CORRESPONDENCE

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 197, 12 May 1893, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE

[The editor is not responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents.] (To the Editor) Sir, — According to your Paparoa “own correspondent’s ” contribution in your last issue he has been paying us a flying visit, and he compares his own district with the Waiioa to the disparagement of the latter. He is evidently a “ Job’s comforter.” We know that there is splendid land in the Waikato, but if one travels in the Waikato railway train he will see plenty of poor and swamp land. Your correspondent cannot expect to judge of the quality of the surrounding land from the deck of a Wairoa steamer. If I was your Paparoa correspondent’s medical adviser I would order him a dose of antibilious medicine.—l am etc., Advance the N. Wairoa.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —As the Trustees of the Mt. Wesley Cemetery appear to have no perception of their own I beg to call attention to the neglected state of the burial ground. The acacia which was before cut down in a sort of way has again sprung up and over-run the graves, and the whole place is sadly in want of attention. The income from burials must by this time have amounted to a sufficient sum to enable some improvement to be made. Will the Trustees resign and hand the control of the enclosure over to the County Council ? If this latter body had control the public would be kept informed of the receipts and expenditure, and open discussion of the matter would lead to good results.—l am, Sir, Paupers’ Enclosure. (To the Editor). Sir, —In order, evidently, to encourage a passenger traie between here and Wangarei, via Tangiteroria, by s.s. Ethel, the Northern Union Steamboat Co. publish the time-table of the above steamer in the Whangarei ‘ Advocate.’ According to the time-table referred to, the • Ethel ’ was to leave Tangiteroria for Dargaville at 3 p.m. on Friday last. On Friday forenoon I rode from Whangarei to Tangiteroria in order to come here by this steamer ; but it seems the ‘ Ethel ’ did not run her usual trip to Tangiteroria last week, being under repairs at Helensville. In addition to myself, Mr R. M. Houston M.H. R,. and a surveyor, were also wanting to come from Tangiteroria to Dargaville. Fortunately the s.s. Kopuru went up to Tangiteroria on. Friday evening on the business of the K.T.Co., and we got a passage down with her on Saturday. Mr Houston was announced to address the electors of Dargaville on Friday evening but, by steamboat mismanagement, was prevented. I was also informed that ten gumdiggers came by the Kaihu Yalley train on Friday to Daris- ' go by the s.s. Ethel to Tangiteroria > < he Otaika gum fields near Wan--0 . ! the 1 Ethel ’ not running were also disappointed.—l am, etc. A Commercial Traveller. To THE EDITOR. Sir, —Our by election for Okahu Riding passed off quietly. Had Mr Dodd’s intention of coming forward as a candidate for county honours been known sooner, it is probable that there would have been no contest as general satisfaction is expressed at the result of the poll. Those ratepayers who attended the meeting called by Mr Berridgeto give an account of his stewardship, on learning the great indebtedness of the Okahu Riding,

somewhere about £9OO including our part of the Loan, highly approved of Mr Berridge’s action in trying to reduce the debt as inuoh as possible. The only fresh work undertaken in this Riding while Mr Berridge was in office was the road known as Dreadon s deviation, which we all admit was an absolute necessity. As all the back settlers are now in a position to get their goods to market it is sincerely to be hoped that Mr Dodd will follow in the lines pursued by his predecessor in reducing the very great debt, the interest on which is eating the vitals out of our rates. Our representative will no doubt be beseiged by applications, or at least to support them in the Council; and applications which were not entertained in Mr Berridge’s time will be again paraded with greater force than ever, as if having recruited their strength from several month’s repose. It’s impossible not to think that Mr Dodd’s great majority of votes at the election was not largely due to this : that Mr Dodd would be more pliable in the way of supporting an application in the Council than his opponent Mr Q-elston whom it is well known intended to pursue the lines closely followed by Mr Berridge.— I am, etc. AbarOHHITS.