LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume II, Issue 54, 13 January 1868, Page 3

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT.

(To the Editor.of the. Waieaeapa -MeecußY.) January, 8,18(?8. Sl R ) —I am glad to see “ Road Board ” taking up the question of local Self-Government. Road Board’s suggestion “ that a public meeting of the settlers be convened in some central place at which members of all the Road Boards be invited there to discuss the merits of the question and to .prepare the draft of a petition to be presented to both Houses of the General Assemble in the early part of next session " merits the serious consideration of the- settlers of this important district., -As I understand Road Board’s suggestion he means that all the members of the Road Boards should.be invited to attend the proposed meeting in their private capacity to prevent them laying themselves open to the grave charge of transforming themselves into an organised body of political agitators, instead of strictly,confining, their attention in- their public capacity to the execution of the important functions that they were, specially.elected by their constituents to; perform. Therefore it would be only as private individuals that the members of Road Boards would probably be induced to attend a revolutionary public meeting. ■ Permit me to suggest, Mr Editor, that before a general meeting -of the settlers be convened in a central place that every man in the district, who is prepared to work in combination with each pther in obtaining local self-government, send in their names to your office, so that a preliminary meeting be convened of those who will signify their intention of taking an active part in agitating the question. If yon will be good enough to open such a list, I beg that you will insert the name of Tour’s &c.‘, CADUCEUS. MEETING OF ROAD BOARDS. .(To the Editor of the MeecußyJ) Sie,-—The suggestion submitted in your Open Column last wees by a correspondent who subscribed himself “ Road Board ” is well worth the attention of those who know how the Provincial Government are acting towards this district, “ Road Board” suggests a general meeting of the members of all the Road Boards in the Wairarapa with a view of discussing the merits of local self-government—the means of securing the same with a share of our territorial revenue independent of the Superintendent's control. I think Sir, that Road Board’s suggestion is one that ought to be acted on before the Provincial Government will have sold all the Crown lands in the district, the money accruing from which, will to be expended in reclaiming land from the sea at Wellington and building bridges at Wanganui and elsewhere on the West Coast. I remain, Sir, your’s &c., • M.R.B.

THE RAILWAY OR TRAMWAY. (To the Editor of the “Wairarapa Mercury.”) Sir, —Ihave carefully read the article reprinted in your last Saturday’s issue with reference to the Westland Tramways, I presume as a guide to the Wairarapa Railway shareholders, that Railways are paying concerns in New Zealand. I have taken the liberty to give an opinion why I think, even supposing the Westlands pay, the Wairarapa will not. First, the Westlands are short ones, not exceeding four miles in length, time of running extent offline loss than half hour, horse labor considered in all cases. I find the diggings had been formed first and concentrated a large number of “ cash spending diggers,” certain to be followed by as many or more merchants and traders, an increasing population perhaps for many years. They are very temporarily constructed of wood only for present use to feel their way. ■ Should the diggings fail there is no doubt the Railway would not be extended, the loss would be but a trifle, having been laid without Engineering difficulties upon the surface. Short journeys have been in all cases found to pay better than long ones, especially passenger traffic; the omnibus and cabs in town pay, but would not do so were their journeys extended to the country. Try your Wellington cabs as far as Kaiwarra only, not one would pay. In England where several competition lines have been purchased by one company for the purpose of consolidation and to form a monopoly, shareholders in all except a very few eases have received not more at same rate than half former dividends. Again Steam Navigation Companies have fallen into the same snare, where two or three vessels would have been sufficient, and paying to the shareholders, some interested person jumps up and proposes an extension of business, and'the use of the word “ Fleet ” to the Company’s vessels, Shareholders have found out this does not pay. With regard to the Wairarapa railway, will it pay or not ? Compare the distance—one main, feature in any road—instead of four miles this will be seventy, .rather too expensive for an experiment, especially as it will ■have, to pass through some twenty-five miles of mountain gorges, every step besot with engineering difficulties of no common kind, not opening up 20 acres of unsold and available land. The'probable cost of a very temporary railway indeed, worked by horses only, has been published at £120,000, exclusive of, and here will be the whole rub,“ Engineer’s services, cuttings, bridges, embankments, fords,” and a thousand and one other little items, to he brought forward at some future time under the head “ Miscellaneous.”

It would be as well to try a short railway first, say from Soame’s Island, the one is as likely to pay as the other, and the terminus about equal. It has not been defined in the Wairarapa, what sheep run containing a couple of shepherd’s huts will be the favored spot for a terminus, but left on open question.' I will admii that the villages of Featherston, Greytown, Carterton and Masterton, whose total productions at present and for some years to come, will he butter, eggs, bacon, wool, some few broad boards for coffins, and cattle and sheep to boot. Total for the year : —two loads for an ordinary English luggage train, local manufactures, such as green hide girths, stock whips and crackers for whips included. This Railway want was bom during the elections and it will be kept smouldering until the next elections. The Government have acted, .very unfatherly towards the Wairarapa children, sold all their land for many thousands of pounds, some forty or fifty pounds the Government owe each of the settlers, and they can’t get one farthing of it, cries of “ shame, shame,’-’ What have they done with our money ? They are told the ugly baby Wanganui has had lots of it. . Considerable excitement ensues, in the midst of which some kindperson jumps up with “ I know what you want my boys, it will make us about square, a Railway.” Then of course a neat speech to the effect that AVellington spent a considerable portion of our cash, to make AVellington the seat of Government, by this means they have made their fortune by it, and nothing will pacify us but a Railway Baby, pay or not pay. After this all is now made easy, if the Government have not got the cash they must borrow it. Of course it is understood .that the Wairarapa settlers arc to be the Managers and Directors which makes the transaction very comfortable. The Government and shareholders have nothin g to do but find the cash and consider themselves outsiders. Three o’clock in the morning, some one quietly sitting in their bedroom, slate or paper in hand, calculating the extra value that the Railway will add tb their forty-acre sections, and in some cases, including one town acre as the case may be, in the morning, when they shouldbe getting up to look after their business, they arc going to bed, to dream of their property and the Railway. I am Sit, Your’s See., . RAILAA r AY SLEEBER.