedthe problem as to how we can recoup ourselve& for the lobs entailed upon us to the amount I have mentioned above , for, owing to theiengthened drought, water being so scarce, we have arranged amongst ourselves to save the difference in soap, by. not performing our usual ablutions. We have carried this determination into effect for some time past, and although it is attended with such trifling disagreeables as that scraping accompaniment yclept Scotch fiddle, and those playful and titilating little animals named after a very distinguished Scots cavalry regiment, yet, on the whole, we are not so badly off, as we have any amount of rubbing posts in the - neighborhood as . counter irritants, whilst the telegraph poles shine from the constant friction like the famed circular-mirrors of Venice. „ >•

We have been looking with longing eyes for another effusion from the pen of your brilliant and wisdom-laden correspondent " Limited Liability." His letter on the impecuniositv, of the Lawrence townspeople, is something enlightening, more particularly as it was backed up by a leader in your paper of the 28th January, on which day the letter I refer to appeared. "A Well-wisher" also follows suit in your issue of the 4th February; and again on the 7bh,' "A Sufferer" adds his yell to the howlings of his predecessors. Who is " Limited Liability ? " and what is he? Is he the commander-in-chief of the Lawrence Blacking Brigade, or his aide, who has not received his weekly stipend for polishing the' understandings of his clients ? Or, is he the Town Crier, who, for the occasion, has assumed the office of Town Censor, and who, like the professor when lecturing on beauty, held up bis own pock -pitted phiz as an illustration of Eiß argument ? Or, perhaps, he^may be the pawnbroker , who has been disappointed in not' roceiving the interest -on his weekly loans, upon the various flat ironß and* parcels dilapidated baby 'linen,., outT of which he manages to pay the bills lie tells of in such a self -glory ing tirade? Whoever be is, he certainly is not a very just man who parades his very diminutive virtues at the expense of* his neighbor's smaller vices. How modestly, and with what a dignified manner, he pharasaically rebukes the poor hard up members of the community, of which he is' such a worthy unit. -Why be ye not like unto me ? lam not' in danger of the tribune, neither have I cause to fear any creditors. Now, I have no doubt it may be very nice to be like him in that 'particular respect, but, paradoxical as it may seem,, the more we get out of debt the deeper we are in it. There are numbers of worthy people who are willing to pay their just debts, but may not 'be able to do so at a .moment's- notice ; but who manage by hard struggling, nevertheless, to make both .ends meet from year to year. "These are the people, as a class, that Mr. ". L. L." seems to me to be endeavoring to " shew up," if I may use the term. At the same time it must be allowed that it does come pretty hard upon tradesmen to have to lie out .of their money for lengthened periods. Yet Mr. "L. L." must not imagine for a moment that we have not his secret for keeping out of the various, tradesmen's books. For without laying claim to the gift of divination, it is our opinion that " L. L-s" success in steering clear of the country court is simply because— No one will trust him.

I must trouble you, Mr. Editor, with ofie more little matter-before- 1 conclude, and on which I wish to get your unbiassed opinion — I mean the advisability of inviting Mr.' Holloway, the emigration delegate, to Roxburgh. Do you think his Honor the Superinintendent has already salved him over so, that, like^his (H.'b) namesake's .ointment, he has drawn him pretty well to think as he thinks, and see with his eyes, and carry back with him, as genuine truths, the flowery representations thaticome so mellifl uentiy from the lips oi our chief: Would it not ; answer • the - purpose better to state plainly and lucidly in letters to (he different leading journals of the United

Kingdom,. .the partial manner in which our land laws are administered ; bo that they would act to' deterents to intending immigrants. If the Progress Committee of Roxburgh were to do this, I have not a doubt but that with the addition of this, "ower true state of affairs," they would consummate the end for which they have been so long striving. A WOULD-BE SETTLERS COMPLAINT. ,Old Benger's Bold again, at Ovens Hill they've . ' done it ; .The squatter played his game, and once more he has won it. 'Tis useless to repine, no good in being nettled; 'Tis too late now to whine, for Millers Flat is settled. The people here deplore, to think they were so doited, As not to lock the door before the horse had bolted. . ■ • They're raving right and left, and blessing (?) Horace Bastings, Of lands they are bereft : like the Saxons after Hastings. Remonstrances they've sent to town, to stop ,the evil j 'Tis.time uselessly spent in holding candles to the devil, For where will be the use the Waste Lands Board in sueing, Our prayers they refuse, and perpetrate our ruin. The Progress men all sigh : each one some scheme proposes ; Whilst Beighton and Mackay, backed up by " Strawberry Moses," They're protests they have given ; howe'er, they try to mask it, The Board . think they are shriven, by the waste paper basket. For many years we've prayed to get some land for farming, 'Deposits we have paid, and not till then got warning — The land, wasjnot for sale. We're, told it did not matter, We'd get some without fail : This block was ' for the squatter. How vainly have we striven to invest our hard won earnings — What promises were given,' and with what shifts and turnings ' They've broken faith with us ; then had the face to tells us, If them' we'd only trust, they'd never, never sells us. Poor Roxburgh ! many a blow, received -in grief and travail, - Is telling on you now, the cause you can't unravel. You can't much longer stand, for this a stubborn fact is, They've sold away your land, and you must still pay taxes. ' 'Tis not Bradshaw this time, nor Donald Reid be blaming ; Though he has made no sign, we think that we could name him. With rage our bosoms' burn, their conduct is atrocious, Some day will be our turn — yours ever, Theodosious.