PALMERSTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 842, 10 August 1881, Page 2

PALMERSTON.

[FROM our OWN correspondent,] In my last letter I promised to say something about the " barrier," between the Wairarapa and the Manawatu ; and mentioned the urgent necessity of Bettlera on either side the ranges taking immediate steps to induce the Government to remedy the present deplorable state of affairs; and I would now make a'few remarks on this most important inatterj'arid I trust your, readers will bear with me while 1/relate what 1 ! think on the matter-indeed I may say the public opinion in the Manawatu. Between , Masterton and Palmerston there are two ' obstacles on the road, viz., the. Manawatairiver ferries- These same have been for

;yeara, a source of bitter complaint for ' 'travellers'and the public generally; and not a few times has the question'been ■ ibefore the County Councils, and laid by them in a forcible manner before the vernment! but unhappily without 'iuc', • oesH. And yet the mere want of a bridge is not the only complaint, for; at the j'' Gorge ferry we find Natives in possession', ? . who, when they think proper, are allowed..: to demand tolls, or actually block the '.-.;'■ read, A deplorable Btate of affairs—; when we think of it, the main road- between two large and important dhitriots, under control of about a dozen' Maorisi; yet, in reality, it is so. Now, there is only one way to romedy this evil, there ii; only oneway to induce our Government' to see to our claims, and that is by ogita-" tion—constant,, and persistent; agitation,' Our watchword must be " agitate! agj' tate I" and if we do this unitedly as a people, I am persuaded we shou[d achieve tho desired'end. : Look at the Woodville people, they havp' many times asserted, chat they have no interest in any town in

their Provincial district. And. wiry. 18 this? The aiisweriaat hand? "They havo no communication," in a manner of .. speaking. They call npou thetownsmen '': either-side of them to open up a direct . trade with them ; and implore assistance in procuring suitable roads, in order that such, and a trade between Masterton and ' Palmerston maybe established, but un- : happjly their appeals have, an jt - >ygrg, -' boon qi|he;ird, Now sir, my opinion is, that if the traders in towns on both aides of the Tararua do not at once take decided, and energetic action, they are totally and wilfully ignoring their own, and the interests of their own, bedide acting a discourtious part to each other, Both the Wairarapa and Manawatu districts should unite in pressing this important question, until their perseverance is at last re' warded, which assuredly woqld bs, \]q? doubtedjy, biitl) districts niqst coptrjbuta to the cost whenever it ia done, and why not at once press the matter ] Every day lust, is an irreparable loss to both districts, aud as before stated, both art equally interested, and should therefore slo to their own interests. This, it will he agreed, is a question which cannot be too freely ventilated and agitated and I hope to Bee the representative journals on either tide take vigorous action in the matte,! 1 . ■

T||e township of Molding lias just been constituted a Borough, after aoine hard fighting. About two-thirds of the population were in favor of the petition when presented to the Government, and the remainder set up an opposition, who have for some time successfully frustrated all the attempts of the petitioners, by persistently presenting counter petitions, and. by sending deputation! to tliji G/>yf I]} ipnt, graying t||af the township' not be preplanned a Borough, under the, ** plea that the scheme was prematura;' ' However, the proclamation has bbjflh made, and a Mayor and Councillors elected, and now the good people of that town dream of prosperous days, and the qf >if|rt[ ' ' Tl|p Maniuyatn Oounfy Counpjj are. a moat awkward lot, and' hare just earned Ihe well deserved contempt of the population of Manawatu. Some time since,' some of the nigger ; (lriviiig members, too'ij it ijjto tljgir heads |q tfj poivera, agajqst tl]e th,re.p, Qoynty papers, bqt having failed in their atteajpfs, aiic) being" beaten by the indignant inornbors of the fourth estate, tl]qy gaye rpn't to." spite by giving thoji' advertising to th,B Woliington Post, for three mouths, at which period a new Council will.be elected, The meetings and proceedings are consequently not reported by the Pres3, and the feelings of the people may be imagined. County Councils must remember ■ t'h,§t thejr power (a bqt vnaakqesa cqmparod, tq the Press, and should not therefore tcifjq withsucli a power.'