CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1804, 3 October 1884, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor,)

Sm,—Would you kindly allow me space in your valuable paper to speak out and let the people of the district, know exactly what I think of the County administration under which I havo done as is well known a lot of work during the last three years. My reasons for desiring to do so are briefly that at the present moment I believe the Department are mqre unscrupulously unjust than ever, anc| ever since I came into the district the unjustness of its officers has been a bye-word amongst the industrous hard-working people that have done business with it. Allow me to state to begin with that it has ever been the endeavor of myself and partner to perform our work in a satisfactory manner to our employer?, and I may safely say that we have had as much success in this respect as any contractors in the district, and if it is honorable to pay one's way we can await with confidence any appeal made

to those who know us in that respect. I make these remarks merely to show fco those of your readers who may not know us, and who are interested in the good administration of our local government, that we are reliable men' and consequently any statements that 1 may make damaging to the engineers' department are at least worthy of consideration. Well, sir, I will go back to the first job that I did under our present masters because it has been asserted by the chairman of to-day that ho knew for a fact that the Engineer was particularly lenient with me on that job. Mark you, this was said to some of the present Councillors when I had a claim for an extra of £U before them for work done on another job, and the Engineer disputed it. The statement made by the Chairman had the desired effect, so we did not get a shilling.. But what are the facts in connection with the Waiohioi Bridge? Briefly that I can show to-day how the Engineer did us out of over£lo worth of proper extras on that job. The next job that I had reason to complain about, but did not do so, was a 60ft. bridge on the main road to Eketahuna. When the work was let the plans were not complete, and when the last sheet came to handl'some three months after, I was very much,surprised to find.that it would take a great deal more timber and labour to complete it than at first contemplated. This was very unsatisfactory, but still we felt somewhat to blame in the matter, bo we let it pass and struggled ■ on/ hoping for better things, but we were doomed to greater disappointment still. The next bridges that we tendered for we fouud that a man in office had got a start ot us somehow and of course got the best of the two jobs that were let, Here, jet me say, that this ex-official as inspector contractor or contractor inspector has had a pleasant time of it under this administration. Eor about three months after he became a successful contractor under the County he was retained in office, and when everything was handy for him to go on with his contract he got away for a few months to finish it, and then back into office again for about two months more while the material wa3 being supplied for another bridge that he was the successful tenderer for. I refer to the Mungapakelia bridge. Well, what happened then? Why this, Sir, that he had scarcely time to finish this bridge before preparations were made to receive hira back again into office and then ho is to-day quietly sucking one of the teats of the County cow ready to be trotted out by the Engineer into competition with legitimate contractors whenever he thinks fit to work the oracle. Sir, the above is a brief chronicle of the ins and outs of one of the few that are joisted into competition with us by the Engineer's department of the County Council, and it is in shear disgust that I sit here chronicling a few of the abuses that we have suffered from (more or less) in connection with our legitimate calling, and to what purpose? I will give one specimen to conclude with just to show the value of the information one may receive if he is at all trustful. I had occasion to call at the Engineer's office last Saturday morning for information concerning some work at Carterton and I had no sooner settled to the work I was about than the Engineer proffered me this piece of good news, viz,, that the County Council (who were at that monunt sitting in conclave, properly, discussing the advisability or otherwise of extending the bridges over the encroachments made by the Waipoua and Wainsjawa rivers) were soon to call for tenders, to close by the 6nd of this week (mark that). I knew a fortnight before this that he had promised one of my workmen the Waipoua job to do, as he was going to have it done by day work instead of caljing for tenders. Sir, when 1 think that it was move than likely that he had a recommendation of some kind or other before the meeting asking for permission to do this bridge by clay work, and at the same time telling me that they were going to call for tenders, is about as hard a thing to gulp down as ever 1 wish to meet with again in the course of business, In conclusion let me state clearly that at present 1 have neither the time to spare nor the inclination to say more, but if challenged by proper persons I will point out instances of more fragrant abuses, that are very discouraging tq contractors who are ahqve pulling their forelock to this man of gigantic intellect whenever l(e passes or meets them,

I am, &c, Alex. Eeese, Contractor. TEMPERANCE V. TOTAL AB STINENCE. (To the Editor.) Sm,-Theßev. R Vera White, in his paper referred to in your caiticism in yesterday's Daily, does not, as any one would infer from your remarks, fail to deal with the disposal and curing of those whose diseased craving for drink have brought them to a state of rain ?

Ml* Wbite does no(; with, in fact l}e barely touches, upon the question raised by you • he mainly contents himself by arguing in favor of a general principle. This general principle is Temperance, and he brings forward very stront? reasons for advocating this in preference to total abstinence. He advances facts and figures as arguments to show that the moderate drinker—by which he evidently means the man who drinks for the good of his body and not he who drinks to satisfy a craving-is not only both mentally and physically a decided gainer by adopting this principle, but that his moral oouyage and self-pantrol in bßingable to touch without being contaminated present to Jiis fellow beings a more brilliant example than that afforded by the total abstainer, Nor. does Mr White deny that total abstinence is absolutely beneficial in particular oases. He says "that though for some persons total abstinence is a positive duty, yet on the whole the advocacy of this principle is as harmful as the advocacy of celibacy." He objects to tha advocacy of total abstinence as a goneral principle to guide people. He admits, however that circumstances alter cases, and that it is only right

and proper, perhaps, that those who by denying themselves can so influence individual cases as to work good should set an example of total abstinence in the hope that good may follow. But as Mr White says the general principle is relaxed or " suspended by the operation of the law of charity." It cannot, ,' - however, be disputed for a moment.: that the total abstinence cause is one .• which doas and has done a vast amount of good all over the world, and is it ; : not possible that the advocates of each - = canse have a different path to puim Is there any reason why they should-: conflict with each other ? Should not. moderation be practised by the many... who have not been fatally seized by., the disease, drink, and total abstinence £ be practised upon t the, speaking, few upon whom the diseagsjv ' has taken such a hold that they JflL powerless to shake it off. In.siSp cases the more extreme measures of the. -i total abstainer are more likely to prove':/:' temporarily if not permanently successful when the efforts of the advocate of ;• ■ temperance would prove unavailing, lam, ifcc,, • Moderation. Masterton, October 2, [As " Moderation" justly observes Mr "White:, barely touches upon the- -.,'; question /. we raised,' and this is the' : fault we find with him. As a clergy- '"■' men we would like to see Mr White bring the sinners, not the righteous to repentance.—Ed. W.D.]