CORRESPONDENCE

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 216, 22 September 1893, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

[The editor is not responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents.] (To the Editor).

Sir, —I was highly amused at the leader in your contemporary of the 15th inst., referring to the boxmg in of the Aratapu road drain. As an electioneering- dodge it was a very poor one and is just what one would expect from an empty headed lad. If he thinks we poor benighted sinners, adjacent to Ai-atapu, are to he caught so-easily he is mistaken. We have not forgotten how his father, three years ago, in a similar manner suddenly bethought, himself that we required the road from the wharf metalled, and agitated in the Council to have it done. How that tenders were called for, and came forward for acceptance (unfortunately after the election), and how he then voted against the work bein°done. I am sure the drain boxing would meet a like fate from the son’s hands. Mr F J. Dargavilie has been a constant opponent of works of improvement at this end of the Aratapu Riding-, generally reminding the Council of its indebtedness. If he had promised to have a sum placed upon the estimates at the first session of the next parliament, for this work of such great importance, we might have looked forward to its completion shortly as a dead certainty. What an anomalous position for the young fledgling it he were returned at the election and his pa left out in the cold. To be cast adrift on the ice floes a little further south than Wellington would be nothing to it; iu fact X am sure he would wish himself there. —I am, etc, Thos. Bassett. Aratapu, 21/9/93 RATES ON COUNTRY LANDS. TO TUB EDITOR. Sir, —It is a real pleasure for those who live in Town to observe the mterest that is now being - awakened by country settlers, in various matters concerning their own personal comfort, and the welfare of their neighbours. The rating of the unimproved values of country lands for loccu. purposes is one of the most important subjects that can engage the public mind at the present time. It is nor. a new proposal, a s the records of parliament testify, twenty years ago Mr E. C. Button, a strong conservative, proposed the very same thing and thirty members voted in favour of it, hut it was lost by a small majority-. Had Mr Button’s measure been adopted, ho'w very different would be the position of every countrysettler today ; instead of being shut out of the inarL'*** he .would have enjoyed the luxury of splendid ma»T I ' oac }®> good.and useful lanes and bye roads, he cornu have visited neighbouring settlements and enjoyed . society, a dailypost would pass his farm and he woiffd be able to enioy the fruits of civilized life. I hope the settlers will persevere in this good work and make the Wairoa Bell ring out the good news so that all around may hear the glad tidings of good roads and lovely lanes for the people.--—I am, etc., - JAMES ADAMS. Auckland, September 19th 1893. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, It has often h' Qa said t -’ at County Councillors are selfish and tJ “ ir own interests ; and to me it seems Cr ‘. Dodd must plead guilty to such a charge!'" He full well that our .Riding is heavily in debt and I that m spite of this the only good piece of r ad we have is that which bounds his own property We hare settlers in the back, paying heavy rates *

who can scarcely move oft their sections without being bogged, and yet be urges that the most important sieed in this Riding is the cutting- down of the red hill near his own residence. It was very kind of Cr. Dargavilie to assist his friend by seconding his motion, and I was very glad to find“that the Council had sense enough to carry the Chairman’s amendment referring the matter to the new Council, and I would recommend sef tiers at the hack to take steps- to secure representation in the Council at next election, for it is very plain that Cr. Dodd cannot see much further than his own door.—Yours etc. OKAHtr.