OPEN COLUMN.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 15, 13 April 1867, Page 3

OPEN COLUMN.

(To the Editor of the Waikarapa Mercury.) EAST WAIRARAPA ELECTION. Sir, —It does not appear to have occurred to Mr S. Revans or to the Rev. J. C. Andrew, that in consequence of the physical and geographical character of this district, and the absence of a central town or village to which the settlers could resort to hear au exposition of their political views that the Wairarapa Mercury is the best and most available medium for this purpose. Ido not want promises or pledges, but I do want to know the views of the candidates of our suffrages upon those questions which are likely to be brought before it. What are their views with reference to the railway, and will they insist upon a survey being at once undertaken for the line P Are they, or are they not of opinion that the mode of assessment of rates' by District Road Boards is under the circumstances, the best that could be adopted ? Should the man who by labor and capital, makes 1,000 acres of the value of 10,000 be compelled to contribute as much for roads as the owner of the 10,000 acres. How about the Taueru road ? And how about the Lake district where no public money lias yet been expended P Information on these and other public questions as they effect the district is desirable. Your’s &c., EAST WAIRARAPA (To the Editor of the Wairarapa Mercury.) THE WAI-O-HINI. —A ROAD BOARD. Greytowu, April 10, 1867. Sir, —The Government Engineer, Mr Baird, after an inspection of the Waiohini river bank, recommended the inhabitants of Greytown to expend some money in fortifying those parts whereon the water is making inroads. If something is not shortly done not only will some of the sections abutting the river suffer severely, but if a branch breaks through and crosses the main street, it will do damage to the town generally, and of course to the Government roads and works. Therefore lam informed the government at the present time might be induced to subsidise by two-thirds every third subscribed by the inhabitants. Now several sections along the river hank mostly interested are in the hands of absentees and the only way of making these gentry subscribe to the common weal is by raising a rate. If the Waiohini is not kept from breaking through the bush at the bottom of Kurutawhiti, it will soon obtrude itself on the roads. A Road Board should be at once formed and take this important subject into immediate consideration. A small sum laid out now would do more than a large one by and bye, I am, your’s truly, H. T. S. [We would suggest to our correspondent that he, and others interested, should as a preliminary step call a meeting on the subject, place their views before it, and ascertain by this means the view's of the public.—Ed.W.M.]