TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 32, 12 August 1867, Page 2

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

G. Arnold. —On more mature consideration we have come to the conclusion to decline the insertion of your very able letter in reply to one recently inserted from W. Anderson, first because is too long, second because it would provoke a reply, and lastly because the subject is of ouly local interest .and is all but out of date We can say, however, that if your views do not accord with the rules of strict military discipline, they are in accordance with those of common sense.

A Faemee.— We believe the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce did at a recent meeting recommend the imposition of an import duty upon grain. Seeing that the farmers of Otago can produce more grain than they have a demand for, the recommendation is about as sensible as one would bo for the imposition of an import duty upon wool. As regards the Wairarapa the cost of carriage operated as a very high protective duty on the importation of flour and grain, and yet large quantities of both find their way into the district, as we do not grow half sufficient for home coasumption.

Petroleum, —We have not heard whether anything has been done relative to the oil springs at Wharehama. Mr T. R. Hackett who was sent by Dr Hector to the district reports that though he did not succeed in finding any springs actually yielding oil, there are several that are kept in constant ebullition by escape of inflammable gas. The gas issues from a bed of surface day on the crest of a ridge in considerable quantities, ignites freely, and burns with a flame of about two feet in height and six inches in diameter.

E. M.—The correspondence relative to the ■establishment of Electric Telegraph Stations in the Wairarapa District was laid on the table of the house by the Postmaster General on tho £3rd ult., whether the correspondence will be printed or not we cannot say ; but we trust that our special correspondent will he able to forward us copies of that portion of the correspondence which may prove interesting to our readers.

Publican.— -With reference to the disallowed Licensing Act of the last session of the Provincial Council Mr. Stafford says ; —“lf this Act be not disallowed no licenses now existing will be valid,” Yet there were three lawyers in the Council when this Act was passed, one of whom receives out of the Provincial Treasury L3OO per annum for giving law advice to the Govereruent.