THE NEW ROAD TO THE BEAUMONT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 395, 30 September 1874, Page 3

THE NEW ROAD TO THE BEAUMONT.

(To the Editor.) Sib, — Having read your report of tho Mt. Benger meeting in re the projected road of Messrs. Lancaster and Co., I cannot but express my surprise that a., gentleman coming before the public, Mr. , Scott did on that occasion, should allow, himself to bo carried away so far as to deal in mis-state-ments. No doubt eloquence is a very good quality, and much to be coveted ; but if exhibited on bo puhlif an occasion as at " a large and influential public meeting," it becomes most dangerous, both to the possessor and the ■listener, if not backed up by truth. Mr. Scott evidently is a great antagonist to monopoly ; and still he doe 3 not hesitate to travel the country, and preach in favor of the Bridge Company tnotiopolising the traffic on the Beaumont road. He talks a great deal against the tyranny of capital, and still wants a few capitalists (" Blue Spur miners," as he states, who are largely interested in the Beaumonk bridge) to exclude the enterprising firm of Messrs Lancaster and Co. from competing with them. Where the consistency of such a modo of argument is, I am at fault to understand. But Mr. Scott further tell us that numerous settlers having built flourishing farms along the road would be inevitably ruined by the formation of the new Tbad. Now, in the cause of truth, allow me to ( correct this statement. Along the present line of road, which I am very well acquainted with, there are only five settlers between Ettrick and the Beaumont, and only two of those would be in any way 'affected by the road being changed. Moreover, the only detriment the two would incur by the projected change would consist in their being compelled to bring their produce to the nearest market, and there obtain a market price for it, instead of retailing it to the waggoners at their doors at their own price. Should the selfish interests of these two settlers have any weight in the scales against tho advantages derivable by all tho travelling public from the road projected by Messrs. Lancaster and Co., it would only prove that we are fast approaching the climax so much dreaded by our worthy demagogue, Mr. Scott,'by forging our own chains to be enslaved by the dastardly principles of proteoting the interests of a few, against those of the public in general. The establishment of the road projected by Messrs. Lancaster and Co. is so obviously advantageous to all up-country districts, between Lawrence and Roxburgh, that one, and ah 1 the settlers living there should most heartily applaud the gentlemen for entering upon a work on their account, which Government should have done long ago. It is only to be hoped that the resolution passed at the Mt. Benger meeting will have no effect, and that Government will not only grant the request of Messrs. Lancaster and Co., but also assist them as far as it is in their power to do so, in their most praiseworthy undertaking. — I am, &c., Jerbmiah Shocks. Boibiirgh, 29th September.